Whiteriver Flooring Grades Explained
A guide to the grading used across Whiteriver's engineered wood flooring ranges, with examples and what to expect from each grade.
Manufacturer Guide
Whiteriver grading definitions
Real Examples
See each grade at a glance
Know What to Expect
Knots, sapwood and colour variation
Make the Right Choice
Choose the look that's right for your home
Whiteriver Flooring Grade Options
Whiteriver offers a range of grades, from a clean, consistent look to a more natural and characterful appearance.
Select Prime
As the name suggests, this high grade will have little or no knots – any knots contained in the finished product will be minimal in size. Sapwood imperfections and fillers are kept to a minimum and colour matched to blend with the grain of the wood. Overall colour variation is consistent.
Nature
Nature grading contains some knots, but less than Universal grade, some sapwood and some colour variation. Knot sizes are restricted so it tends to have an overall calmer appearance than Universal grading. Knots are filled to match the natural timber however may vary between boards and batches.
Vintage
Quantity and size of knots will be significantly more evident in this grade. Maximum size of broken knots, 45mm. The boards will contain both heartwood and sapwood and have a higher degree of natural colour variation as a result. Allowable sapwood to be less 30% of the board width and less than 30% in volume. Growth ring and end crack defects will be more obvious and sunken filled to match the natural timber however may vary between boards and batches. Width of cracks 10mm maximum
Universal
Universal grading contains a mixture of prime, nature and rustic/character grading. Different species will have different characteristics e.g. European oak grading tends to include it’s fair share of knotting so there will be a more limited amount of prime/nature boards within universal grading. The boards will contain both heartwood and sapwood and have a degree of natural colour variation as a result. Knots are filled to match the natural timber however may vary between boards and batches.
Rustic / Character
Quantity and size of knots will be significantly more evident in this grade. The boards will contain both heartwood and sapwood and have a higher degree of natural colour variation as a result. Growth ring and end crack defects will be more obvious and filled to match the natural timber however may vary between boards and batches.
Rustic A / Nature
This grading contains some knots, some sapwood and some colour variation. Maximum knot size is restricted to c25mm so it tends to have an overall balanced appearance due to fewer knots. Knots are filled to match the natural timber however may vary between boards and batches.
ⓘ A Note on Grading
Grading is a natural part of real wood flooring and highlights the unique character of the timber.
These descriptions are specific to Whiteriver and may differ from the grading used by other manufacturers.