Cuts and Grades

Understand hardwood cuts and grades to choose your perfect floor.

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Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring (AMHF) and Hickman Lumber are known worldwide for their rift & quarter sawn and live Sawn. They have the highest industry standards in the cuts and grades of their wood floors. Understanding these cuts will help you find the best floor to fit the look and needs of your home.

Many sawmills and manufacturers do not cut or understand rift & quarter or live sawn. The Hickman family has been specializing in these cuts for many years, which is why Wood Floor Business Magazine asked Jessica Hickman to write an article explaining the difference.

Cutting Methods

How the log is cut at the sawmill determines the direction of the annual growth rings in relation to the face of the board. These various cuts change the visual grain pattern and affect the dimensional stability of each board. The advantage of rift & quarter sawn, other than how cool it looks, is its dimensional stability over plain sawn.

Most sawmills cut plain sawn. This is the fastest way to cut logs and the quickest to dry. Hickman Lumber has specialized in rift & quarter sawn (R&Q) since the 1980s. Rift sawn differs from quarter sawn, but they are both a result of the same method of cutting the log. The difference is the degree that the growth rings intersect with the face of the board (see drawings below). Often boards feature a combination of the R&Q characteristics as trees do not grow perfectly straight. Logs too small to quarter saw are cut in the live sawn method, creating a unique and beautiful mix of plain sawn and R&Q in each board.

The diagram below shows the growth rings in the rift & quartered are perpendicular to the board face, and in the plain sawn, the growth rings are parallel to the board face. Wood is hygroscopic. Therefore, wood can move with humidity and temperature changes. The wood will move depending on the direction of the growth rings. For instance, with dramatic environmental changes, a PS floor will be more likely to cup and gap due to movement across the board’s width. The potential movement in R&Q is in the board’s thickness which is very minimal. The stability of the R&Q and live sawn, due to the high percentage of rift & quarter sawn, allow you to install solid, wide plank flooring over radiant heat and in homes with more potential for environmental changes (live sawn has a high percentage of rift and quarter grain).

Quarter Sawn

Quarter Sawn wood has straight grain and visually displays the figure from the medullary rays, or fleck, in the face of the board. This floor was very popular in homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is defined when the annual growth rings are 60 to 90 degrees to the face of the board. This is the most stable board, as environmental changes will be in the thickness of the board, not across the width. AMHF offers 100% quartered only where every board will display this quartered figure.

Rift Sawn

Rift Sawn is cut in the same process as Quarter Sawn which creates the straight grain like the quarter sawn, but without the display of the medullary rays. It is a modern, clean appearance. Rift is defined when the annual growth rings are 30 to 60 degrees to the face of the board. Note where these boards are sourced from the diagram. It is very difficult to create wide plank rift only boards. Narrow Rift boards with the straight grain will almost blend together. Rift Sawn is a very stable flooring option.

Plain Sawn

Plain Sawn (PS), also commonly called flat sawn, is the most common lumber you will find. The face of the board will show the cathedral growth rings. This is the most inexpensive way to manufacture logs into lumber and became the dominate oak flooring from the 1940s until today. It is defined when the annual growth rings are 0 – 30 degrees to the face of the board. This creates a board that will expand or contract across with width of the board (tangentially) with environmental changes.

Live Sawn

Live Sawn is a result of straight cutting through the smaller logs. They will display a mix of plain sawn and rift & quarter sawn characteristics throughout each board. Allegheny live sawn is unique because there is a high percentage of R&Q. This is very important as we can create solid wide plank boards that are more dimensionally stable than traditional plain sawn boards. This flooring cut is one of our most popular due to the stability, long lengths, the economical price, and beautiful natural characteristics.

The Allegheny Difference

Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring can provide 100% Rift and 100% Quartered Only. The industry rule book (NOFMA / NWFA) only requirement for Quarter Sawn is to have only 50% quartered figure. Rift Sawn can be considered rift if only 75% of the board has rift characteristics. For example, if you order a 5” Rift Only white oak from a company that grades its flooring according to the industry rule book, you could have over 1” of plain sawn or 25% of quartered figure on each board. At Allegheny Mountain, we set a higher quality standard and offer 100%.

Allegheny Grading Definitions

The grading scale measures the natural variations and characteristics throughout the floor. These include color variation from board to board, mineral streaks, sapwood, and the presence of knots, open checks or wormholes. No grade is necessarily better than the other; grading is just a way to qualify the appearance. Each of our grades has the same length options and high-quality milling.

Flooring Grades

Rift & Quarter Sawn are available in these various grade options. Live Sawn is only offered in a natural grade.

Allegheny Clear Grade

This is our cleanest, most perfect grade. Mostly heartwood flooring that allows subtle natural heartwood color variations. This grade will be free of knots and sapwood. Clear grade has a very formal and elegant appearance. This is cleaner than a Select & Better (S&B).

Allegheny Select Grade

This is slightly lower grade than the clear. It will include all the variations in coloration produced by the contrasting differences of heartwood and sapwood. May include very small pin knots, but in general minimal to no character marks and knots.

Allegheny Natural Grade

This is a character grade with color variation due to contrast in heartwood & sapwood, along with natural variations, including sound knots, including open knots and checks, worm holes, and mineral streaks,. #2 common and better. This is a tasteful floor displaying the tree’s natural beauty.

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About Hickman Woods

Owned and operated by the Hickman family of Emlenton, PA, the Hickman family of companies are FSC® certified for meeting guidelines of responsible forestry operations, supplying Appalachian Hardwood lumber and flooring.

Barnum Floors can only say positive comments about Allegheny Mt & the Hickman family. We have been purchasing their flooring for the last 15 years where we obtain all our plank, Rift & Quartered & Livesawn lumber at competitive prices. The wood is exceptional ~ milled and kiln dried to perfection. We have never had a challenge associated with any flooring and receive top-notch service from both the office and the mill. Highly recommend you give them a try. You will not be disappointed.

Denny, I value AMHF and the relationship with you and the entire Hickman family. The manner in which you approach people, business and your products is first class and with the utmost integrity. We have enclosed for you a picture of the rift & quarter sawn white oak you supplied for us. As you can see, it turned out beautifully. We look forward to doing business with you in the future!

I have been purchasing my unfinished Hardwood Flooring from Allegheny Mountain for some time now. In my opinion no one does it better. Their quality is second to none. Their passion for what they do shows through every step of the way, from Jessica in Sales and Pat in the yard. They are pleasure to deal with and would highly recommend their products to anyone looking for FSC certified beautiful flooring. Their Quarter and Rift Sawn White Oak is what I have in my own house and it looks better each day!

I've purchased AMHF for several projects and I'm always blown away at how nice their floors look when I'm done. The milling quality of their flooring is superb. Their grading is spot-on; what you see in their photo gallery is what you get. Their live-sawn is a truly unique product in the hardwood flooring industry. I've purchased both red oak and white oak in RQ and you won't find any plain-sawn flooring mixed in (unlike some other manufacturers). I also like purchasing my flooring from a small, family-owned company. I've had the opportunity to meet Jess and Denny Hickman and they are warm, genuine people.

I've purchased AMHF for several projects and I'm always blown away at how nice their floors look when I'm done. The experience Allegheny Flooring have developed over 4 generations is evident in the quality of the lumber. They do not miss delivery dates and always deliver a quality product and customer experience. Spend a little more for the best. You will be glad you did. Support our American sawmills.

Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring is a superior company in every respect, from raw materials, process and finished product to service and communications We have found working with Allegheny on our Hudson Woods project to be very rewarding and we plan to continue working with them on many future projects.

As a developer and architect, I get to see many floors and the Allegheny Mountain product has the high-end quality and appearance to be installed anywhere. Our development company used 4” natural grade R&Q white oak on a recent renovation and I couldn’t be happier. Everyone that came into the house commented on the beauty of the wood flooring. We were impressed by how easy it was to install and how little waste we had. We sold the renovated house for the highest cost per-square-foot in the area, in just two weeks, and I’m sure we got that high number because of the hardwood floors that we installed.

Adrienne, I wanted to let you know that the fellow who is installing my floor, who is very experienced and is also a skilled craftsman, informed me that “I must’ve been working with junk all my life. I’ve never worked with flooring material anywhere near this high of quality.”

I am a builder who constructed a high-end home on the coast of Maine for very discriminating homeowners. They, and their architect, wanted a custom blend of grades and lengths of quarter sawn white oak flooring with very specific characteristics. Allegheny provided us with a product that not only exceeded the owner's expectations but was at a reasonable cost. This was very impressive considering the additional work it took to understand the blend desired and to provide it. They were also very friendly and professional throughout the process and delivered the product when promised.

I am an interior designer and have worked with AMHF for several years. The Hickman family has been doing it right for generations. They help with selecting the right wood and cut and help fit the customers' budget. The company's core values and the fact that they have been managing their supply forests for years and produce FSC flooring is icing on the cake! My personal favorite is the Live Sawn White Oak. So much character and natural beauty! I love it so much, I used it in my own home and admire it every day!

The best kept secret for the world of wood flooring is right here in Pennsylvania. We are so lucky to have Allegheny Mountain Hardwood. They have the most beautiful and high quality of wood grown right in our state. Allegheny Mountain Hardwood is my "go to" wood flooring resource. As an interior designer I work with all types of clients and budgets. I am able to give my clients the "absolute best" for their budget- every time bar none!

Jessica and her team at Allegheny Mountain have been amazing to work with. It was great to visit their mill and see the production for one of our episodes on Season 1 (of Restored by the Fords). They are knowledgeable, easy and extremely helpful! Our first project we used the white oak live sawn herringbone. We’ve also used their Rift & Quarter Sawn Beech. Their wood is all gorgeous and only the best quality! We love working with Hickman woods.

All the staff at Allegheny Mountain hardwood are true professionals! You will not find another company as dedicated to their product. Our hardwoods came out perfect and exactly how we hoped they would. It is the first thing our guests comment on when they come to our home. We couldn't be more pleased with our floors! I recommend this company to everyone who asks about hardwoods.

Every part of my experience with Allegheny Mountain's product and staff deserves the highest recommendation. We chose clear rift and quartered red oak and it is so stunning that I may throw away my rugs. The ordering process was a delight. The milling is excellent, true to grade, and again - stark raving gorgeous. I am so happy with the flooring and the company that next time I'm in PA I would want to visit their showroom. 5 stars is not enough.

Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring is awesome. We have beautiful beech flooring from the them. The builder, architect, and all who see them are marveled and envious. Seriously. Beech. Great flooring. Could not be happier. There is nothing more gratifying than adorning your home with beautiful American hardwoods and working with a family-owned business that does top-notch work. Really cannot recommend them enough. I only hope that you have the excuse and the chance to put some of their beech flooring in your home.

We had such a wonderful experience with Allegheny Mountain Flooring from the initial inquiry to the delivery. The flooring is beautiful and of superb quality. Customer service is top notch and Zach was amazing to work with. I had reservations making this type of purchase online site unseen, but the product and service did not disappoint.