SOLID HARDWOOD FLOORS Grading for hardwood that falls within Shaw’s "Rustic" or "High Variation" visual category which means that the product can include moderate to high amounts of color variation. Additionally, sound natural variations of the forest product and manufacturing imperfections including but not limited to: bark pockets, broken edge/broken corner, indentation, splits, machining imperfections, worm holes filled and unfilled, torn grain, mineral streaks in unlimited amounts, knots, unfilled character up to 3/8 of an inch, stick stain, Missing or shy tongue up to ¼ normal size, sound rot, water marks and bottom of the board defects that do not make the wear layer unsound are allowed in the grade. Some, all or none of the characteristics’ will be represented in the sample or room scene so it will be up to the sales person to insure the dealers understand what they are ordering. Also, the Product may contain varying degrees of naturally occurring wood characteristics commonly found in the No. 2 Common and Better Grade characteristics based on NOFMA unfinished Official Flooring Grading Rules (Sept. ’02). UNDERSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS OF Broken Corner Bottom of Board Defect Filled Character A wide range of variation in visual related attributes such as texture, grain, color, mineral, and naturally occurring Mineral & Stain character is allowed in these hardwoods. Variations in grain can be expected in the form of the direction of wood fibers, as in straight, spiral and curly grain. The direction of the grain, as well as the amount of figuring in the wood affects the way wood accepts stains and finishes. There can be pronounced differentiations in color between spring wood and summer wood or heartwood and sapwood as well. All of these naturally occurring phenomenon will affect the way the wood accepts stains and finishes which can result in a wide range of variability in finished appearance. The following are not permitted in the grade: Large broken knots, advanced rot, or large unsound defects greater than the 5% industry accepted cull rate. Dealers, installers, and consumers must understand the naturally occurring variation within these hardwoods as no two planks are identical, no two boxes of finished product are identical, and no two production populations are identical. The production process is designed to yield what the forest provides, and consumers can expect clear populations or character populations or mixed character populations when choosing these solids. Installers must rely on job site planning, material observation, and craftsmanship to ensure a successful installation of solid hardwood flooring. Installers must give careful consideration to naturally occurring characteristics as the installation is planned and the floor is dry racked. Further, installers should work out of at least six boxes at a time, and pre-planned dry racking should take into consideration the naturally occurring variation of the grade. Successful installation of natural wood relies on a complete understanding of the grade, and pride in craftsmanship. It would be advantageous from a sales and support standpoint to ensure that customers are aware of these naturally occurring variations, especially if it is not evidenced well or at Albright Oak their representative sample. There is no means by which to order this product without this variation as it is simply indigenous to the grade. Unfilled Character Wormholes Bark Pocket Rot Missing Tongue Shy Tongue shawfloors.com 07.13.2016