Hardwood is One Tough Flooring Material
A Time-Tested and Beautiful Flooring Materials for the Modern Home
Perhaps the most sought-after flooring material available, hardwood floors offer not only durability but also a long-lasting beauty that is sure to add value to your home. It is a versatile flooring option that can be used in many parts of the house. There is also a wide variety of hardwood flooring choices with the many species of hardwood available on the market.
Many Choices of Hardwood
Many species of hardwood flooring are popular for use as flooring. These hardwood species offer different colors, patterns, and hardness levels. Hardness is a very important factor in choosing which hardwood to purchase as it determines your level of comfort when walking on it, as well as durability when it comes to wear over time. The hardness of a certain wood also gives a clue as to its durability.
Other factors that should be considered: The look of the hardwood, i.e., the grain. As mentioned, the color of the wood is also very important as this determines the general look of the room and how paints and stains will adhere to it. Of course, there's always the option of exploring stains. This way you get the species you want along with all of its benefits, while also gaining the right color.
The Janka Hardness Test
The hardness of each hardwood varies with each species. To determine which type of hardwood works for a particular room in terms of hardness and durability, a test called the Janka Hardness Scale was developed.
Aside from determining a hardwood specie's general hardness, knowledge of its Janka rating could also help determine the effort required to nail or saw the wood. Here are the Janka ratings of various hardwoods (the higher the rating, the harder the wood):
American Black Cherry: 950
American Black Walnut: 1010
Yellow Birch: 1260
Red Oak: 1290
White Ash: 1320
White Oak: 1360
Hard Maple: 1450
Santos Mahogany: 2200
Brazilian Cherry: 2345
Brazilian Teak: 3540
Brazilian Walnut: 3680
Ebony: 3692
Keeping Your Hardwood Floors Clean
It is not particularly difficult to clean and maintain hardwood floors. In fact, with a very simple routine, you can keep your hardwood floors looking new for years and years.
Dirt and dust are one of the biggest enemies of any wood flooring material. It is best for your hardwood floors if they are kept free from dirt and dust by regular sweeping. These tiny particles can scratch the finish of your floors, dulling it in the long run.
Another thing to avoid is over-waxing your hardwood floors. Not only will excess floor wax dull the finish of your floor, the stickiness of the wax can also attract dust and debris, adding to the dullness.
Excessive moisture is also the bane of floors, so take care not to expose your hardwood floor to it. Spills should be wiped clean immediately and not be allowed to stand.