Cabin-Grade Engineered Flooring
Different grades of engineered hardwood flooring exist, letting you choose the look and price-range you want. Cabin-grade engineered hardwood flooring is the lowest grade of engineered hardwood flooring available. It's a less refined look because of the higher number of showing imperfections, and thus can give a more rustic look than higher grade engineered hardwood flooring. Cabin-grade engineered flooring may not be much cheaper to install, though, because of the extra work involved in selecting and installing usable planks, and because of the waste involved in cutting out "bad" pieces.
Cabin-grade engineered hardwood flooring is one option that many homeowners use when they want the look of wood floors in their home without the trouble and high cost. There are many different grades of engineered hardwood flooring, so it's important to learn about them so that you will be able to determine what you want and need for your home.
Cabin-grade engineered flooring is the lowest grade of engineered hardwood flooring. It may have bubbles, knots, open cracks, and other imperfections in the wood. That doesn't mean the boards are not made correctly, or are shattered or broken, it just means there may be some imperfections in the top layer of the wood. A professional floor installer may be able to lay this floor without many of the most obvious imperfections showing by cutting and choosing which boards to install, or where to install them.
Select- and better-grade engineered flooring is considered the top grade of engineered hardwood by many manufacturers. In this grade of flooring, there are no manufacturing imperfections, although there may be some stain imperfections due to how the wood takes the stain, and there may be wood-grain variations. These imperfections are not readily visible and are as perfect as possible. Natural products aren't perfect and the imperfections are part of the charm of the materials.
Common-grade engineered flooring typically contains more variations in color and grain than the select- and better-grade flooring. The imperfections are often more visible, but the variations do not glaringly stand out. This is the most common flooring that you see at stores. There may have other imperfections, such as small tight knots, streaks, broken knots, or filled worm holes, but they show the beauty of a real piece of wood.
Tavern-grade engineered flooring boards may have heavy and easily seen variations in color and grain. This flooring may have open worm holes, tight knots or broken knots, burns, and imperfections like a torn grain. Larger holes are filled and finished.
Cabin-grade engineered flooring, the lowest grade available, is less expensive and in many cases, with proper installation, will be difficult to see that it is of an inferior grade. People often choose cabin-grade engineered flooring for their homes so they can have the best of both worlds -- a hardwood floor without a high expense. There may be more waste due to cutting the boards to remove some of the most obvious imperfections, but the reduced price will more than make up for the waste in most cases. Sometimes cabin-grade flooring is chosen because people want a more rustic look and feel they can get that with this grade of hardwood flooring.
Choosing your flooring is determined by not only the room you are installing it in, but also your preferences, and your budget. Some people may be more comfortable with the higher grade engineered flooring while others are perfectly content with lower grade flooring options. The important information to keep in mind is there are lots of engineered hardwood flooring options for you and your home no matter what your budget is. Cabin-grade engineered flooring may be just the choice for you.
If I'm paying say $2 per sqft for cabin grade. It would seem that by cutting out the so call, bad would equate to just buying a better grade. Right?
Richard at November 13, 2008 11:31 AMI could live w/ knots but not splits in the wood.
Can someone comment on my situation?
Hi Richard,
The Flooring Lady at November 14, 2008 6:42 AMYes, you should go with a higher grade. The splits are supposed to look rustic and are desired in this grade of flooring.
What are recommended types of flooring for a seasonal cabin - having possible annual temperature swings of from -60 to +90F? I have talked with "experts" at many types of building centers(chains and locals) and have received vastly different and conflicting recommendations. The current floor is OSB; carpeting is not of interest and we'd be willing to just paint it if necessary
Thanks!
Susan at December 29, 2008 1:25 PMI should think that would would be best. Epoxy coating might be a good choice too. Stone and tile could crack (especially grouting).
The Flooring Lady at December 30, 2008 1:37 PMWe are looking at installing engineered wood flooring in our condo. We have been to a couple of places to scope out what's available - and of course are overwhelmed by it all.
A couple of questions: can something classified as "Commercial Grade" engineered flooring be installed in a residential setting (i.e our condo)
Because we live in a condo, we are concerned about noise issues. We have concrete flooring under the carpet. I have heard that a cork underlay is a good sound barrier (assuming that not all noise will be eliminated).
And finally, has anyone heard of a company called "Millstream" producing wood flooring products? If so, how can I find out more about the company and the quality of it's products?
DL at January 11, 2009 8:44 AMThanks!!
Hi DL,
The Flooring Lady at January 12, 2009 8:54 AMYes, commercial grade flooring can be installed in your home - it's supposed to hold up better and take more foot traffic. You are correct, cork works very well as a sound barrier as does felt, though I prefer cork. I've not heard of Millstream, but I'm sure if you google it you'll come up with their website and probably get hits for questions about their products, reviews, customer complaints & kudos. I did a quick google myself and wonder if you're referring to The Millstream Collection of flooring by Springcreek Flooring? What I found is solid hardwood though, I don't know if they have engineered hardwood products.
I looked at a Tavern grade today. However, there is no warranty offered on this grade of flooring. should this be a concer?
Becky
Becky at February 19, 2009 8:46 PMHi Becky,
The Flooring Lady at February 20, 2009 10:27 AMThat's odd - I would think it has some sort of warranty. What line is it and who manufacturers it?
I came across some flooring today, called Privilege flooring made by Mistral located in Quebec. It's sold at HD, they refer to it as Tavern grade but it looks pretty good to me, it has a 25 year finish warranty on it for a stained Ash.
SG at March 4, 2009 5:45 PM