| WOOD CHARACTERISTICS |
Bellow are listed the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring. These rating were done using the Janka Hardness Test, which measures the force needed to embed a .444*inch steel ball to half it's diameter in a piece of wood. The higher the number the harder the wood. Although this is one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations, it should be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. The construction and finish also play an important role in the durability and ease of maintenance if any wood floor . |
|
WOOD SPECIES JANKA HARDNESS RATING |
|
Douqlas Fir
Southern Yellow Pine (Shortleaf)
Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf)
Black Cherry
Teak
Black Walnut
Heart Pine
Yellow Birch
Red Oak (Northern)
American Beech
Ash
White Oak |
660
690
870
950
1000
1010
1225
1260
1290
1300
1320
1360
|
Australian Cypress
Hard Maple
Wenge
African Pedauk
Hickory
Pecan
Purpleheart
Jarrah
Merbau
Santos Mahogany
Mesquite
Brazilian Cherry
|
1375
1450
1620
1725
1820
1820
1860
1910
1925
2200
2345
2820 |
|
WOOD COMPARISON CHART
|
| WOOD |
STRENGTHS |
DESIGN STYLE |
COLOR RANGE |
STAINABILITY |
DURABILITY |
| Australian Cypress |
Sometimes used as a substitute for heart/longleaf pine |
Rustic, casual |
Wide variation;
golden tones; high knot content |
Typically not stained; natural color |
6% harder than red oak |
| Bamboo |
Considered a "green product"; is a grass, not a tree; plants regenerate quickly |
Contemporary or modern often used where minimal grin or pattern is desired |
Comes as a light cream or caramel color |
Accepts stain well |
Similar to oak in hardness |
| Brazilian Cherry |
Extremely durable |
Traditional to contemporary |
Deep red/orange/brown tones; minimal knots; tight straight grain |
Accepts stain well; darkens with exposure to light; dominant red toes return |
82% harder than red oak |
| Domestic Cherry |
Beautiful delicate grain with character |
Formal/traditional for select grades; casual/rustic for character grades |
Golden/honey tones; wide color variation common within a plank |
Difficult to stain evenly; darkens with exposure to light |
26% softer than red oak |
| Hickory |
Popular substitute for oak, walnut or mesquite; delicate grain with lots of character |
Casual or rustic |
Beige/tan; wide color variation within a plank |
Accepts stain well; color stable |
41% harder than red oak |
| Sugar Maple |
Minimal grain, extremely tight color range in highest grades |
Contemporary, minimalist or modern; used where minimal grain or pattern is desired |
Creamy white in highest grade; wide variation in lower grades |
Difficult to stain evenly; ambers slightly with exposure to light |
12% harder than red oak |
| Mesquite |
The most stable and one of the most durable woods; exquisite character |
Casual or rustic for character grades;traditional /formal for select grades |
Deep reddish brown or mahogany |
Accepts stain well; natural mahogany tones are dominant; darkens with exposure to light |
82% harder than red oak |
| Oak |
The standard or basic floor material for years |
Grade and grain pattern can be manipulated to be formal or casual |
Red oak is slightly pink; white oak is beige/tan |
Accepts stain very well; color possibilities are almost endless |
Oak is typically used as the benchmark for hardness |
