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Buying character oak flooring for the US market requires a shared appearance reference between the buyer and overseas supplier. Before approving an order, agree how knots, repairs, sapwood, cracks and color variation will be assessed, then review those requirements across full boards and a representative sample layout.
Do not treat Character as a fixed equivalent to CD or to a particular US grade. The useful purchasing outcome is a written agreement supported by identifiable samples—not an assumed translation between grading names.
1. Establish One Grading Reference Across Both Teams
Ask the supplier to identify the exact letter grade being proposed and provide its corresponding written appearance criteria. State how your purchasing and sales teams intend to describe the selection, then resolve differences before sample approval.
Character wood flooring may refer to selections involving CC, CD or DD in different grading descriptions. That does not establish a universal correspondence or confirm that every such grade is available from a supplier.
SONGLINFLOOR’s current oak selections are ABC and CD. If CD is proposed for your Character purchasing brief, confirm the actual CD requirements rather than using the two names interchangeably.
Keep the accepted grade description in the order records. Do not claim that an overseas letter grade equals a named US grade unless that specific relationship has been established and agreed.
2. Turn “Natural Features” into Specific Questions
A request for “natural character” leaves too much interpretation open. Break the appearance discussion into separate items and ask the supplier to illustrate the proposed selection.
For knots, discuss the appearances included, their position on the board and how they contribute to the overall selection. If size or frequency matters, request a proposal for written agreement rather than inventing numerical limits.
Discuss cracks independently. Ask which appearances are permitted, whether treatment is proposed and which examples would be excluded.
For repairs, review the finished appearance rather than accepting the general statement “filled where necessary.” Ask the supplier to identify the repair examples being offered for approval. A photograph does not establish repair materials, methods or performance.
For sapwood, first ask the supplier to identify it in the samples. Then discuss whether its presence and appearance meet your purchasing requirements. Do not create an allowance from the word Character alone.
3. Review Full Boards and a Representative Layout
Close-ups help resolve individual questions, but they cannot communicate the full visual selection. Request full-board samples or clearly identified full-board photographs, together with physical samples for approval.
Then review several boards arranged side by side. This is a sample layout for appearance assessment, not proof of an installed project.
Ask whether the arrangement represents the proposed selection or has been chosen only to illustrate particular features. Review the distribution of visible features, the relationship between neighboring boards and the overall color range.
If the layout raises a concern, identify the specific boards or areas involved. A comment such as “too rustic” is less useful than a marked sample photograph explaining what requires adjustment.
Do not turn an approved layout into a promise that every delivered group of boards will repeat the same composition. Use it alongside the written criteria as an appearance reference.
4. Approve Color, Repairs and Finish Together
The listed colors are Pearl Beige, Warm Wheat, Linen Beige, Stone Greige, and Mist Grey. Review the intended color on the correct grade selection.
When a sample includes repairs or sapwood, assess those areas as part of the finished color presentation. Ask whether the examples shown are representative and document any unresolved questions.
The finish options are UV Oiled and UV Lacquered. UV lacquer is the main US-market direction identified in the supplied information, but the actual finish remains an order-specific choice. Color names do not establish brushing, smoking, bleaching or an unfinished surface.
For repeat purchases, identify the approved color-and-grade reference and previous order. Confirm any change before the new order is accepted. Natural wood variation should be acknowledged; sample approval is not a guarantee of identical boards or batches.
5. Build a Character Oak Flooring Approval Checklist
Use one record to connect the supplier’s proposed grade, your appearance requirements and the accepted samples. Separate confirmed items from questions still awaiting resolution.
| Review Item | Buyer–Supplier Confirmation |
|---|---|
| Grade identity | Exact supplier grade and written criteria; no assumed US-grade equivalence |
| Knots | Included appearances, placement and any mutually agreed limits |
| Cracks | Permitted appearances, proposed treatment and exclusions |
| Repairs | Accepted finished examples and any rejected examples |
| Sapwood | Identified sample areas and agreed appearance requirements |
| Color variation | Accepted reference across multiple boards |
| Overall layout | Representative board arrangement and clearly recorded comments |
| Finish | UV Oiled or UV Lacquered, matched to the approval sample |
| Sample record | Current references, photographs, revisions and approval date |
| Order specification | Grade, color, dimensions, construction and joint recorded together |
Keep construction approval separate from appearance approval. The listed board size is 1900 × 190 mm, with either 14 mm total thickness and a 3 mm oak face, or 15 mm total thickness and a 4 mm oak face.
Core options are three-layer poplar, multilayer poplar, multilayer eucalyptus and multilayer all-birch. Tongue-and-groove or locking profiles are confirmed by order. These alternatives do not establish that every combination is available automatically.
The oak raw material comes from the Changbai Mountain range in Northeast China and is described in the supplied information as White Oak. This does not establish American White Oak, US origin or finished-board manufacturing location.
6. Carry the Agreement into Inspection and Replenishment
Before order confirmation, identify which written criteria and samples will be used for review. Agree how questions will be recorded and addressed rather than introducing a new interpretation of Character after production.
SONGLINFLOOR provides weekly order follow-up and supports inspection reports and factory audit arrangements. Confirm the review scope for the specific purchase; this support does not establish certification coverage or factory ownership.
Sample development takes approximately two weeks, with specifications, charges and transportation confirmed separately. Production lead time starts from 45 days after receipt of deposit, subject to order confirmation. It is not a US arrival date.
For replenishment, provide the previous order and current approval references. Confirm whether the same appearance selection is required and document any changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Character always the same as CD grade?
No. Character can describe different selections. If CD grade wood flooring is proposed, confirm its specific written criteria and samples.
2. Can an overseas letter grade be treated as a US grade?
Do not assume equivalence. Use the supplier’s exact grade description and a mutually agreed appearance standard.
3. Does Character automatically allow every knot or repair?
No. Confirm the permitted appearances and exclusions. A descriptive name does not replace acceptance requirements.
4. Is a room photograph enough for grade approval?
No. It may provide visual context, but full-board samples, feature details and written criteria are needed to define the order selection.
5. Can I request the same selection for a repeat order?
Yes, reference the previous order and approved samples, then confirm the new requirements. This does not guarantee completely identical natural color or grain.
Request Samples for Your US Purchasing Brief
Send SONGLINFLOOR your company name, US destination, target color, quantity and preferred specification. Include your questions about knots, repairs, cracks, sapwood and overall board appearance.
Request representative samples and written grading criteria before confirming the selection.
