Clear-face yield
The proportion of a board’s face that will produce clear cuttings of a stated minimum size — the measurement an NHLA lumber grade is built on.
Yield is expressed in twelfths because the NHLA rules measure a board in units of twelve. FAS at 10/12 is 83-1/3%; No. 1 Common at 8/12 is 66-2/3%; No. 2A Common at 6/12 is 50%; No. 3A Common at 4/12 is 33-1/3%.
The cutting size is part of the definition and is not optional. FAS requires a minimum cutting of 4 inches by 5 feet, or 3 inches by 7 feet. No. 1 Common accepts 4 by 2 feet or 3 by 3 feet. A board can carry a high proportion of clear face and still fail a grade because the clear areas are too small to cut usefully.
Related
Terms this one depends on
- NHLA gradeA hardwood lumber grade set at the sawmill by how much clear material a board will yield when cut up — not a statement about a finished floor.
- Flooring gradeAn appearance classification for finished flooring. The standard states outright that all grades are equally strong and serviceable in any application.
Provenance
Where this definition comes from
Framework pillars this term is material to
If you are dealing with this on a real floor: hardwood installation, or get a fixed written price after a measure.
Browse