COLOR:
Sapwood is gray-white; heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown when fresh and becomes russet or reddish brown when seasoned; often marked with dark streaks.

GRAIN:
Mostly interlocked; texture is medium to rather coarse.

VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES:
Moderate to high color variation.

ORIGIN:
North America.

GRADE:
Clear, Select, CW1, CW2.

HARDNESS (JANKA):
Average of 2820.

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY:
Average. However, actual installations have shown significant movement. Longer-than-normal acclimation time is recommended.

NAILING:
Due to hardness it is very important that the angle of penetration be adjusted carefully. If using a pneumatic nailer, the air pressure should be adjusted.

SANDING:
Scratches are easily seen—each sanding must carefully remove the scratches from the previous cut, or sanding marks will be visible in the finish. Suggested Sequence First Cut: 50 at a 7-15 degree angle with the grain Second Cut: 60 or 80 straight with the grain Third Cut: 100 Hard Plate: 100 First Screen: 80 Second Screen: 100 or 120

FINISHING:
Occasionally white spots or specks that were not noticeable before finishing may be apparent once the floor is coated or after the floor has aged. These are spots of calcium carbonate and are a naturally occurring part of the species.