Level 1 (or #1 Common) hardwood flooring is a popular, mid-range grade featuring more natural character like small knots, mineral streaks, and moderate color variation for a rustic, authentic look, balancing affordability with visible wood personality, unlike cleaner clear/select grades or more rustic cabin grades. It provides a good mix of uniformity and character, making it a common choice for many homes seeking a warm, lived-in feel without being overly pristine or wild.
Generally speaking, the higher the grade, the fewer natural defects the wood has, and the more uniform the color. Hardwood floor grading is a system used to classify the visual appearance of the wood based on its natural characteristics, such as knots, mineral streaks, and color variations.
We already know the three most common types of oak hardwood flooring: Select, #1 Common and #2 Common (a.k.a., rustic grade). Flooring manufacturers have their own grading standards, others may also comply with national grading rules, and some flooring styles have no grade at all — antique flooring, for example.
#1 Grade: When appearance becomes more of a factor, #1 Grade will contain smaller, fewer, sound, tight knots and have less wane than found in #2 Grade. Keep in mind, that with the introduction of Prime grades, #1 Grade no longer contains some of the better grades that used to be included.
Select grade will be almost uniform in color, with very few knots or holes, and longer, similar length boards. Small, tight knots are permitted only every 3 feet. #1 Common has more variation in light and dark colors from board to board, knots, holes, and more variation in the length of boards.
Choosing the Right Thickness for Your Home
If you want a long-lasting floor that can be refinished multiple times, ¾-inch solid hardwood is the best choice. Subfloor Compatibility: If you have a concrete subfloor, engineered hardwood with a thickness of ⅜-inch to ½-inch works better.
There is a vast number of hardwood species in the world, but depending on their provenance they can be classified into three main types: European, Tropical and Temperate. European Hardwoods: generally sourced from Croatia, France and Germany, European hardwoods are mainly the widely popular oak and beech.
Class 1. Example: Spotted Gum, Ironbark. Class one represents the highest durability of natural timber. This means that in normal outdoor above-ground conditions, it should last at least 40 years. Place a piece of Class 1 timber in the ground, and it should have the durability to last at least 25 years.
Clear Grade
Clear cuttings of lumber are one of the highest grades you can get. Clear wood means that the boards are defect-free with as few knots as possible. Homeowners and woodworkers typically choose a clear grade when appearance is one of the most important factors in the project.
1. African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) Alt text: A smooth, dark slab of African Blackwood with a fine grain pattern. Why It's Valuable: Known for its density and strength, African Blackwood is prized by luthiers for making woodwind instruments like clarinets.
White oak or hickory are excellent choices for long-lasting solid wood flooring. Engineered hardwood floors are a better fit for moisture resistance. The key is to choose the right mix of wood types, finishes, and care.
The "Rule of 3" in flooring is a design guideline suggesting you use no more than three different flooring materials (like hardwood, tile, carpet) or three variations (tones, textures) throughout your home for a cohesive, less cluttered look. It promotes visual harmony by pairing functional needs (tile in bathrooms, carpet in bedrooms, wood in living areas) with a limited palette, creating intentional transitions rather than a "patchwork" effect, and can also refer to sales strategies offering three price points or styles.
Most Popular Wood Flooring Color Options
One of the chief differences between solid and engineered hardwood is thickness. The standard thickness of engineered hardwood's wood veneer is 2mm or 1/16 inches. High-quality engineered hardwoods use 3mm or 4mm thicknesses, translating to 3/32 and 1/8 inches, respectively.
As per Australian Standard AS2796, hardwood timber flooring is dried to a moisture content of approximately 9-14%. Recording RH levels before and during installation is recommended, and can be recorded using a Hygrometer. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology website will give you an indication of local site climates.
Zebra Wood
This is probably the most expensive hardwood floors in the world. It is an exotic wood with an appearance that resembles the striping of a zebra. The zebra wood was a favorite choice among the rich – it was used inside luxury cars such as Mercedes Benz, but also in Prada's flagship store in Manhattan.
While thinner options like 1/2″ or 3/8″ have their place, a 3/4-inch-thick engineered hardwood flooring often takes the crown for durability, versatility, and that premium feel. If you're weighing your flooring options, here's why this engineered hardwood thickness might just be the superior choice.
Consider Hickory, Oak, Maple or Brazilian Cherry for the greatest durability. Regardless of the species, the type of protective finish that coats a hardwood floor will also play a big role in how scratch and stain resistant it is. (This is different from gloss level, which is purely cosmetic).
What Is the Most Affordable Hardwood Flooring? If you're on a budget, Pine is a great choice. It's one of the most affordable hardwoods available, with costs ranging from $3 to $6 per square foot. Pine has a charming, rustic look but is softer, so it's more prone to dents and scratches.
Grey Ironbark takes the crown as the strongest Australian hardwood on our list. Highly durable for indoor and outdoor use, Grey Ironbark flooring carries exceptional density and a high Janka hardness rating that outperforms most other native species.
Prime grade or AB-grade wood flooring is the highest quality of hardwood flooring that you can find. The wood in this grade has been carefully selected, and it features a minimal amount of natural defects like knots, sapwood, and grain irregularities.
The Different Types of Hardwood Flooring
Most Commonly used are Spotted Gum and Blackbutt in their different variants. This is followed by Brushbox, Ironbark (both Grey and Red,) Tasmanian Oak (which is made of at least 3 different species and is not an Oak,) Blue Gum and Jarrah.
Some of the least expensive hardwoods are Maple, Poplar, Alder, Oak, and Ash. They might be available in your local lumberyard, or you can get them from online retailers who will ship them to your location.
Solid hardwood floors can easily last 50 to 100 years. We've seen homes with century-old floors that still look beautiful after a few refinishes. Engineered hardwood, while not quite as long-lasting as solid, typically holds up for 20 to 40 years, depending on wear layer thickness and environmental conditions.
Hardest and most scratch-resistant hardwood species