The lower the number the softer.
Engineered floor hardness rating.
In short a higher number rating on the janka scale equates to a harder wood species.
Due to the construction of engineered hardwood it does not have a janka rating.
Understanding how the janka hardness scale works is simple.
A janka rating provides a great barometer for determining how well a particular floor may withstand denting and wear.
Hardwoods are harder than softwoods.
Below are listed the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring.
Engineered flooring may have a janka rating based on the vaneer hardness.
The janka hardness test measures the force needed to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in a piece of wood.
Although this 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.
Engineered flooring is mainly available prefinished for ease of installation but if you look hard enough you can find a handful of companies that offer unfinished engineered flooring as well.
The janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood.
The higher the number the harder the wood.
Janka rating floor durability.
Relative hardness of wood flooring species.
The janka hardness rating of the hardwood used for the veneer on your engineered flooring will guide you to the best choice for your intended flooring use.
So to sum up home flooring pros recommends that you choose the solid wood that you want to live with rather than the hardest wood but bear in mind that the hardness of different wood species vary.
Vanier hard maple brazilian cherry and hand scraped oak red oak and black stained white oak are all excellent engineered floors for high traffic areas.
The most widely used wood hardness scale is known as the janka scale developed in 1906 by gabriel janka an austrian wood researcher.
These ratings were done using the janka hardness test.
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.
Below you ll find the hardness ratings for common species of wood.
Only solid hardwood floors can be tested.
In 1927 it was standardized by the american society for testing and materials astm.
Solid hardwood flooring will always be stronger than hardwood veneer engineered flooring.
Some are harder and more durable than others.
Finally understand that the janka test and all references to wood hardness in this guide are related to solid hardwood flooring rather than engineered hardwood flooring.
Wood hardness the janka scale aren t all hardwood floors hard.
Specific janka ratings will differ per the.
There is much more to consider than just how hard your timber is.
The janka rating is not all you need to know about.
Hardwoods are better than softwoods.
