In today's market, hardwood floors that display character are having a magnetic effect on floor covering consumers. Though the products have just begun to draw widespread attention, any decline in demand for character hardwood is nowhere in sight as far as I can tell.
Historically, hardwood flooring has always been categorized according to grading rules that were established in a somewhat raw form for the lumber industry. When it came to grading hardwood flooring according to these guidelines, the higher grades fell under categories such as "clear" and "select." Flooring with knots in the grain was considered inferior in comparison.