When manufacturing exceptional hardwood flooring, material selection makes all the difference. Select Hardwoods provides premium flooring-grade lumber with the specific characteristics required for outstanding flooring production.

Premium Hardwood Lumber Specifically Graded for Flooring Applications

For decades, flooring manufacturers throughout the region and across the country have trusted Select Hardwoods by Church & Church to supply the high-quality hardwood lumber that forms the foundation of their superior products. Our specialized knowledge of flooring applications ensures you receive material specifically suited to your production requirements.

Understanding Flooring-Grade Requirements

Hardwood flooring demands specific material characteristics that go beyond standard lumber grades. At Select Hardwoods, we understand these requirements thoroughly and provide lumber that:

• Maintains dimensional stability during machining and after installation
• Exhibits consistent color and grain patterns for aesthetic appeal
• Possesses appropriate hardness for the intended application
• Features grain characteristics that minimize movement after installation
• Offers clear cutting yields that optimize your production efficiency

Premium Species for Exceptional Flooring

We supply a comprehensive range of Appalachian hardwood species specifically selected and graded for flooring applications:

White Oak

The gold standard for hardwood flooring, offering exceptional durability, distinctive grain patterns, and timeless appeal. Our Appalachian white oak features:

• Tight, consistent grain patterns
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Superior wear resistance
• Exceptional finishing characteristics
• Available in plain-sawn, rift-sawn, and quarter-sawn options

Red Oak

America's most popular flooring wood, known for its warmth, durability, and excellent value. Our red oak flooring stock features:

• Consistent coloration
• Clear cutting patterns for efficient processing
• Excellent nail and glue holding properties
• Superb staining characteristics
• Various grade options to meet different price points

Hard Maple

Prized for its clean appearance, exceptional hardness, and light color that works beautifully in contemporary designs. Our hard maple flooring stock offers:

• Consistent light coloration
• Exceptional hardness (1450 on the Janka scale)
• Tight, fine grain patterns
• Excellent wear characteristics for high-traffic applications
• Superior machinability

Hickory

For distinctive character and unmatched hardness, our hickory provides:

• Dramatic color variations and character
• Supreme hardness (1820 on the Janka scale)
• Unique visual appeal
• Exceptional durability for high-traffic and commercial applications
• Custom sorting options to manage color variation

Walnut

For premium, luxury flooring applications, our American black walnut delivers:

• Rich, distinctive coloration
• Straight grain for exceptional stability
• Moderate hardness ideal for residential applications
• Premium aesthetic appeal
• Excellent finishing characteristics

Cherry

When creating distinctive, premium flooring, our Appalachian cherry provides:

• Warm, rich coloration that deepens beautifully with age
• Straight, fine grain patterns
• Moderate hardness suitable for most residential applications
• Exceptional finishing qualities
• Distinctive premium appearance

Read our article on the topic to learn more about specialty Appalachian cherry.

Specialized Flooring Grades and Sorts

We offer standard NHLA grades along with specialized flooring-specific sorting:

Premium Flooring Grade

Our highest quality offering, featuring consistent color, minimal character marks, and maximum clear cutting yield. Ideal for premium residential and high-end commercial flooring.

Select Flooring Grade

High-quality material with minimal character variation and excellent yield. Perfect for residential and light commercial applications where consistent appearance is important.

Character Flooring Grade

Specially sorted to emphasize natural wood characteristics like mineral streaks, small knots, and color variation. Ideal for rustic and character-focused flooring designs.

Mixed Flooring Grade

A cost-effective option that combines various appearances while maintaining structural integrity for flooring applications. Suitable for value-oriented products and projects with varied aesthetic requirements.

Custom Specifications for Flooring Manufacturers

We understand that different flooring manufacturers have unique requirements. Our custom specification capabilities include:

Precise Thickness Control

• 3/4" standard thickness with tight tolerance control
• 5/8" engineered flooring components
• Custom thicknesses to your exact requirements

Width Sorting

• Fixed-width sorting to eliminate ripping operations
• Width range sorting to optimize your cutting processes
• Narrow to extra-wide board options

Color Sorting

• Consistent color matching for uniform flooring appearance
• Heartwood/sapwood separation when required
• Custom color range specifications to your standards

Moisture Content Management

• Precise kiln drying to your specified moisture content
• Region-specific moisture targets based on installation environment
• Specialized kiln schedules to ensure optimal stability

Length Specifications

• Custom length sorting to maximize your yield
• Long-length selection for premium applications
• Nested length options for engineered production

Read more about Appalachian hardwood grades in our dedicated article. 

The Select Hardwoods Advantage for Flooring Manufacturers

Technical Expertise

Our team includes specialists with deep knowledge of hardwood flooring applications and manufacturing processes. We understand the technical requirements for successful flooring production and provide material that optimizes your operations.

Quality Control Systems

Every board is inspected multiple times throughout our process to ensure it meets the exacting standards required for flooring applications:

• Species verification
• Grade confirmation
• Moisture content testing
• Dimensional accuracy verification
• Surface quality inspection

Consistent Supply

We maintain substantial inventory of flooring-grade materials in our 400,000 board foot kiln capacity facility, ensuring reliable supply for your production needs. For high-volume manufacturers, we can develop inventory programs that align perfectly with your production schedules.

Custom Processing Options

Beyond basic lumber supply, we offer specialized processing services:

• S2S (surfaced two sides) processing to precise thickness specifications
• S4S (surfaced four sides) processing for ready-to-use material
• Custom ripping to exact width requirements
• End trimming to specific length parameters
• Special packaging for your handling requirements

Why Wilkes County, NC for Premium Flooring Lumber?

Our strategic location in Wilkes County, North Carolina places us at the heart of the finest Appalachian hardwood region. The unique growing conditions in our area create lumber with exceptional characteristics for flooring applications:

• Ideal Growing Conditions: The perfect combination of soil composition, elevation, and climate produces trees with tight, consistent grain patterns ideal for flooring.

• Species Diversity: Access to the full spectrum of commercially valuable hardwood species, allowing us to meet all your flooring material needs from a single source.

• Superior Color Development: Our regional growing conditions promote excellent color development and consistency, particularly in species like cherry and maple.

• Quality Resource Management: Sustainable forestry practices ensure long-term availability of premium materials.

What many people don't realize is that the climate, soil, and elevation of western North Carolina creates growing conditions remarkably similar to the Northeast, producing Cherry and Maple quality that rivals traditional northern sources that are often considered the industry standard.

Serving Flooring Manufacturers Throughout Wilkes County and Beyond

From our facility in Millers Creek, we provide premium flooring-grade hardwoods to manufacturers throughout Wilkes County and ship nationwide to clients who demand the finest Appalachian hardwoods for their flooring products.

Our flooring-grade hardwood services are particularly valued by manufacturers in:

• Wilkesboro
• North Wilkesboro
• Millers Creek
• Moravian Falls
• Boomer
• Purlear
• Ferguson
• Roaring River
• And throughout the southeastern United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes hardwood specifically suitable for flooring applications?

Flooring-grade hardwood possesses several key characteristics: dimensional stability to prevent cupping or warping after installation; appropriate hardness for the intended traffic level; consistent color and grain patterns for aesthetic appeal; and sufficient clear material for efficient processing. Our specialized sorting and grading processes ensure these characteristics in our flooring-grade products.

How does kiln drying affect flooring performance?

Proper kiln drying is critical for flooring applications. The process must remove sufficient moisture while minimizing internal stresses that could cause movement later. Our specialized kiln schedules for flooring materials include careful equalization and conditioning phases that ensure optimal stability for flooring applications. We typically dry flooring materials to 6-8% moisture content, though this can be customized based on the installation region's typical humidity levels.

What minimum order quantities apply for flooring-grade lumber?

For standard flooring grades in common species, we can accommodate orders as small as one unit (approximately 1,000 board feet). For specialized sorts or less common species, minimum orders typically start at 3,000 board feet. For high-volume manufacturers, we offer favorable pricing on truckload quantities (approximately 12,000-15,000 board feet).

Can you provide lumber for engineered flooring manufacturing?

Absolutely. We supply both the face veneer stock and core material for engineered flooring production. Our precision sawing capabilities allow us to produce thin-sliced face stock down to 1/8" thickness, while our standard hardwood and softer species like poplar make excellent core materials.

How do you handle shipping for flooring-grade materials?

We take exceptional care in packaging flooring-grade materials to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. Our standard packages include protective wrapping, properly dried stickers to prevent staining, and secure strapping. We can ship via common carrier, dedicated truckload, or arrange customer pickup from our facility. For international customers, we have extensive experience preparing containerized shipments.

Get Premium Flooring-Grade Hardwoods Today

Elevate your hardwood flooring products with superior raw materials specifically selected and graded for flooring applications.

Contact our sales team today to discuss your flooring lumber requirements.

Contact Us | Call: (336) 838-1256