Skip to Content

Our qualities

We have established quality standards for the sorting of our live products in 160+ wide according to the "QF" applications used in France. 

The attached photos are just the beginning of explanations. We distinguish the qualities according to two main categories. :

Grading on the two faces 
QF1A  QF1A/1b   QF1b/2   QF2/3
Each board is inspected on both sides to ensure a compliant knot selection. Particular attention is given to the flatness of the board as it is intended for thickness re-sawing. No trace of heart or sapwood is accepted.

Grading on the best face
QF1-2X   QF2/3X   QF3/4x  KERN  QF5X

Indicated by the letter X, meaning that on the backside there might be the presence of limited sapwood, but not necessarily on all the boards. In the lower grades, a trace of closed heartwood is accepted. 

According to the widths and the sorting programme, we also have sorting variants. Here is a table for informational purposes that summarises the majority of the options you will find on the market and their correspondences.

QF norm

In short

UK

East Europe

QF1Q

1st Rift&quarter

Rift & Quarter


QF1A

1st grade


A+

QF1A/1b1st/bis


A

QF1b

Bis


A

QF1b/2

Bis/2


A

QF1X

1X

Prime

A

QF1-2X

12X

Select

A

QF2/3X

23X

Character

AB

QF3/4X

34X

Rustic 

BC

QF4/5C

Kern

Coeur 2 faces

BCD

QF5X

5X

Barn

CD


​Download our Grading rules (pdf) 

Bis

Knots 12 mm max.

Bis/2

Healthy Knots 12-25 mm

2/3

Healthy Knots 25 mm

3/4

Knots 45-80 mm

KERN

Full heart 2 faces