This grade offers an excellent appearance that is virtually flawless and uniform. Mostly heartwood, it provides an elegant floor that is virtually clear of character marks.
 Uniform in appearance, this grade is nearly clear of character marks and color variations. It allows more of the natural characteristics associated with heartwood and sapwood.
Often the perfect choice where an economical or utility floor is needed or when a maximum number of character marks and grain variations are desired. This grade features more of the natural character markings than either the Clear or Select grades. No. 1 Common is often specified because of its overall appearance including desirable grain patterns.
   
Rift and quartered sawing produces a grain pattern that enhances characteristics such as medullary fleck rays, wavy and interlocking grain. This technique, besides displaying incomparable grain patterns, also reduces the risk of shrinking, splintering, warping and cupping.
   
Hickory/Pecan is a traditional combination of strength, hardness, and toughness of dark and light wood characteristics making it a popular choice in rustic applications. A mix of hickory and pecan is reddish-brown and dark brown stripes, with some boards tending towards creamy white with a pinkish tone. Pecan has an open grain with occasional wavy or irregular patterns; hickory has a closed grain with more moderate definition.
Ash has a natural color that varies from light tan to dark brown to creamy white. Similar to white oak but with a yellowish hue. The grain is bold, straight and moderately open with occasional wavy figuring. Ash can have a strong contrast in the grain in plain-sawn boards. Elastic, yet very hard, ash has excellebt shock resistance and good all-around workability.
Black Walnut is a chocolate brown color with occasional pieces that are even darker. Sapwood in the walnut can however give some pieces a nearly white look for a beautiful contrast in the appearance. Excellent choice for residential or commercial applications. Black Walnut can be stained to help reduce the color variations and produce a more uniform look.
The heartwood of American Cherry varies from light to reddish brown, while the sapwood can be nearly white in coloration. American Cherry is valued as a strong, stiff and moderately hard flooring. Given either a natural or stained finish, a mixture of cherry sapwood and heartwood displays a charming blend of unique grain patterns and character marks.
Brazilian Cherry is mostly salmon red to orange-brown, becoming russet or reddish-brown when seasoned, often marked with dark streaks. The grain is often interlocked with a texture ranging from moderate to coarse. Although Brazilian Cherry is dense and strong, darkening can occur upon excessive exposure to sunlight.