Blog · Wood Species & Materials
What is Quarter Sawn Lumber
Ray Flecking Explained! Flecking shows up in white (and red) oak when the grain is perpendicular to the face of the board.
By David Brannan · Published August 8, 2022 · Updated August 2, 2026 · 3 min read
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Ray Flecking Explained! Flecking shows up in white (and red) oak when the grain is perpendicular to the face of the board. When the cut is made at the rift sawn angle the stability of the board is very close to that of quarter sawn, but the angle prevents the flecking from appearing in the face of the board.
Quarter-Sawn, Plain-Sawn, and Rift-Sawn, Explained
How a log gets cut into boards affects both the look and the stability of the finished floor. Plain-sawn lumber is cut straight through the log and is the most common, most economical method, producing the classic cathedral grain pattern most people picture when they think of hardwood flooring.
Quarter-sawn lumber is cut radially from the log at roughly a 90-degree angle to the growth rings, which produces a straighter, more uniform grain and, on white oak especially, reveals a distinctive ray fleck figure that plain-sawn boards do not show. That cutting method also makes quarter-sawn boards more dimensionally stable — they cup and move less with seasonal humidity changes than plain-sawn lumber.
Rift-sawn lumber is cut at a slightly different angle again, producing the straightest grain pattern of the three with minimal ray fleck. We special-order rift and quartered white oak for customers who want that straight-grain look or need the added stability, and can match it into an existing floor when a repair calls for it.
Not Sure Which Species Is Right for Your Home?
Call 470-826-3581 or request a free estimate — we’ll look at your existing floor and talk through the species and finish options that fit your home.
Where You'll See These Cuts in Your Home
Quarter-sawn and rift-sawn white oak show up most often in stair parts and higher-end flooring where a straight, uniform grain is the point, since it reads as more formal and modern than the wavy cathedral grain of plain-sawn boards. We stock and special-order white oak stair parts milled from these cuts to match a rift-and-quartered floor, so treads, risers, and newels do not look mismatched against the field.
Stability matters just as much as the look — a quarter-sawn or rift-sawn floor cups and gaps less with normal seasonal humidity swings, which is part of why we bring it up as an option for homeowners in humid parts of North Metro Atlanta or homes without great climate control in the crawlspace or basement.
Whichever cut a floor uses, our sanding process treats it the same way: a planetary sander running multiple counter-rotating discs flattens the surface evenly instead of cutting hard in one direction, which matters most on straight-grained quarter-sawn and rift-sawn boards where an uneven pass shows clearly.
Matching Cuts During a Repair
When we lace new boards into an existing quarter-sawn or rift-sawn floor, matching the cut matters as much as matching the species and stain — new plain-sawn boards woven into a quarter-sawn field would show a different grain pattern even in the same species and color. We special-order the matching cut when a repair calls for it, so the patch disappears into the surrounding floor instead of standing out.
Financing is available up to $55,000, with interest-free options starting from $30 a month, subject to approval, for repair work involving specialty cuts as well as full new installations.
Backed by 25 Years of Real Reviews
None of this is guesswork on our end. The Hardwood Guys have completed more than 50,000 jobs across Woodstock and North Metro Atlanta since 2001, earned more than 500 five-star Google reviews along the way, and our work has been featured on TV multiple times. That track record is exactly why we can look at a floor in person and tell you honestly what it needs, rather than guessing from a phone call or a photo.
Every project starts with a free, on-site estimate — no obligation, and a written number before anything begins. Call 470-826-3581 or request an estimate below to get started.
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