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Timber appearance grade

Appearance grade is the visual grading of structural timber (industrial, select, feature) that decides whether a beam is fit to be exposed, driving feature-beam cost.

By Dan Waring. Last updated 3 June 2026. Verified 3 June 2026.

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Timber appearance grade is the visual grading of structural timber (commonly industrial, select, and feature) that determines whether a beam is fit to be left exposed. On glulam and feature beams it often drives the cost more than the stress grade does.

It is important to keep two separate gradings straight:

  • Stress grade (for example F-grades, MGP, GL grades) describes the timber’s structural capacity, how much load it carries. It is what the engineer designs to.
  • Appearance grade describes how the timber looks, the allowable knots, gum veins, surface finish, and laminate matching. It does not change the strength.

A beam can be high stress grade but industrial appearance (perfectly strong, but rough and meant to be hidden), or it can be the same strength dressed to feature appearance for an exposed cathedral-ceiling beam. The appearance grade is what you pay extra for when the timber is on show.

Typical appearance grades for glulam run roughly:

  • Industrial: structural only, expected to be concealed (in a wall, above a ceiling).
  • Select / commercial: a tidy finish, acceptable on show in less prominent spots.
  • Feature / architectural: the best face, selected for an exposed, finished look, and the most expensive.

For a builder the practical point is to specify the appearance grade separately from the stress grade, and only pay for feature grade where the beam is actually exposed. Ordering feature-grade glulam for a beam that ends up buried in a bulkhead wastes money; ordering industrial grade for an exposed rafter that the client expected to see finished is a callback. Confirm which beams are exposed at order time, and match the appearance grade to that.

Also known as: Visual grade, appearance product grade.

Category: Materials / Timber.

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References

Last updated: 2026-06-03. Verified: 2026-06-03. Quarterly review for currency.

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