Manufacturing Characteristics of Wood Veneer
AA vs. A Manufacturing Characteristics
Explore how WDMA defines allowable manufacturing marks and cut-specific grain traits across grades. Use these visual criteria to write precise specifications and review submittals with confidence.
Manufacturing Characteristics by Species
Compare Grade AA and Grade A requirements for manufacturing and special characteristics in face veneers. This guide summarizes information from Table A-8, “Flush Door Face Veneer Characteristics,” in ANSI/WDMA I.S. 1A-2021, Industry Standard for Interior Architectural Wood Flush Doors. For complete requirements and notes, consult the full table in the standard.
How to use this table: Select a species to narrow the view, or choose “All species” to see the full comparison. Read across the AA and A rows to compare each characteristic, using the legend to interpret the symbols. Turn on highlights to see where the requirements differ between grades.
Source credit: ANSI/WDMA I.S. 1A-2021, Table A-8; ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2024, American National Standard for Hardwood and Decorative Plywood.
- Allowed Allowed
- Not allowed Not allowed
- Slight Slight
- Occasional Occasional
- Differs between AA and A
| Species | Grade | Rough Cut | Splits | Repairs | Flakes | Barber Pole | Slope | Sweep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural BirchSpecies page | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Allowed | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Allowed | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| White BirchSpecies page | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| MapleWhite Maple page | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Red & White Oak4 | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Slight | Allowed | Rift: 1" in 12"; Comb 1/2" in 12" | Rift: 2-1/2" in 12"; Comb 1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Slight | Allowed | Rift: 1" in 12"; Comb 1/2" in 12" | Rift: 2-1/2" in 12"; Comb 1/2" in 12" | |
| Cherry | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Allowed | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Allowed | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Mahogany3African Mahogany page | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Allowed | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Allowed | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Walnut | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| White Ash | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Beech | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Poplar | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Natural Maple | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Natural Ash | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Occasional | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Anegre | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Makore | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Sapele | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Pecan | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" | |
| Hickory | AA | Not allowed | Two 1/32" x 3" panel ends only (differs between grades) | Very small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
| A | Not allowed | Two 1/16" x 6" (differs between grades) | Small blending (differs between grades) | Not allowed | Slight | Quartered: 1" in 12" | Quartered: 2-1/2" in 12" |
Ready to Specify Face Grade?
Download the WDMA Face Grade Table, order a sample on the species you're considering, or talk with a Forte rep before the spec is locked.