Grades & Properties of Wood Flooring —
Domestic Species
#2 Common American Walnut Flooring
#2 Common Walnut is also referred to as Rustic or Character Grade Walnut flooring.
#2 Common American Walnut Flooring Dimension Specifications:
Standard pre-milled #2 Common American Walnut will have shorter lengths in comparison to higher grades. Most flooring is in 7-foot bundles, or a custom-made long plank can be ordered. With a long plank, the lengths and widths are made specifically to each project's specifications. The longest lengths can be from 10 to 12 feet, and the widths can be from 2¼″ up to 8″ or so. Moisture content is between 6% and 8% for quick acclimation. Select and Better Walnut is found unfinished or prefinished in ¾″ solid or engineered with a veneer top layer.
Flooring Availability:
#2 Common grade Walnut flooring is readily available. Custom orders usually demand 2-3 weeks for production, depending on lumber availability. Pre-milled standard 7-foot bundles are a stock item.
Finished Floor Appearance:
#2 Common grade American Walnut will have a brown appearance. It will also have large knots and considerable white sapwood. The lengths will be somewhat shorter than the Premium or #1 Common grade. Walnut reacts unusually to sunlight with some water-based and aluminum oxide finishes. It tends to lighten while most other woods darken. Oil-based finishes allow the Walnut to darken with sunlight and are recommended. A de-waxed shellac or lacquer can be first applied under the oil to protect the natural color of the wood.
Flooring Durability and Stability:
#1 Common Walnut is a considered a hardwood but is very soft in comparison to Red Oak. Walnut is relatively stable in comparison to other species like Yellow Pine.
Workability of #2 Common Walnut Flooring:
Although a hardwood, #1 Common Walnut flooring works with little difficulty with both hand and power tools. When installing the flooring, it is best to use a manual nailer, but staples and pneumatic nailers work well. Installation is quicker with higher-grade flooring because the lengths of the boards are typically longer. Walnut holds screws well, and it glues, stains, and polishes to a very attractive finish. It can be somewhat difficult to sand with flooring equipment because of its softness. Professional sanding and finishing is recommended.
Principal Uses of #2 Common Walnut Flooring:
With a much lower price than that of Premium or #1 Common, #2 Common Walnut flooring is used in medium- and high-end residential applications for a dramatically elegant floor. It is also used for color-contrasting borders.
Learn more about these other Walnut wood flooring grades:
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