Timber Graded for Appearance

Introduction

These products are graded almost exclusively by visual inspection. The assigned grades are a judgement of appearance, not strength. Appearance-grade products can range from the extraordinarily rare and exquisite, clear and nearly clear SELECT, FINISH, R-List CLEARS and ARCHITECTURAL grades, to the most utilitarian boards intended for applications where economy is the most important consideration. 

The extremely clear products are limited in availability, generally resulting from small volumes of older growth timber periodically harvested from privately owned forestlands. Most appearance-grade products are manufactured from primarily second-growth timberlands managed in natural stands. 

Grades

Appearance grades are more species specific than are the structural grades. While sometimes marketed in combinations based on like appearances, species in the appearance grades are usually marketed separately. The species combinations in Table 1 are based on similarities (among species) in structural performance and do not necessarily apply to appearance-grade products. 

Appearance grades often reflect their origins in the different ecological sub-regions of the vast, U.S. West. For instance, there are special grades (originating in Idaho) for Idaho White pine. 

There are specific grades for redwood products, developed in coastal northern California and southern Oregon, the only area in the world where redwood is grown commercially. There is one set of “Board” grades for pine, originating from the inland West where Ponderosa, Lodgepole and Sugar pines thrive; and another for fir products, originating from the coastal region of the Pacific Northwest where Douglas fir and Western Hemlock dominate. While species may be graded to any number of rules, many producers remain responsive to the preferences of their customers, and keep the grades connected to the species for which they were initially developed and are often best suited. 

Table 2 provides a partial list of western species appearance grades. 

Grade Categories & End Uses 

As indicated in Table 2, appearance-grade products can be divided into two broad categories: 

• The highest quality appearance products are often absolutely clear, free from natural characteristics, blemishes and manufacturing imperfections. They are the most perfect pieces possible, priced accordingly, and intended for applications where only the finest appearance is essential. Products in these grades are always carefully manufactured and usually kiln dried.

• The general-purpose BOARD grades are applied to knotty products with limitations for the types and quality of allowable characteristics and manufacturing imperfections determined by the range of individual grades. These products are more widely available and well suited to a variety of high to low-end applications. 

Highest Quality Appearance Grades

CLEAR, SELECT and equivalent Idaho White pine grades are determined from the better side or face. FINISH grades are likewise graded from the better side or face but also from both edges on pieces 114 mm and narrower, and from the better side or face and one edge on pieces 140 mm and wider. These products are intended for high visibility in such applications as fascia, trim, refined panelling, railings, etc.

The redwood ARCHITECTURAL grades are assigned to the highest quality all-heartwood and clear products in this species. Architectural grades are free of defects on one face and available surfaced or saw textured for interior and exterior uses. Because all-heart redwood is decay and insect resistant, this species is often favored for the highest quality outdoor applications such as siding and trim and for such amenities as decks, arbors, railings, planters, fences, etc. 

The highest quality Red Cedar heartwood “Pattern” grades are typically run-to-pattern as siding products for exterior use. Such products take advantage of cedar heartwood’s natural durability against decay and insect attack. Like redwood, these products are available surfaced or saw textured. Square-edged cedar boards are often graded under the SELECT rules. 

General Purpose Boards (Knotty Grades)

In the general-purpose category, the COMMON and equivalent Idaho White pine grades are determined from the better face on knotty products. 1 and 2 Common grades are intended for panelling, shelving and other uses where a fine appearance in a knotty product is desirable. 3 Common is widely used for these applications as well, but also for fences, boxes, crating, sheathing and industrial applications. 4 Common is the most widely used grade for general construction in such applications as sub-floors, roof and wall sheathing, concrete forms, low-cost fencing, crating, etc. 5 Common is a good choice for applications where economy governs. 

The MERCHANTABLE and BOARD grades (commonly applied to fir, hemlock and spruce species) are similarly evaluated from the better face with the higher Merchantable grades appropriate for any application where an exposed, refined knotty appearance is suitable. Construction grade is used for spaced sheathing, let-in bracing, fences, boxes, crating and industrial applications. The uses for R-List No. 3 Common and WCLIB Standard grade are similar to a 4 Common, as described above. 

Redwood GARDEN grades, in both all heart and heart/sapwood options, contain knots of varying sizes and qualities along with slight imperfections. Construction Heart and Deck Heart, two of the higher grades in the combination, are intended for decks, posts, retaining walls, fences and outdoor uses especially on or near soil. The Construction Common and Deck Common grades, which include sapwood, are for similar applications above ground where the heartwood’s decay and insect resistance is not required. 

Red Cedar Select Knotty and Quality Knotty general purpose “Pattern” grades are similar in appearance and end use to the 2 and 3 COMMONS. Widely used for siding and panelling products and in landscape applications.

Please refer to Select Grades to view grades; redwood grades begin on California Redwood.