A Boston Guide to Hardwood Flooring Cuts and Milling Types
Installing new hardwood floors in your south Boston area home isn’t just as simple as picking a wood type. There's another big decision you’re going to have to make as well: choosing hardwood flooring cuts or milling of the wood.
How logs are cut at the mill makes a really big difference in how your hardwood floor are going to look and perform. This decision is almost as big as choosing the type of wood you want.
Let's dive deep into the four primary wood flooring cuts: Plain Sawn (Flat Sawn), Quarter Sawn, Rift Sawn and Live Sawn.
How Plainsawn Flooring is Cut:
Logs are cut parallel to their growth rings. You can see this cut pattern in the image. This produces those that very distinctive "cathedral" shaped grain pattern that many homeowners recognize instantly due to its popularity. This way of milling maximizes lumber yield, which is why it’s the most economical wood flooring option.
Visual Characteristics:
Plainsawn hardwood flooring has traditional wood appearance with pronounced, sweeping grain patterns with prominent growth ring arches and cathedral shaped grain patterns throughout. There are options for quite wide boards, but not ultra-wide floorboards like Live Sawn milling offer.
Positive Points:
The biggest advantage with plain sawn flooring is its price point and availability. It’s the most affordable way to mill logs. Because of the very efficient way it is milled and cut, there is very little waste, therefore much more wood extracted per log. It’s also the fastest way to cut a log and the quickest cut to dry. All of these add to its affordability.
Potential Issues:
Plain sawn boards are less dimensional stable compared to other cuts because of the way it’s milled parallel to the growth rings. Because wood moves in the direction of the growth rings, this cut has the most lateral movement.
Because of this, it’s more prone to the big swings in seasonal temperature and humidity levels we have here in the greater Boston and South Shore Massachusetts areas. This moisture sensitivity and stability issue means it’s more likely to experience seasonal expansion and contraction which can create more noticeable gaps in plainsawn floors compared to other cuts.
It is also more prone to cupping and warping if moisture is present.
Ideal Applications for Plain Sawn Flooring:
Plain sawn flooring is the most affordable option for solid hardwood floor installation in Boston, Hingham, Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury and surrounding South Shore Massachusetts locations. It’s typically 20-30% less expensive than quarter or rift sawn alternatives.
Plain Sawn Flooring Is Best for:
If you’re a budget-conscious homeowner, who appreciates traditional, classic grain patterns, don't mind some natural seasonal wood movement and the gaps that come with it then plain sawn flooring could be perfect hardwood floor choice for your home.
How It's Cut:
The whole logs are first cut into quarters. Then each quarter is cut perpendicular to the growth rings at a 60-90 degree angle. This specific milling style creates narrow-ish to medium wide boards with some cool effects not found in any other type of milling that we’ll discuss below.
Visual Characteristics:
Quarter sawn flooring has one of the most unique grain patterns. It has super straight, uniform grain. This gives the floor a highly consistent appearance. The angle used in quarter sawn milling also causes distinct medullary ray patterns. The medullary rays—vertical lines running perpendicular to growth rings—create a shimmering, almost iridescent flecked effect when light hits the floor. It’s especially noticeable in White Oak quarter sawn flooring. These medullary rays are highly prized by woodworking enthusiasts who use quarter sawn wood for custom made wood furniture.
Positive Points:
This is the most dimensionally stable cut of hardwood flooring available (as well as rift sawn) for our Boston customers. Quarter sawn wood has far less movement during humidity swings because seasonal movement will expand through the thickness of the board, not across the lateral width. That means minimal expansion and contraction, warping and cupping, and no giant gaps between boards during certain times of the year.
It’s also one of the most uniform grain patterns (rift sawn being the most uniform), which is great if you want a muted, consistent, even looking hardwood floor grain without large growth rings showing.
Potential Issues:
There is a cost to buy quarter sawn flooring compared to plain sawn. There’s also limited availability, which drives the price up. And you won’t be able to get those super wide 12” boards in quarter sawn easily.
Ideal Applications for Quarter Sawn Flooring:
You should expect to invest somewhere around 20-40% more compared to plain sawn hardwood flooring options. This increased cost is worth it for the benefits quartersawn flooring offers.
Quarter Sawn Flooring Is Best for:
If you’re willing to invest at a higher price point, for a clean, modern, straight grain high-end look then this is a great choice. It’s perfect for people in Boston installing hardwood floors because of its great stability and how it handles our local temperature and humidity swings. If you don’t want huge gaps throughout the year, get a quarter sawn engineered hardwood floor.
How It's Cut:
Rift sawn planks are cut at a 30-60 degree angle to the growth rings. It comes from the same part of the log that is quartered for quarter sawn cuts. But it uses the outer portion closer to the bark, where quarter sawn uses the portion closer to the centre of the log. Because of the part of the log they are cut from, it is very difficult to create wide plank rift sawn boards. Most will be around 5” wide.
Visual Characteristics:
Rift sawn flooring are narrow width planks. They have perfectly straight grain lines creating super clean-looking wood flooring. There is zero growth ring wavy grain showing here. Its grain is so straight and minimalist that if you install a hardwood floor with narrow rift sawn boards and sand and refinish and stain them on site, the floorboards will blend so well together you’ll have trouble telling where the joins are.
Positive Points:
There’s a lot to love about rift sawn flooring. It has the highest dimensional stability available, alongside quarter sawn flooring. This gives it exceptional resistance to warping and seasonal movement. And if you pair it with an 11-ply engineered base payer, you have THE ultimate hardwood floor available in Boston. Rift sawn is the most uniform, minimal, straight and clean looking floor available. The type of hardwood floor you’ll see in home design and architectural magazines.
Potential Issues:
Rift sawn is definitely the most expensive wood flooring cut. If you’re looking for a budget hardwood floor in Boston, this isn’t it. And you’ll have to be ok with narrow boards because it is very difficult to create wide plank rift sawn boards.
Ideal Applications for Rift Sawn Flooring:
Sawing logs into rift sawn planks is the most expensive milling technique used for hardwood flooring. It takes specialized sawing equipment and a much longer process to cut and dry. And only a certain part of the log can be used. Prices can potentially be 50-70% higher than plain sawn flooring depending on the type of hardwood you choose for you Boston wood floor installation project.
Rift Sawn Flooring is Best for:
Minimalist design lovers and contemporary design enthusiasts will be enthralled with rift sawn wood floors. They provide a wonderful high-end architectural look to a room. They are also the most stable solid wood flooring available for our extreme Boston weather and humidity swings. If you hate gaps in hardwood floors, get an engineered rift sawn floor.
How It's Cut:
Live Sawn is milled by cutting straight through logs. It’s the simplest cut out of all the milling types. This method gets a blend of multiple grain patterns in one board. It also produces the widest possible flooring planks, restricted only by the size of the log. It has the least waste out of all the cutting methods.
Visual Characteristics:
Live sawn flooring comes with mixed grain patterns that give it a rustic, authentically natural appearance. It’s full of character as each board is very unique. All this, plus the widest possible planks available to showcase its stunning looks.
Positive Points:
Probably the biggest benefit to live sawn flooring is the unique character in every plank. You get a wonderful mix of plain sawn, quarter sawn and rift sawn all in one board. That, and the width of the planks.
Potential Issues:
All of that unique character in live sawn wood can be visually "busy" for some design preferences. It’s definitely not a good choice for those that love clean, straight grain flooring. It also requires far more care with the installation. In most cases it will need gluing as well as nailing or stapling down to give it more stability. Wide planks are prone to more movement than narrower flooring.
Ideal Applications for Live Sawn Flooring:
Priced between plain sawn and quarter sawn, live sawn flooring is a great middle of the road option.
Live Sawn Flooring is Best for:
Live sawn flooring is definitely a cut for people who want unique, statement floors. It fits really well with rustic or eclectic design styles. The ultra-wide plank flooring looks especially good in large, open spaces.
Proper home humidity control is super important to manage floor movement.
Don't just focus on the cost of your Boston hardwood floor installation—think about long-term performance. Your hardwood floor is a big investment. Take the time to read up and understand these four hardwood flooring cuts and milling types, and you'll end up with a wood floor that looks great, performs well in our environment, and lasts for years.
If you would like to consult with a local Boston hardwood flooring professional who understands the greater Boston and South Shore Massachusetts unique climate challenges, please feel free to get in touch. Our phone number is (781) 380-0768.
How logs are cut at the mill makes a really big difference in how your hardwood floor are going to look and perform. This decision is almost as big as choosing the type of wood you want.
What's So Important about the Way Wood is Cut?
A lot. The way mills cut logs determines everything about how the final flooring product looks and works. For hardwood flooring cuts this means:- How the wood grain appears in each plank
- How structurally stable and durable your floor ends up being
- The price of your hardwood flooring and how available it is to buy locally
- And its overall long-term durability
Let's dive deep into the four primary wood flooring cuts: Plain Sawn (Flat Sawn), Quarter Sawn, Rift Sawn and Live Sawn.
Plain Sawn Flooring (Flat Sawn)
Plain sawn flooring is the most common and cheapest way to cut logs for wood flooring. Being the budget-friendly option, it’s not hard to see why it’s so popular for hardwood floors in Boston. The majority of hardwood floors in the greater South Shore Massachusetts areas like Braintree, Hingham, Cohasset and Duxbury are installed with plainsawn wood.
How Plainsawn Flooring is Cut:
Logs are cut parallel to their growth rings. You can see this cut pattern in the image. This produces those that very distinctive "cathedral" shaped grain pattern that many homeowners recognize instantly due to its popularity. This way of milling maximizes lumber yield, which is why it’s the most economical wood flooring option.
Visual Characteristics:
Plainsawn hardwood flooring has traditional wood appearance with pronounced, sweeping grain patterns with prominent growth ring arches and cathedral shaped grain patterns throughout. There are options for quite wide boards, but not ultra-wide floorboards like Live Sawn milling offer.
Positive Points:
The biggest advantage with plain sawn flooring is its price point and availability. It’s the most affordable way to mill logs. Because of the very efficient way it is milled and cut, there is very little waste, therefore much more wood extracted per log. It’s also the fastest way to cut a log and the quickest cut to dry. All of these add to its affordability.
Potential Issues:
Plain sawn boards are less dimensional stable compared to other cuts because of the way it’s milled parallel to the growth rings. Because wood moves in the direction of the growth rings, this cut has the most lateral movement.
Because of this, it’s more prone to the big swings in seasonal temperature and humidity levels we have here in the greater Boston and South Shore Massachusetts areas. This moisture sensitivity and stability issue means it’s more likely to experience seasonal expansion and contraction which can create more noticeable gaps in plainsawn floors compared to other cuts.
It is also more prone to cupping and warping if moisture is present.
Ideal Applications for Plain Sawn Flooring:
- Plain sawn flooring is perfect for those budget-conscious hardwood floor installations in south Boston
- They’re also great for those looking for hardwood floors with more traditional characteristics like large sweeping, looping grain patterns
- Plain sawn milled floors are better suited to homes in the greater Boston and South Shore Massachusetts areas with consistent humidity levels due to having humidifiers installed or climate-controlled rooms.
- It’s also great for those looking to install engineered flooring here in Boston. The plywood base layers will give the floor much more stability and mitigate excessive movement during large humidity fluctuations.
Plain sawn flooring is the most affordable option for solid hardwood floor installation in Boston, Hingham, Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury and surrounding South Shore Massachusetts locations. It’s typically 20-30% less expensive than quarter or rift sawn alternatives.
Plain Sawn Flooring Is Best for:
If you’re a budget-conscious homeowner, who appreciates traditional, classic grain patterns, don't mind some natural seasonal wood movement and the gaps that come with it then plain sawn flooring could be perfect hardwood floor choice for your home.
Quarter Sawn Flooring
Logs cut with the quarter sawn milling go through very different cutting method compared to the plain sawn cut we just discussed above. This milling style creates exceptionally stable wood planks. It also has a very straight, linear grain pattern. Lots of old buildings in Boston from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s have floors and trim made from quartersawn wood in them.
How It's Cut:
The whole logs are first cut into quarters. Then each quarter is cut perpendicular to the growth rings at a 60-90 degree angle. This specific milling style creates narrow-ish to medium wide boards with some cool effects not found in any other type of milling that we’ll discuss below.
Visual Characteristics:
Quarter sawn flooring has one of the most unique grain patterns. It has super straight, uniform grain. This gives the floor a highly consistent appearance. The angle used in quarter sawn milling also causes distinct medullary ray patterns. The medullary rays—vertical lines running perpendicular to growth rings—create a shimmering, almost iridescent flecked effect when light hits the floor. It’s especially noticeable in White Oak quarter sawn flooring. These medullary rays are highly prized by woodworking enthusiasts who use quarter sawn wood for custom made wood furniture.
Positive Points:
This is the most dimensionally stable cut of hardwood flooring available (as well as rift sawn) for our Boston customers. Quarter sawn wood has far less movement during humidity swings because seasonal movement will expand through the thickness of the board, not across the lateral width. That means minimal expansion and contraction, warping and cupping, and no giant gaps between boards during certain times of the year.
It’s also one of the most uniform grain patterns (rift sawn being the most uniform), which is great if you want a muted, consistent, even looking hardwood floor grain without large growth rings showing.
Potential Issues:
There is a cost to buy quarter sawn flooring compared to plain sawn. There’s also limited availability, which drives the price up. And you won’t be able to get those super wide 12” boards in quarter sawn easily.
Ideal Applications for Quarter Sawn Flooring:
- If you want a high-end looking hardwood floor then quarter sawn flooring will definitely deliver the goods. You definitely get the quality to match the extra investment.
- Quarter sawn flooring is great for those seeking contemporary, modern and minimalist type interior decorating styles
- If you want a dark stained hardwood floor, quarter sawn flooring takes stain very evenly for a consistent dark shade throughout
- Because of its stability, it’s a perfect flooring choice for those wanting hardwood floors in Boston and the surrounding South Shore Massachusetts areas with significant humidity fluctuations throughout the year. If you choose quarter sawn engineered flooring then it will be pretty much the most dimensionally stable hardwood floor available.
You should expect to invest somewhere around 20-40% more compared to plain sawn hardwood flooring options. This increased cost is worth it for the benefits quartersawn flooring offers.
Quarter Sawn Flooring Is Best for:
If you’re willing to invest at a higher price point, for a clean, modern, straight grain high-end look then this is a great choice. It’s perfect for people in Boston installing hardwood floors because of its great stability and how it handles our local temperature and humidity swings. If you don’t want huge gaps throughout the year, get a quarter sawn engineered hardwood floor.
Rift Sawn Flooring
Rift sawn flooring is cut and milled with a very similar process to quarter sawn flooring. This style of cutting logs creates the same straight grain pattern as quarter sawn, but without the medullary rays. It makes for a modern, super-clean looking high-end architectural level hardwood floor.
How It's Cut:
Rift sawn planks are cut at a 30-60 degree angle to the growth rings. It comes from the same part of the log that is quartered for quarter sawn cuts. But it uses the outer portion closer to the bark, where quarter sawn uses the portion closer to the centre of the log. Because of the part of the log they are cut from, it is very difficult to create wide plank rift sawn boards. Most will be around 5” wide.
Visual Characteristics:
Rift sawn flooring are narrow width planks. They have perfectly straight grain lines creating super clean-looking wood flooring. There is zero growth ring wavy grain showing here. Its grain is so straight and minimalist that if you install a hardwood floor with narrow rift sawn boards and sand and refinish and stain them on site, the floorboards will blend so well together you’ll have trouble telling where the joins are.
Positive Points:
There’s a lot to love about rift sawn flooring. It has the highest dimensional stability available, alongside quarter sawn flooring. This gives it exceptional resistance to warping and seasonal movement. And if you pair it with an 11-ply engineered base payer, you have THE ultimate hardwood floor available in Boston. Rift sawn is the most uniform, minimal, straight and clean looking floor available. The type of hardwood floor you’ll see in home design and architectural magazines.
Potential Issues:
Rift sawn is definitely the most expensive wood flooring cut. If you’re looking for a budget hardwood floor in Boston, this isn’t it. And you’ll have to be ok with narrow boards because it is very difficult to create wide plank rift sawn boards.
Ideal Applications for Rift Sawn Flooring:
- Rift sawn flooring is perfect for luxury commercial and residential spaces for those seeking contemporary, modern, sophisticated and minimalist type interior decorating styles
- With its exceptional dimensional stability, it’s ideal for those looking to install hardwood floors in Boston and the surrounding South Shore Massachusetts areas that are concerned about humidity fluctuations throughout the year. Its high stability ensures very low issues with expansion and contraction, warping and cupping.
Sawing logs into rift sawn planks is the most expensive milling technique used for hardwood flooring. It takes specialized sawing equipment and a much longer process to cut and dry. And only a certain part of the log can be used. Prices can potentially be 50-70% higher than plain sawn flooring depending on the type of hardwood you choose for you Boston wood floor installation project.
Rift Sawn Flooring is Best for:
Minimalist design lovers and contemporary design enthusiasts will be enthralled with rift sawn wood floors. They provide a wonderful high-end architectural look to a room. They are also the most stable solid wood flooring available for our extreme Boston weather and humidity swings. If you hate gaps in hardwood floors, get an engineered rift sawn floor.
Live Sawn Flooring (Slab Sawn)
Live sawn flooring is the most unique wood flooring cut. It has a mix of plain sawn, rift sawn and quarter sawn characteristics throughout each board that captures the log's entire personality. It also provides the widest floorboards possible. If you want a super wide plank, character-filled rustic hardwood floor in Boston, this is the hardwood floor for you.
How It's Cut:
Live Sawn is milled by cutting straight through logs. It’s the simplest cut out of all the milling types. This method gets a blend of multiple grain patterns in one board. It also produces the widest possible flooring planks, restricted only by the size of the log. It has the least waste out of all the cutting methods.
Visual Characteristics:
Live sawn flooring comes with mixed grain patterns that give it a rustic, authentically natural appearance. It’s full of character as each board is very unique. All this, plus the widest possible planks available to showcase its stunning looks.
Positive Points:
Probably the biggest benefit to live sawn flooring is the unique character in every plank. You get a wonderful mix of plain sawn, quarter sawn and rift sawn all in one board. That, and the width of the planks.
Potential Issues:
All of that unique character in live sawn wood can be visually "busy" for some design preferences. It’s definitely not a good choice for those that love clean, straight grain flooring. It also requires far more care with the installation. In most cases it will need gluing as well as nailing or stapling down to give it more stability. Wide planks are prone to more movement than narrower flooring.
Ideal Applications for Live Sawn Flooring:
- Live sawn floors are perfect for people looking for floors to match their rustic and eclectic interior design style
- The ultra-wide wood floor planks look great in large, open living spaces
- If you value visual drama, character and big statement pieces over uniformity then you’ll love live sawn flooring
Priced between plain sawn and quarter sawn, live sawn flooring is a great middle of the road option.
Live Sawn Flooring is Best for:
Live sawn flooring is definitely a cut for people who want unique, statement floors. It fits really well with rustic or eclectic design styles. The ultra-wide plank flooring looks especially good in large, open spaces.
Boston Specific Tips for Choosing Hardwood Flooring Cuts:
There are some important factors we need to consider if you’re considering a hardwood floor installation in Boston and South Shore Massachusetts areas:- We experience dramatic seasonal humidity swings from 30-85%
- Our winter's dry conditions can cause significant wood contraction, leading to gaps in certain types of flooring
- We have extreme temperature variations of 50-60 degrees annually
Proper home humidity control is super important to manage floor movement.
Don't just focus on the cost of your Boston hardwood floor installation—think about long-term performance. Your hardwood floor is a big investment. Take the time to read up and understand these four hardwood flooring cuts and milling types, and you'll end up with a wood floor that looks great, performs well in our environment, and lasts for years.
If you would like to consult with a local Boston hardwood flooring professional who understands the greater Boston and South Shore Massachusetts unique climate challenges, please feel free to get in touch. Our phone number is (781) 380-0768.