Milling Standards

Heidelberg Wood Flooring manufactures its domestically produced, first quality solid plank flooring to
exceed NWFA/NOFMA Unfinished Standards 2009.

​

Heidelberg Wood Flooring | NWFA/NOFMA

Face Width: ± 0.005” | ± 0.010”
*Match Position: ≤ 0.006” | ≤ 0.008”
Thickness: ± .009” | ± 0.015”
 

*For the most accurate match position, we measure from the bottom, flat surface to bottom of the
tongue and bottom of the groove.

​

Board Length Guidelines

Heidelberg Wood Flooring produces random length boards and the range of lengths will be included
on your order. Increased minimum length orders (i.e 3’-10’ or 5’-12’) will have an allowance of up to
5% of the total square footage of your order of boards that may be shorter than the minimum
specified length. These boards are referred to as cut-backs and are typically used to start a row or to
fill a small gap at the end of a row during installation.

​

Grade Guidelines

Heidelberg Wood Flooring’s grade guidelines are in accordance with NWFA/NOFMA specifications
set forth in the Official Flooring Grading Rules last updated by NOFMA in 1999. The target is to be
100% on Grade. Heidelberg Wood Flooring has an allowance of not greater than 1.5% of pieces to be
mis-graded or off-grade pieces (includes only below grade pieces).

Shipping
Your floor will typically be delivered via common carrier, such as UPS Freight or Roadway. These
trucks are up to 53 feet long, so please keep in mind that the truck will need to access your home or
job site, park, and be able to turn around. If you think there might be difficulty with this, please let us
know and we’ll be happy to make other trucking arrangements to deliver your floor.

Each floor manufactured by Heidelberg Wood Flooring is thoroughly inspected by our quality control
engineers. We take exceptional care to ensure that the integrity of our quality is not compromised in
the shipping process; however, we do recommend thorough inspection of the flooring for quality and
accuracy upon arrival and prior to installation. Heidelberg Wood Flooring is not responsible for any
visible defects or costs incurred for replacements or repair of materials after installation.

Damage: If a shipment is received damaged, it must be noted on the delivery receipt. Heidelberg
Wood Flooring will not be responsible for filing a claim with the freight company without a notation on
the delivery receipt.
Moisture: It is the customer’s responsibility to verify the moisture levels are appropriate (7%-9%).
Any moisture claim must be filed within 5 days of delivery.

Quantity: It is the customer’s responsibility to verify the quantity of the flooring received. Any overage
or shortage claim must be filed within 5 days of delivery.

Heidelberg Wood Flooring understands the urgent nature in which replacement material may be
required due to a shipping claim and can arrange immediate replacement material to be shipped with
no shipping charges to the customer for any of the above mentioned shipping claims filed within the
appropriate timeframes.
DO NOT DISPOSE OF DAMAGED MATERIAL. A credit for additional material shipped or refund for
damaged material will only be provided upon the return and inspection of the material at a Heidelberg
Wood Flooring facility. Material must be available for pick-up and Heidelberg Wood Flooring will
make shipping arrangements for the return at no charge to the customer. If material is severely
damaged or in a condition where it cannot be returned, photos provided to Heidelberg Wood Flooring
for review or inspection by a designated representative are required for an exception.

Shipping Delays
Heidelberg Wood Flooring will not be responsible for any delays, including but not limited to delays
caused by acts of God, strikes, mechanical breakdown, material shortages, and any condition beyond
its control. Shipping dates stated herein or in any Sales Order or Invoice are best estimates.

Returns
Heidelberg Wood Flooring will accept the return of any unopened and unaltered material within 30
days of the Invoice date with the exception of Custom Flooring. Returns may be subject to a 15%
restocking fee as well as the freight/shipping costs incurred for the return of any material.

Warranty Claims
Written claims must be received during the warranty period and no later than six (6) months after the
problem appears. The date of purchase, name of original purchaser, and purchase invoices will be
verified. The floor must have been purchased from a Heidelberg Wood Flooring outlet and must be
paid for in full.

Important! We strongly recommend that you keep your original Invoice, Heidelberg Wood Flooring
Installation Guide, Heidelberg Wood Flooring Maintenance and Warranty in a safe place.

Heidelberg Wood Flooring reserves the right to have the floor inspected by a designated
representative, and to authorize this representative to take samples for analysis. The representative
will provide recommendations to the manufacturer in a timely fashion.

​

​

Grade Guidelines

Heidelberg Wood Flooring’s grade guidelines are in accordance with and exceed NWFA/NOFMA specifications
set forth in the Official Flooring Grading Rules last updated by NOFMA in 1999. The target is to be 100% on
Grade. Heidelberg Wood Flooring has an allowance of not greater than 3% of pieces to be mis-graded or offgrade
pieces (includes only below grade pieces).
Wood Cutting Styles
The type of wood cut is determined by the angle at which a board is cut from the log. Each cut produces a board of
different appearance and quality. The following table is a summary of appearance for floor grading purposes. For
photos/videos and more details please visit: http://www.heidelbergflooring.com/hardwood-floor-grades-types-of-woodcuts.
Plain Sawn (AKA Flat Sawn) The grain lines may appear straight or slightly curved and join at the end to form a “cathedral arch.”
Plain sawn includes the largest variety of grain patterns of any cut.
Live Sawn Similar to Plain Sawn except the boards will contain 15-25% of Rift/Quartered Characteristics. Most
European Oak is Live Sawn
Quarter Sawn Grain lines are mostly parallel to the length of the plank. The unique trait of quarter sawn boars is
the obvious medullary ray flecks. Ray flecks cut across the wood’s grain which creates a
shimmering flake figure spread over the wood and more than 1/16” wide.
Rift Sawn Grain lines are mostly parallel to the length of the plank and medullary ray fleks are less than 1/16”
thick when present in no more than 25% of the floor.
Rift/Quartered Rift and Quartered flooring is a combination of quarter sawn and rift sawn boards. The wider boards will yield a larger portion of quarter sawn characteristics. Narrow planks such as 3” and 4” will
contain approx 50-60% quartered with the rest being classified as Rift sawn. 5”-7” is approx 70-75%
quartered and greater than 8” has 80+% quartered characteristics.

American White Oak, Northern/Appalachian
Heidelberg Wood Flooring’s White Oak is considered Northern White Oak where the climate allows for slower growth of trees, yielding an optimal beauty of tight, dense grain patterns. This typically includes regions such as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, but there are also areas in the Appalachian Mountain range in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee that also include the same characteristics.

 

White Oak Flooring Grades

Clear Mostly heartwood with a minimum number of character marks and discoloration, providing a uniform appearance while allowing for all heartwood natural color variations. May contain the following: 3/8”
bright sapwood no extending further than 1/3 of length of piece; small burls and fine pin worm holes;
and equivalent characters such as small tight checks; small thin mineral streak 3” long max in a 6’
piece.

Select Coloration variations produced by differences of natural heartwood and sapwood. May contain the
following and other similar characteristics: 1 small pin knots in 3’ piece; small tight checks, pin worm
holes; thin brown streaks cannot extend full length of piece.

1 Common Coloration that contains full range of heartwood and light sapwood. My contain the following and
other similar characteristics: smaller open/broken knots up to ½” diameter; narrow slightly open
checks; torn grain (that must sand out); worm holes up to 1/8”; pin worm holes; sticker stain; heavy
mineral streaks.

Natural/Character Character marks and contrasting appearance is desired. Open/Broken knots up to 1-1/4” that canbe filled; narrow checks; torn grain (that must sand out); End splits allowed but not extending
through piece or wider than 1/16”; one small edge defect per 3’ not wider than 1/16”; mineral
streaks.. The following is NOT allowed: shattered or rotten ends, shake, advanced rot and similar
characteristics.

​

Special Grades
Rift Only NY Perfection Grade *White Oak Only
This designates a Rift only Floor that goes above the written specs of Clear Grade and Rift Only.
The appearance of the wood cut is 100% rift with no allowance for visual ray flecks. The following
is NOT allowed: bright sapwood, small burls, pin worm holes.
French Cut

Plainsawn/Livesawn
The French cut is in reference to the appearance of the grain patterns where the wood is sorted to
be as symmetrical as possible with the cathedrals of the live sawn cut are in the center of the plank
with straight grain on the outside edges. Only effective on plank 8” or wider
Clear, No Sap Clear grade rules apply with the exception that there is absolutely no light sapwood on the boards.
 

Shrunk Face *White Oak Only
This is an appearance available in Natural/Character grade where our unique drying technique
results in a sculpted texture on the face of the wood as a result of the density variation within the
wood itself.
 

American Black Walnut
Heidelberg Wood Flooring’s Walnut is sourced in the Midwest Region from states including Missouri, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. The Walnut is air dried, steamed and kiln dried. Un-steamed walnut is
available for special order. The reference to light sapwood percentages in each grade refers to the overall
percentage of the entire assembled floor and not just individual pieces.

 

*Rift and Quartered Walnut does not contain the obvious medullary ray flecks as described in the wood cuts on
previous page. It’s a more subtle shimmer found across width of board.
 

Walnut Flooring Grades

Clear Dark Rich coloration that is mostly true heartwood, with darkened sapwood allowed that
doesn’t create a prominent contrast. Rare occasions of lighter sap on edges, <2%. May
contain the following and other similar characters: 1 small tight knot up to ¼” every 3’;
small tight checks; small burls and fine unstained pinworm holes; thin brown streaks 3” in 2’.

Select Dark Rich coloration that is mostly true heartwood, with darkened sapwood. Lighter toned
sapwood allowance is <10%. May contain the following and other similar characteristics:
small knots up to 3/8” with no loose pieces; small tight checks, pin worm holes; thin brown
streaks; and unlimited burl.

1 Common Coloration that contains full range of heartwood, darkened sapwood, and light sapwood.
Light sapwood will not exceed 15%. My contain the following and other similar
characteristics: smaller open/broken knots up to ½”; narrow slightly open checks; torn
grain (that must sand out); worm holes up to 1/8”; pin worm holes; occasional sound pith;
mineral streaks; and unlimited burl.

Natural/Character Coloration that contains full range of heartwood, darkened sapwood, and light sapwood.
Light sapwood will not exceed 30%. Sapwood may me stained, blotchy or speckled.
Open/Broken knots up to 1-1/4” that can be filled; narrow checks; torn grain (that must
sand out); End splits allowed but not extending through piece or wider that 1/16”; one small
edge defect per 3’ not wider than 1/16”; sound pith; mineral streaks; and unlimited burl.

​