Our Forest, Renewable Resource - Grading - Hardwood Lumber
  

How Hardwood Lumber is Graded

Hardwood lumber is graded by a set of rules established by the National Hardwood Lumber Association. These rules are based on the visual appearance of the board and any defects such as knots which are present.  The grades, starting with highest quality are:    
  • FAS (pronounced F.A.S.) - Firsts And Seconds 
  • F1F - FAS One Face or "Face" 
  • Select 
  • #1 Common 
  • #2 Common 
  • #3 Common
      
There is no standard lumber grade which is perfect, even FAS lumber will have some defects.  
      
Lumber is often sold in "lots" which consist of several grades, the most common are "Select and Better," "Face and Better," or "#1 Common and Better. "  
      
These grading rules are quite complicated and hard to understand unless you are using them on a daily basis.  For this reason they are often simplified or adapted for retail sales where some businesses establish their own grades.  
 
Source: A Consumers' Guide to Buying and using Locally Produced Lumber, New York Department of Environmental Conservation and Black River - St.Lawrence Resource Conservation and Development Council
 
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