The Janka Hardness Scale for Hardwood Floors

The Janka hardness scale is a good tool to use when considering your choice of hardwood flooring species. It is perhaps the most important test i.e. a test that measures the hardness of the wood.

The Janka hardness test for hardwood flooring measures the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in the hardwood meant for flooring. The hardness is expressed numerically as the pounds per square inch of pressure required to sink the ball into the species of hardwood meant for flooring; the higher the number the harder the hardwood for flooring. The Janka hardness test is done on both the side and end of the hardwood because hardness varies with the grain of the hardwood. Janka hardness scale is the industry standard for judging the ability of various hardwood flooring species to withstand denting and wear. It also indicates the effort required to either nail or saw the particular wood and therefore, also helps determine whether the hardwood is suitable for flooring or not. Red Oak hardwood flooring, which has a Janka rating of 1290, is the flooring industry benchmark for comparing the relative hardness of different wood species.

Following are some of the most popular hardwood species used in flooring along with their respective hardness ratings according to the Janka hardness test: