Quarter sawn red or whiteoak: Has the least amount of color variation and a very tight grain pattern with very little soft grain, usually flawless—without knots or mineral streaks(dark lines).

Select and better plain sawn red or white oak: Has little color variation and for the most part has a lot of open soft grain in a variation of patterns but, there are no mineral streaks(dark lines).

#1 common quarter sawn red or white oak: Has less color variation than plain sawn and a very tight grain pattern with very little soft grain. Because it is #1 common it will have some flaws such as knots and mineral streaks (dark lines).

#1 common plain sawn red or white oak: Will show more of the natural character of the wood flooring. You will see more color variation and pronounced grain patterns. It is a mix of heart and sap wood with an occasional knot. Because it is plain sawn it will have a lot of soft grain in a variation of patterns with mineral streaks(dark lines).

#2 Common oak (character grade): Will show dramatic variations in color and character. You will see obvious color variations. It is a mix of sap and heart wood and you will get a lot of large knots in #2 common. Purchase #2 common oak only if you like knot holes or if you are looking for a floor with an extreme rustic appearance.