# Oak flooring grades explained

> Oak flooring grades explained: what Prime, Select, Natur and Rustic mean, why grade names vary by mill, and how EN 13226 and AS 2796 fit in.

- URL: https://timbo.com.au/guides/oak-flooring-grades
- Publisher: Timbo (https://timbo.com.au) – trade supplier of European oak floorboards to partners in Australia and New Zealand
- Last updated: 2026-10-14
- Contact (email only): partnerships@timbo.com.au

## Key facts

- Oak flooring grades describe appearance – knots, colour variation, sapwood and filled defects – not strength or hardness.
- Common European oak grade names are Prime, Select, Natur (Natural) and Rustic, but exact limits vary from mill to mill.
- AS 2796 grades Australian hardwood flooring (Select, Standard/Medium Feature, High Feature); it does not grade European oak.
- European solid parquet elements with tongues and grooves are covered by EN 13226.
- Timbo supplies Prime grade European oak – the cleanest, most even appearance grade.

## What is an oak flooring grade?

**An oak flooring grade is a sort of boards by appearance: how many knots they have, how big those knots are, how much colour variation and sapwood is allowed and whether filled splits are present.** It is not a measure of strength, hardness or quality of milling.

The mill decides the grade when the lamellas or blocks are sorted after sawing and drying. Cleaner grades yield fewer boards per log, which is why they usually cost more. A good **grade description** lists what each grade allows; a good **sample** shows you what that looks like across more than one board.

## The four common European oak grades

**Most European oak flooring is sold as Prime, Select, Natur (Natural) or Rustic, from cleanest to most characterful.** The table gives the typical look; exact limits vary by mill.

| Grade | Typical appearance | Suits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Prime** (sometimes "A" or "Clean") | Even colour, few small sound knots, little or no sapwood, minimal filler | Formal parquet, contemporary minimal interiors, light or limed finishes |
| **Select** | Small knots, some colour variation, occasional small sapwood | Most homes; balance of calm and natural |
| **Natur / Natural** | More and larger knots, noticeable colour variation, some filled checks | Relaxed interiors, family homes |
| **Rustic** | Large knots, filled splits, sapwood, strong colour variation | Farmhouse and industrial looks, smoked or dark finishes |

You will also see blends such as "Select/Natur" or "ABC", and some mills use letters or their own names. Always ask for the written grade rules.

## Grade names vary by mill

**There is no single global definition of "Prime" or "Rustic".** Each mill sets its own grade rules: maximum knot size, how many knots per board, how much sapwood, whether filled cracks are allowed and whether colour variation is restricted.

That means:

1. Two suppliers' "Select" boards can look quite different.
2. A sample from one batch may differ a little from another batch.
3. A photo is not enough – the colour of the finish, lighting and camera all change what you see.

For retailers and installers, the practical step is to keep a sample of the grade you sold with the job file, and to note the batch on the delivery. For homeowners, view a sample board (or better, a sample panel) of the actual product in the room's light. Timbo partners can [order free samples](https://timbo.com.au/samples).

## How grading relates to standards

**Australian hardwood flooring is graded under AS 2796, but that standard does not grade European oak; European solid parquet is made under European standards such as EN 13226.** Mixing the two systems is a common source of confusion.

| Standard | What it covers | Applies to European oak? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **AS 2796** | Hardwood flooring grades for Australian species – Select, Standard/Medium Feature, High Feature ([ATFA](https://www.floorchoices.com.au/information-sheets/hardwood-flooring-grades/)) | No |
| **EN 13226** | Solid parquet elements with grooves and/or tongues – requirements and classification ([dataholz](https://www.dataholz.eu/en/building-materials/wood-flooring-and-parquet.htm)) | Yes, solid parquet |
| **EN 14342** | Harmonised standard for wood flooring and parquet: CE marking and Declaration of Performance (fire reaction, formaldehyde, slip and more) ([dataholz](https://www.dataholz.eu/en/building-materials/wood-flooring-and-parquet.htm)) | Yes |

Mills commonly describe their trade grades against the appearance classes in European parquet standards, but trade names like "Prime" are not themselves defined by AS 2796. If a specification calls for "AS 2796 Select grade", that's written for Australian hardwood – for European oak, specify the mill's grade name and attach the grade rules. Architects can read more in [specifying oak flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/specifying-oak-flooring-architects).

## What grade does *not* tell you

**Grade says nothing about strength, hardness, moisture content or milling accuracy.** Those come from the species, the drying and the mill's quality control.

- **Hardness** comes from the species. European oak is roughly 4.2–6.1 kN on the Janka scale, compared with about 5.5–7 kN for Tasmanian oak and about 11 kN for spotted gum ([PFC](https://www.pfc.com.au/janka-rating-floor-durability/), [Flooring Expert](https://www.flooringexpert.com.au/european-oak-vs-australian-hardwood/)). Rustic and Prime oak dent about the same.
- **Construction** – solid or engineered – is separate from grade. Timbo's parquet is 18mm solid.
- **Moisture content** depends on drying and storage. Measure it on site; see [moisture content in timber flooring](https://timbo.com.au/guides/moisture-content-timber-flooring).
- **Finish** changes appearance dramatically. A dark stain or smoked finish mutes colour variation; a light or white oil highlights it.

## Choosing the right grade

**Choose Prime for a calm, formal or minimalist floor; choose Natur or Rustic if you want character and a floor that disguises wear.** Select sits in the middle.

| If you want… | Consider |
| --- | --- |
| A classic, refined herringbone or chevron | Prime |
| A light Scandinavian or limed look | Prime or Select (knots show more under pale finishes) |
| A relaxed family floor that hides scuffs | Natur or Rustic |
| A dark, smoked or heavily stained floor | Any – stain mutes variation, so Natur/Rustic are good value |
| Consistency across a large commercial area | Prime or a tightly specified Select |

Pattern matters too. In [herringbone](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-guide) and chevron, the short blocks repeat many times across the room, so a clean grade reads as a crisp geometric pattern while a rustic grade becomes busier.

**See and feel the oak:** Free samples for trade partners and their clients. Tell us the product and where to send it. → https://timbo.com.au/samples

## Checking grade on delivery

**Check grade before laying, not after – once blocks are glued and sanded, grade disputes are much harder to resolve.** A simple routine for installers and retailers:

1. **Open several boxes** from different parts of the delivery, not just the top layer.
2. **Lay out a selection** of blocks in good light and compare them with the approved sample.
3. **Look for what the grade rules allow** – knot size and count, sapwood, filled checks and colour range – rather than judging "nice" or "not nice".
4. **Set aside any out-of-grade blocks** for cuts at the perimeter or under joinery, or keep them aside to report.
5. **Record the batch** and photograph anything you're concerned about.
6. **Report promptly.** Under Timbo's partner terms, defects must be reported within 3 days of receipt – see the [partner terms](https://timbo.com.au/pages/partner-terms-and-conditions).

Natural timber varies. A small number of blocks with more character than average is normal in any grade; that is why installers "shuffle" boxes and blend blocks across the floor rather than laying one box at a time.

## Timbo's grade

**Timbo supplies Prime grade European oak** – the cleanest appearance grade – in 18mm solid herringbone and chevron parquet. Prime suits formal patterns, pale finishes and premium residential and commercial interiors. For the full grade description of a current batch, flooring businesses can [contact Timbo](https://timbo.com.au/pages/contact-us) or [become a partner](https://timbo.com.au/pages/be-our-business-partner). Homeowners can see Prime grade oak through a [Timbo partner](https://timbo.com.au/partners/find-a-partner).

## Timbo's grade system

Timbo describes timber appearance with five grades, from cleanest to most characterful:

| Timbo grade | What you see |
| --- | --- |
| [A-Prime](https://timbo.com.au/products/a-prime-grade) | Few, if any, knots; uniform colour; smooth, clean surface |
| [AB](https://timbo.com.au/products/ab-grade) | Minimal knots; consistent colour and grain |
| [ABC](https://timbo.com.au/products/abc-rade) | A mix of A, B and C boards – clear sections through to visible knots and colour variation |
| [ABCD – Natural / Rustic](https://timbo.com.au/products/abcd-natural-rustic-grade) | Pronounced colour variation, knots and natural imperfections |
| [CD – Rustic / Character](https://timbo.com.au/products/cd-rustic-character-grade) | Distinctive knots, mineral streaks and strong colour variation |

Timbo's herringbone and chevron parquet is supplied in **Prime grade**. See all [wood flooring grades](https://timbo.com.au/collections/wood-flooring-grades).

## Sources

- [ATFA (floorchoices.com.au) – Hardwood flooring grades](https://www.floorchoices.com.au/information-sheets/hardwood-flooring-grades/)
- [dataholz.eu – Wood flooring and parquet (EN 13226, EN 14342)](https://www.dataholz.eu/en/building-materials/wood-flooring-and-parquet.htm)
- [PFC – Janka rating and floor durability](https://www.pfc.com.au/janka-rating-floor-durability/)
- [Flooring Expert – European oak vs Australian hardwood](https://www.flooringexpert.com.au/european-oak-vs-australian-hardwood/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How is Prime grade different from Select grade oak?

Prime is the cleaner of the two: an even colour, few and small sound knots and little or no sapwood. Select allows more small knots and some colour variation. Exact limits (for example maximum knot size) are set by each mill, so compare written grade rules and samples.

### Is Rustic grade oak weaker than Prime grade?

No. Grade is a visual sort. Rustic boards come from the same species and have essentially the same hardness – European oak is roughly 4.2–6.1 kN on the Janka scale whatever the grade. Rustic simply shows more knots, filled splits and colour variation.

### Why does one supplier's Select look like another supplier's Natur?

Because grade names are mill trade names, not a single regulated scale. Each mill writes its own limits, so the same word can mean different things. Compare samples and written grade rules, not just names.

### Does AS 2796 apply to European oak floorboards?

No. AS 2796 is the Australian standard for hardwood flooring grades and covers Australian species. European oak parquet is made to European standards such as EN 13226 and CE-marked under EN 14342.

### Which oak grade hides wear and dirt best?

Grades with more natural character – Natur and Rustic – tend to disguise small marks, dust and pet scratches better than a very clean Prime floor. Colour and sheen of the finish also make a big difference: matt, mid-tone finishes hide the most.

### Can a floor mix grades?

Some mills sell blended grades (for example Select/Natur). Mixing boxes of different grades on site is usually avoided because it creates patchy areas. Order one grade, from one batch, for each room where possible.

## Related pages

- [Floorboards buying guide Australia 2026](https://timbo.com.au/guides/floorboards-buying-guide-australia) – Floorboards buying guide for Australia 2026: solid, engineered, hybrid or laminate, plus species, grades, patterns, subfloors, finishes and costs per m².
- [European oak vs Tasmanian oak flooring: what's the difference and which to choose](https://timbo.com.au/compare/european-oak-vs-tasmanian-oak) – European oak vs Tasmanian oak compared – why Tas oak isn't a true oak, Janka hardness, colour, staining, supply, cost per m² and which floor suits your home.
- [Herringbone flooring guide](https://timbo.com.au/guides/herringbone-flooring-guide) – Herringbone flooring guide for Australia and NZ: how the pattern works, block sizes, solid vs engineered, installation over slab, finishes and 2026 costs.