Grades & Properties of Wood Flooring —
Domestic Species
Ash (American Ash)
Scientific Name:
Fraxinus americana
Other Common Names and Related Species:
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American Ash
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Biltmore Ash
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Canadian Ash
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Fresno
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White Ash
Learn more about this hardwood flooring species »
Origin:
The United States and Canada.
Janka Hardness: 1320
Ash is 2% harder than Red Oak, which is the benchmark of the Janka scale.
Grades of Ash Flooring Available:
Flooring is normally made from one grade lower of lumber. Thus, #1 Common lumber will make Select and Better flooring and so on. Lumber is graded worst side, while flooring is graded best side of the board. The lumber is defected to yield a higher grade of flooring, except when Clear grade flooring is made.
Select and Better Ash flooring is color-sorted to remove dark heartwood, knots, mineral streaks, and surface defects such as cracks. Slight color variations from yellows to tans will be present. Select and Better Ash is also referred to as Premium Ash.
#1 Common Ash flooring contains some character, such as dime-sized knots and some brown heartwood, as well as mineral streaks.
#2 Common Ash flooring includes all the character found in the wood. Large knots, light yellow sapwood, dark heartwood, worm holes, and other surface defects are included in this grade. Other common names are Rustic Ash, Mill Run Ash, and Tavern and Cabin Grade Ash.
Quarter Sawn Ash flooring is made from special lumber that is cut perpendicularly to the tree's growth rings. Quarter Sawn flooring is more expensive than Plain Sawn but is more stable. The vertical grain produced is much different in appearance than Plain Sawn.
Learn more about these specific Ash wood flooring grades:
