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Sawn Face vs. Plain Sawn or Peeled Engineered Flooring

Sawn Face vs. Plain Sawn or Peeled Engineered Flooring

What is Sawn Face vs. Plain Sawn or Peeled Engineered Flooring?

Understanding How the Cut Impacts Quality, Performance, and Appearance

When it comes to engineered hardwood flooring, the way the wear layer is cut from the log has a direct impact on how the floor looks, how it performs, and how long it lasts. At Artistry Hardwood Flooring, we use a Sawn Face construction method that offers superior stability, beauty, and longevity compared to plain sawn or peeled veneer options.

Here’s what makes them different:

 

 

1. Sawn Face (Artistry’s Method)

  • How it’s made: A thick wear layer (3mm–5mm) is literally sawn from the log, just like solid hardwood flooring.

  • Benefits:

    • True hardwood appearance with full grain depth and character.

    • Greater thickness means multiple sand-and-refinish cycles over decades.

    • Enhanced stability when bonded to a balanced hardwood core (our SawnPly+ Solid-Balanced Construction).

  • Best for: Wide plank premium floors, high-traffic spaces, and long-term investment projects.

 

 

2. Plain Sawn

  • How it’s made: Boards are cut tangentially to the growth rings, producing a recognizable cathedral grain pattern.

  • Benefits: Efficient log usage and familiar grain visuals.

  • Drawbacks: Less stable in wide planks compared to quarter or rift sawn; more prone to seasonal expansion and contraction.

  • Best for: Traditional solid hardwood and standard-width engineered planks.

 

 

3. Peeled (Rotary Cut)

  • How it’s made: The log is spun against a blade to peel off a thin sheet of wood — similar to unrolling paper from a tube.

  • Benefits: Very low cost and high material yield.

  • Drawbacks:

    • Creates a wavy grain pattern that looks less like traditional hardwood.

    • Extremely thin wear layer — often under 1mm — can’t be refinished.

    • More prone to face checking and surface issues over time.

  • Best for: Budget flooring with short-term installation goals.

 

 

Why Artistry Chooses Sawn Face

We use Sawn Face wear layers for their natural beauty, stability, and long-term value. This approach preserves the authentic look of French White Oak while giving designers, architects, and homeowners confidence that the floor will perform for decades.

 

 


When specifying engineered hardwood, the cut matters. Sawn Face flooring delivers both the aesthetic authenticity and the structural integrity needed for high-end projects, making it the clear choice for luxury installations.