Grade Complaint on No. 1 Common Red Oak Strip

The inspector should first establish the contractual grade. The invoice specifies No. 1 Common, so the floor must be evaluated against that grade, not against Clear or Select. No. 1 Common is a mid-range grade that permits natural characteristics such as small knots, mineral streaks, color variation, and shorter boards. It is expected to have a more varied appearance than Clear or Select and is commonly used where a natural look is acceptable. The inspector should compare the floor to the grade rules and, if available, to an approved sample or the manufacturer's grade description. Counting 14 boards with objected-to characteristics out of about 1,100 boards is roughly 1.3%, which is not evidence of a grade failure. The short boards near the closet and the color variation are consistent with No. 1 Common. Knots and mineral streaks are natural features, not manufacturing defects. The inspector should document the grade specified, the characteristics observed, and whether any characteristic exceeds the grade's limits.

The knots, mineral streaks, short boards, and color variation are grade characteristics permitted in No. 1 Common. They are not defects, and they do not justify replacement of all boards with knots or streaks. The two boards with machine marks near an end joint may be a finishing or milling issue. If the marks are sander chatter, edger marks, or drum marks, they are installation/finishing defects and can be repaired locally. If they are mill marks from the flooring manufacturer and exceed the grade's surfacing allowance, they may be a material issue. The one 1/16 in. open end gap is an installation concern: butt joints should be tight, although minor seasonal movement can open them. At 42% RH and 8% MC, the floor is in a moderate environment, so a single 1/16 in. gap is not explained by extreme dryness. It can be filled or the board replaced. The inspector should measure the gap, check for adjacent joint tightness, and determine whether the gap is stable or growing.

A 30% refund is not justified. The flooring was specified and supplied as No. 1 Common, and the customer's main complaints are natural grade characteristics that the grade permits. The floor is flat, the finish is uniform, and the moisture content is within a normal range. The appropriate resolution is to correct the limited installation or finishing issues: replace or repair the two boards with machine marks if the marks are confirmed to be finishing defects, and address the single 1/16 in. end gap by filling or replacing that board. The contractor should provide the grade rules or a sample so the customer understands what No. 1 Common includes. If the customer wanted a cleaner appearance, the correct remedy would have been to order Select or Clear grade, not to claim a defect after installation. The report should distinguish natural characteristics from workmanship issues, recommend local repairs only, and deny the blanket replacement and refund demand.