Hardwood Floor Comparison Hardness

The higher the number the harder the wood is this should be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring.

Hardwood floor comparison hardness.

When in doubt about the type of wood to select for your cabinetry flooring furniture or millwork project refer to the janka rating system which measures the relative hardness of woods. The janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. Mahogany honduran 800 padauk 1725 mahogany santos 2200 tabaccowood 1750 maple hard north american 1450 rosewood bolivian 1780 maple ivory 1500 bamboo carbonized 1800 maple soft 999 hickory 1820 merbau 1925 pecan 1820 mesquite 2345 yellowheart 1820 oak tasmainian 1010 kenpass 1854 olivewood brazilian 3700 jarrah australian 1915 padauk 1725 bubinga 1980 patagonian rosewood 3840 purpleheart 1860 2090 pecan 1820 merbau. While the complete janka hardness listings will reveal that there are some fairly hard softwoods and some relatively soft hardwoods in the species most commonly used in flooring the identifiers hold true.

Domestically hickory is the hardest hardwood floor we carry. First let s make the distinction between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood solid hardwood is exactly what it says it is a solid plank of wood whilst engineered hardwood is a composite product consisting of an upper layer of hardwood that is adhered onto layers of. Species alphabetical hardness species by hardness hardness. Solid wood flooring comes in long planks usually made of a hardwood species.

Each wood species has its own hardness. Hardwoods are better than softwoods. Although this janka hardness test is one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations it should be used only as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed.

This does not mean other species are inferior or will not perform well but just simply not as hard as other. Red oak janka hardness rating 1290 the most popular domestic wood species for hardwood flooring red oak is known for having moderate to heavy graining with moderate color variations. Coloring of red oak ranges from light creamy reddish pinks to shades of brown. Solid hardwood flooring will always be stronger than hardwood veneer engineered flooring.

Solid hardwood vs engineered hardwood consider the best type of hardwood flooring depending on where you are using it. The hardest commercially available hardwood is hickory and it is five times harder than aspen one of the soft hardwoods. Thus wood of the same species will have the same hardness regardless of the manufacturer of the wood floor. Of note the industry standard for determining whether or not a particular wood species is an appropriate option for flooring is red oak.

The type of construction and finish also play an important role in the durability and ease of maintenance of any wood floor. It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill. At wickham flooring we offer 8 different species of hardwood the hardest being hickory. Solid wood flooring vs.

It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear.