Quick Specs
Common Name(s): Black cherry, American cherry
Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
Distribution: Eastern North America
Tree Size: 50-100 ft (15-30 m) tall,
3-5 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 35.0 lbs/ft3 (560 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.47, 0.56
Janka Hardness: 950 lbf (4,230 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 12,300 lbf/in2 (84.8 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,490,000 lbf/in2 (10.3 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 7,110 lbf/in2 (49 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.7%, Tangential: 7.1%,
Volumetric: 11.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
American Cherry Solid Wood Flooring Grades
NWFA-NOFMA CLEAR AMERICAN BLACK CHERRY: A flooring product selected for its rich red-brown coloration and minimal character marks. The face is composed of 100% naturally colored heartwood.
Will admit the following and other similar characters: small tight checks; a minimal number of slight edge defects National Wood Flooring Association l Revised 04.2018 (indentations); small burls; limited pin knots; fine pin worm holes; a thin black steak, 3” (76.2 mm) long in 2’ (609.6 mm) of length; a sound gum pocket 1/16” (.0625”) (1.59 mm) wide x 1” (25.4 mm) long per foot of length(304.8 mm) and three-fourths (3/4) tongue, full length of the piece.
NWFA-NOFMA SELECT AMERICAN BLACK CHERRY: A flooring product with natural coloration variations found in heartwood and a small amount of contrasting sapwood, along with allowable characters.
Will admit the following and other similar characters: 1/2” (.500”) (12.7 mm) wide bright sapwood entire length of piece or equivalent; a small tight 1/4” (.250”) (6.35mm) wide knot every 3’ (914.4 mm) of length; slightly open shallow checks, 1/2” (.500”) (12.7 mm) long per foot (304.8 mm) of length; edge defects (indentations) less than 1/16” (.0625”) (1.59 mm) wide x 1/2” (.500”) (12.7 mm) long for every 2’ (609.6 mm) of length; intermittent machine burn; narrow black streaks not running the entire length; a gum pocket 1/8” (.1250”) (3.18 mm) wide x 1” (25.4 mm) long per foot (304.8 mm) of length; a slight amount of scant thickness where ends are full thickness; and one-half (1/2) tongue, full length of the piece.
NWFA-NOFMA NO. 1 COMMON AMERICAN BLACK CHERRY: A flooring product which may contain prominent color variation between the light sapwood and dark heartwood, along with prominent natural and machine produced characters.
Will admit the following and other similar characters: broken knots up to 1/2” (.500”) (12.7 mm) wide with no loose pieces, must readily fill; numerous checks up to 1/16” (.0625”) (1.59 mm) wide and not extending through the piece; edge defects (indentations) up to 3/32” (.0938”) (2.38 mm) wide x 1 1/2” (38.1 mm) long in aggregate for every 3’ (914.4 mm) of length; occasional solid machine burns; a small area of rough face showing minor saw marks; unlimited sapwood; sapwood may be stained, splotchy, and include unlimited sticker-stain; up to 20” (508 mm) scant stock (hit or miss) for every 5’ (1524 mm) of length, with full thickness within 3” (76.2 mm) of ends; may have heavy steaks and dark discoloration up to 50%; open fillable gum pockets; worm holes 1/8” (.125”) (3.18 mm) in diameter, one (1) per foot (304.8 mm) of length; pin worm holes, six (6) per foot (304.8 mm) of length; one (1) area of torn grain to 1/16” (.0625”) (1.59 mm) deep per 3’ (914.4 mm) of length; and one-quarter (1/4) tongue, full length of the piece.
NWFA-NOFMA NO. 2 COMMON AMERICAN BLACK CHERRY: A flooring product which contains sound natural variations and manufacturing imperfections of the forest product, all imperfections and open characters must be fillable.
Will admit the following and other similar characters: knots and knot holes where openings and loose areas do not extend through pieces; edge defect 1/4” (.250”) (6.35mm) wide x 1/4” (.250”) (6.35mm) wide if irregular, not to extend in depth through the tongue and groove engagement; dark machine burns not more than 3/64” (.046875”) (1.19 mm) deep; prominent open checks not extending through the piece; incipient decay which is not softer than surrounding wood; a small un-planed area with radiating saw marks; split ends with no movement across the split; an area of torn grain up to 1/8” (.125”) (3.18 mm) deep x 3” (76.2 mm) in length for the full width of the piece permitted for every 2’ (609.6 mm) of length; angled grub worm holes 3/16” (.1875”) (4.76 mm) wide x 1/2” (.500”) (12.7 mm) long with all other worm holes if sound; unlimited dark discoloration and streaks to include stained sapwood and unlimited sticker stain; open gum pockets to 1/8” (.125”) (3.18 mm) wide; Occasional scant thickness (hit or miss) on the back of the flooring board the entire length of the piece admitted, providing there is full bearing across the board at some point within three inches of the ends. A limited number of pieces with no tongue admitted.