flatgrained

Flatgrained refers to a characteristic of wood where the growth rings are approximately parallel to the face of the board. This typically occurs when lumber is cut from a log using a plain sawing or flat sawing method. In this process, the log is cut in a way that does not account for the angle of the growth rings relative to the surface of the cut. As a result, the grain pattern on the wood surface appears as straight, parallel lines running along the length of the board.

Flatgrained lumber is generally less expensive to produce than quarter sawn or rift sawn lumber because the cutting method is simpler and yields more usable material from each log. It is also more prone to cupping, warping, and checking, especially when exposed to changes in humidity. This is because the tangential direction of the wood, which expands and contracts more than the radial direction, is more exposed on the flat sawn surface. Despite these potential drawbacks, flatgrained wood is widely used in many applications, including furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and general construction, due to its availability and cost-effectiveness. The visual appearance of flat grain can be desirable for certain aesthetic preferences, often displaying wider, more varied patterns compared to the tighter, straighter grain of quarter sawn wood.