Oak Flooring Grades Explained: Universal, Markant, Sauvage & More

When you start shortlisting timber floors, you'll see words like Universal, Markant and Sauvage. These are grades — and one of the most misunderstood parts of choosing a floor. Grade is not a measure of quality. Every HARO board is made to the same exacting standard. Grade simply describes how much natural character the timber shows.

What 'grade' actually means

As oak grows, it develops knots, sapwood, colour variation and grain movement. Grading sorts boards by how much of that natural character is on show — from calm and uniform through to wild and rustic. It's purely an aesthetic choice.

The main grades, from calm to characterful

• Universal: even colour and grain with minimal knots — calm, clean and contemporary.
• Markant: richer character with visible knots and movement — warm and characterful.
• Sauvage: the most expressive and rustic, celebrating knots, sapwood and natural variation.
• Naturale: a pure, honest expression of natural oak.

How to choose your grade

More character grades (Markant, Sauvage) are forgiving — knots and variation hide everyday wear and suit relaxed, rustic and family interiors. Cleaner grades (Universal) give a calm, refined, modern look but show marks a little more readily. Neither is 'better' — it's about the feel you want.

See the grades in person

Photos only tell half the story with timber. Order free samples to see how grade reads at full scale across a room, and browse graded options in our engineered timber flooring range.