Understanding Timber Grades and Grain Cuts

Timber grading describes knots, sapwood and colour variation, not quality of species. A lower grade with visible character can be exactly right for a rustic scheme and completely wrong for a calm, minimal one.

Plain sawn produces wide cathedral grain and the most movement. Quarter sawn gives a straight, tight grain and the most dimensional stability. Rift sits between the two. The cut changes both the look and how the timber behaves in humidity.

Teak darkens and evens out with light exposure; walnut lightens. A door that looks mismatched on installation day often settles within months, which is why we discuss ageing before anyone rejects a panel.

On a long run, veneer leaves taken consecutively from the same log and laid in order give a continuous grain across every door. Ask whether a quote includes sequencing, because it is a visible difference and a real cost.