Sliced or Rotary Cut?

This post continues my series on selecting a hardwood floor. Another consideration is whether the wood is sliced or rotary cut. Some wood veneers (the top layer in an engineered floor) are sliced, and some are rotary cut.

SLICED

• Sliced veneers are cut, like the word says. They are sliced. It would be like taking a baguette and cutting it the long way, into long pieces.



• This shows a more distinct, truer, more natural grain- which is more of an issue in species that have more grain. It really is a nicer look, and if budget allows, it is a choice that I would make.



• This is a more expensive process, as it has more waste, as you might imagine, with the scraps from slicing the baguette, where only the center pieces are wide enough for use.

ROTARY CUT

• Rotary cut veneers are more like a cinnamon roll. The blade cuts the wood in such a way that it peels away at the log in a circular motion.
• The result is a "fuzzier" grain. It is less distinct, like you would see in a piece of plywood.



• This reduces waste, thereby reducing the cost.



• This does not affect the durability of the wood- just the look. Some buyers are not so particular as to even notice. The more particular buyers will see the difference, and generally prefer the sliced look.