The Janka hardness scale is an important tool in accessing a hardwoods durability 

The Janka hardness scale is a world wide recognized test that measures the hardness of a particular species of wood. This number is important to know as you are choosing your flooring as the higher the number the harder the hardwood is for flooring applications. The harder the wood the more durable it will be and have the ability to withstand denting and wear better.

The Janka hardness scale measurement is determined by the amount of force that is needed to embed a .444 inch steel ball into the wood the distance of half of the diameter of the steel ball. This measurement not only determines the woods durability but also how easy the wood is to work with in terms of sawing and nailing. Red oak has become a popular benchmark of the janka scale.

Although the Janka hardness scale is an important tool it is not the only consideration and should be used as a guideline. Where the wood is grown and the maturity of the wood can vary the results. Finishes and the construction of the planks are also important considerations in choosing your flooring as they will also affect durability. Below are some of the most popular hardwood species with their Janka measurements.

                                       Imported species