More than any other distress, circle sawn hardwood flooring tells the story of the pioneer spirit and the Wild West as it was the floor of convenience for homesteaders. Prior to the Industrial Age, when the average man couldn't afford a completely smooth and polished floor, the feathered pattern on a board's surface left behind from a circle saw blade was once a common look. The wispy marks, known as kerfs, are now an artistic touch to add texture and variation to hardwood flooring. The kerfs stain darker than the rest of the board, highlighting the much-desired individual character of the selected wood. With a light adjustment to the blade position during surfacing, the intensity of the kerfs can be adjusted to give a heavy, distressed look or softened to provide a lightly scraped appearance, whatever you desire to see on your home's new hardwood floor.