What does rustic mean?

Rustic does not mean cheap or “country,” not always anyway. It does not mean anything other than knots and variation when talking about Pine, our pine anyway. What does rustic mean when describing a floor? It means knots and variation, or that is what should mean as it has nothing to do with the quality, not at SYP Direct. Most of us do not love knots, just for being knots; we love what they bring to the board! Knots (sapwood) create character which is the first word you might use when describing rustic.

What Rustic does not mean!

Our #2 grade Southern Pine, is not a defect and is in fact planned smooth and barefoot ready. We do advise you touch up the rough spots around a few knots, but sanding is not mandatory. Although, they look so much better. Not to mention by removing the soft top layer, your floors are ‘harder’, so why don’t you want to sand? Of course, time and money. Wait, time is money and we get it. Now compare this to the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau standards, telling you what #2 “knotty” pine may contain. The #2 Southern Pine may contain; color variations, knots up to 3″of a 1×6, sapwood, checks up to 1/4 length of the board, 1/4″ holes, unstable knots, and wane up to 8″. That sounds great right, rustic does not mean broken.

A an example of rustic floors

Our Mill-Run (rustic) Southern Pine floors might be perfect for you, if you understand real wood grades. And more importantly, when purchasing the unfinished version, experience and or a real wood professional are a firm requirement. Unless you simply buy enough it to “learn as you go”, made possible by the low price. We do not suggest the latter and the 1×8 Mill Run Heart Pine requires only 10% waste just like any other grade.