LUMBER CUT TYPE
When deciding on what kind of custom wide plank wood flooring to buy, many people don't consider the cut of the wood. Most just think about what kind of wood they want. However, the cut of the wood is an important consideration.
There are four different cuts of wood that have their own distinct look: Live Sawn, Plain Sawn, Quarter Sawn and Rift Sawn.
Plain Sawn Lumber
Plain sawn lumber is the most common type of cut. The annular rings are generally 30 degrees or less to the face of the board; this is often referred to as tangential grain.
Quarter Sawn Lumber
The annular rings of a quarter sawn board are about 60-90 degrees to the face of the board; this is often referred to as radial grain. The goal is to keep the grain as close to perpendicular (90 degrees) to the face of the board as possible to maintain dimensional stability.
Rift Sawn Lumber
The annular rings or a rift sawn board are about 30-60 degrees to the face of the board, but 45 degrees is the most optimum. Similar to quarter sawn lumber, rift sawn lumber is also referred to as radial grain.