Mixed Grain Versus Clear Vertical Grain Douglas Fir Flooring

Posted: January 13, 2020

Clear vertical-grain Douglas Fir flooring has been around forever. It’s been an industry staple and favored on the East Coast for decades and for good reason.

While clear vertical-grain Douglas Fir is popular, it is not always the best choice. We are the largest producer of prefinished Douglas Fir wood flooring in the United States and from our expertise, we prefer mixed-grain Douglas Fir flooring, here’s why:

More environmentally friendly – Clear vertical-grain Douglas Fir is the same as quarter-sawn wood. This cut requires big tall trees to yield long runs without any knots – which means that in most cases when you buy clear vertical-grain Douglas Fir, you’re buying old-growth trees. Mixed-grain Fir can come from smaller-diameter trees and still provide supreme quality.
More interesting to look at – Mixed-grain Douglas Fir shows the natural grain patterns of each tree’s unique characteristics, no two pieces are alike. It displays the true character of the wood and is far more visually appealing with its organic flow of wood grain and natural knot structure, in comparison to the repetitive uniform stripes of clear vertical-grain Douglas Fir.
More cost-effective – Mixed-grain Fir is more affordable than clear vertical-grain Douglas Fir because it is the most efficient way to cut a log. Cutting logs into CVG (quartersawn) results in significant waste that can’t be used elsewhere, consequently driving up the cost of the product. Cutting logs into the mixed-grain (live-sawn) is the most efficient eco-friendly way to cut a log and minimize waste. We use 100% of our logs, and what doesn’t make our flooring is repurposed into biomass which heats our kilns and facility, all shavings and sawdust are donated to local ranchers for animal bedding.

While mixed-grain Fir meshes effortlessly from modern to rustic spaces, it is also ideal for historic remodels and was used in many of the style-setting turn-of-the-century homes throughout the US.

Our Douglas Fir flooring offers a rich warm appearance and consistent quality in 8 distinct pre-finished colors. We currently have 24 options of pre-finished mixed grain Douglas Fir flooring and trim. We sell and ship factory-direct anywhere within the U.S.

If you’re in the market for hardwood floors, it’s time to take a closer look at Douglas Fir Flooring.

Our knowledgeable and educated staff is here to answer any additional questions you may have. Please call us today for a free quote: Ph# 406.642.7120 or click here to submit an inquiry online. We look forward to working with you on your next project!

Shown below is an example of mixed grain in our Douglas Fir skip planed flooring, 8 prefinished colors available: