What Does Below Grade Mean In Flooring

However many homeowners don t realize that it s not only the type of wood that matters but it s the also the wood s quality or grade that ultimately determines the finished look of your flooring.

What does below grade mean in flooring.

Concrete is the only below grade flooring that does not work upstairs due to weight limitations. Below grade below grade refers to a house s level that is below the earth s surface such as a basement or the lower level of a split level house. It does not matter if the depth is. This section applies to all levels of a home which are at ground level.

These sections are called floor grades. Many buildings constructed today extend one or several floors below grade level. Quality engineered flooring on the other hand is manufactured to have better resistance to higher or lower than normal moisture. Tavern or cabin grade.

It is worth noting that some sellers combine grades of hardwood. Some of these types include hardwood and bamboo. Below grade flooring below grade refers to flooring that is installed below the earth s surface this could be anywhere from 4 inches to 30 feet below ground or deeper. For example a floor may be sold as 1 common and better meaning it is a combination of 1 common select and better and clear grades.

Except in the case of an at grade slab concrete floor most residential structures that have a basement or crawlspace below cannot carry the weight of a concrete floor. Installing below the recommended grade level can result in too much humidity and moisture getting into your hardwood floor causing it to warp and even crack. This has the most visible character with many knots pinholes and color variations present. This moisture in turn migrates through below grade cement walls and slabs.

Cabin grade hardwood floors like all hardwood floors are meant to be a mosaic. Wood flooring that has absorbed excess moisture can swell in size causing the edges of the boards to cup and or buckle the wood. Hardwood flooring installers break down any home into three separate sections that determine which types of hardwood flooring in specific locations. There are many choices to be made when choosing wood flooring like what species of wood to use what stain color and what size boards.

While floors made with organic materials can be installed below grade they are not generally recommended for high humidity areas.