Prime, Select, Character or Rustic: A Guide to Wood Floor Grades
Posted November 10, 2026
What Prime, Select, Character and Rustic grades mean on our European oak floors, and how to choose the right one for each room.
Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation to review samples and specifications for your project.
Grade describes how much natural character a wood floor shows: knots, colour variation and grain movement. It changes the look of a room as much as colour or plank width. Our European oak floors come in four grades, from the calm Prime grade to the lively Rustic grade, and every one is in our wide plank collection.
This guide compares them using real products, including Denari, Viva, Lirano and Blaise.
Prime AB Grade
Denari is a Prime AB grade plank with a light natural tone and a wire brushed texture that brings out the clean grain. Its page describes the grade as giving a refined, high-end look. It is 9-1/2" wide, in random lengths up to 87", with a matte UV urethane finish.
Eva is also Prime AB, with clean grain patterns and a refined, modern look, in a 7-1/2" width with random lengths up to 73". Prime suits formal living rooms, dining rooms and apartments where the floor should feel calm and even.
Select AB Grade
Viva is our Select AB example. Its page describes a clean, refined look with a natural tone, a wire brushed texture and a matte UV lacquer finish that brings out the grain. It is 9-1/2" wide in random lengths up to 7'.
Select sits close to Prime but leaves a little more of the wood's natural variation. It is a good choice for open-plan apartments where a quiet floor needs to tie several rooms together. For more Prime and Select options, see our prime grade guide.
Character ABCD Grade
Lirano is a Character ABCD grade plank. Its page describes a natural and varied appearance, with a wire brushed texture and a matte UV urethane finish. It is 7-1/2" wide in random lengths up to 73", with a 2mm wear layer.
Portaviva brings the same ABCD grade to herringbone, in 5/8" x 4-3/4" x 23-5/8" pieces with a matte UV oil finish. Character grade suits family rooms, kitchens and country houses, where knots and colour variation add warmth. See more in our character grade guide.
Not sure which grade suits your rooms? Send us a photo and we will suggest two grades to sample.
Rustic Grade
Blaise is our Rustic grade plank. Its page describes natural character with visible grain variation and subtle knots, enhanced by a wire brushed texture. It is 8-5/8" wide in random lengths from 2' to 7', with a UV oil finish.
Blaise Chevron offers the same Rustic grade in a chevron, 5/8" x 4-3/4" x 28-1/8", which its page describes as a natural and highly varied appearance. Rustic suits a barn conversion, a country kitchen or a loft where the floor should feel lived in.
Grade in Herringbone and Chevron
Grade reads differently in a pattern. In herringbone and chevron, the short pieces break up knots and colour changes, so a Character or Rustic grade can look busier than the same grade in a long plank. Portaviva and Blaise Chevron are good examples.
Many of our planks can also be custom milled into herringbone or chevron, as listed for Denari, Eva, Viva and Lirano. That means you can keep one grade in both the pattern and the plank areas of a home. Browse our chevron collection to compare.
Choosing a Grade for Each Room
Start with how formal the room is. A Prime or Select grade such as Viva suits formal rooms and modern apartments. A Character or Rustic grade such as Blaise suits busier rooms, where natural marks blend in and the floor can show more personality.
Then look at samples in your own light, since grade and finish work together. A matte urethane on a Prime plank reads very differently from oil on a Rustic one. Our team can send samples of each grade so you can compare them side by side.
Book a virtual consultation to compare grade samples side by side.
Quick Answers
What is the difference between Prime and Select grade?
Both are AB grades with a clean, refined look. Prime, such as Denari, is the calmest. Select leaves a little more natural variation.
What does ABCD grade mean?
ABCD is our Character grade, as on Lirano, which its page describes as a natural and varied appearance.
Which grade shows the most knots?
Rustic grade, such as Blaise, which shows visible grain variation and subtle knots.
Can I get the same grade in herringbone?
Yes. Denari, Eva, Viva and Lirano list custom milling in herringbone and chevron cuts.
Plan Your Floor
Every floor in this guide is available through our store, and we can help you compare grades against your rooms, lighting and furniture.
Call (908) 232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or book a virtual consultation. Browse our collections: Herringbone, Chevron, Wide Plank, Parquet.
About The Author
Joe Avila has worked in wood flooring for 26 years. He is NWFA certified (CSI, CI, CWFI, CFS) and teaches NWFA continuing-education courses for architects, designers and flooring professionals. Luxury Wood NYC, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand.
Comments