Use Janka Hardness Ratings to Determine Which Is Right For Your Home
When you get hardwood floor installation, don’t think your only choice is classic oak. In fact, there are many durable choices with their own unique characteristics and benefits. As you decide on your hardwood flooring material, keep these popular woods in mind: oak, maple, hickory, cherry, walnut, and bamboo.
Janka Hardness Ratings
Janka hardness ratings provide valuable guidance in selecting wood types for your hardwood floor installation project.
Before choosing a hardwood floor that will be durable in your household, consider their Janka hardness ratings. This rating is a standardized measurement that determines the hardness of a particular species of wood. The test evaluates how resistant wood is to wear and denting. The higher the Janka rating, the harder and more resistant the wood is.
Oak: The Quintessential Choice For Hardwood Floors
Oak is a popular species for hardwood flooring because it’s so durable and resistant to wear and tear in homes and commercial spaces.
This particular wood flooring can be further divided into two varieties: red oak, with its inviting reddish tint, and white oak, which is a cooler, more subdued golden tone. Red oak’s grain pattern is more pronounced, giving it traditional warmth, but white oak’s grain is finer and more subtle. In general, both types of oak are compatible with an array of stain shades, so you can achieve the look you want without great difficulty.
But it’s not so much oak’s looks that make it popular. It’s that it stands up so well to daily wear and can take almost anything your household sends its way. Its longevity means it serves as the foundation for your home’s decor style for decades, or it can be refinished to enhance your new favorite aesthetic.
Red Oak Janka Rating: 1290
White Oak Janka Rating: 1360
Maple: Bright and Versatile
Maple stands out in the world of hardwood flooring for its naturally bright hue and fine, even grain, which gives a seamless look to spaces it graces. Known for its robustness, maple resists impacts and scratches, making it an exceptional choice for flooring in areas that bear the brunt of daily activities.
It’s a densely structured wood in a fairly neutral color that complements many interior design styles. It accepts stains nicely, although maple is perhaps best left in its lovely natural color, ranging anywhere from a creamy white to a soft gold. Because its grain is uniform, it doesn’t distract the eye and can make an illusion of more space.
For the adventurous, a maple floor with a matte finish makes a big impact, or opt for a high-sheen finish for a more classic look.
Hard Maple Janka Rating: 1450
Hickory Hardwood Floors: A Rugged Beauty
Incredibly strong, hickory is known to be one of the toughest hardwoods for flooring in North America, so it’s ideal for high-traffic areas. Hickory is characterized by its pronounced grain patterns and dramatic color variations that sweep from pale whites to deep browns. As a result, it injects natural, organic character into any space it adorns.
Because of its color variance and pronounced grain, no two hickory floors are exactly alike. It’s these very same characteristics that mask minor scratches and dents.
Hickory responds well to various finishes and is suitable for rustic spaces like a country farmhouse or urban ones like a loft condo. For enduring beauty that stands the test of time, opt for hickory hardwood floor installation.
Cherry: Elegance and Rich Color
Cherry hardwood flooring is characterized by rich, deep hues that range from light reddish pinks to darker reds. This remarkable color spectrum allows cherry floors to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere in any room, elevating the space with a luxurious feel.
Over time, when exposed to natural light, cherry wood deepens in color. It’s a unique attribute that adds to its allure. Its straight wood grain pattern complements its smooth texture, for a polished look. These features make it a great design choice for both traditional and contemporary homes.
Despite being softer than other hardwoods, cherry is valued for its beauty and workability. It is fairly durable and can withstand regular residential life in homes with moderate foot traffic. Proper care and maintenance, including repairs and hardwood floor refinishing, can preserve its appearance for years.
Cherry Janka Rating: 950
Walnut Hardwood Flooring: Luxurious and Dark Tones For Sophisticated Spaces
The light brown and dark chocolate range of walnut wood makes people think of sophistication and modern design. Its depth of color enhances almost any room, including hyper-modern ones, traditional spaces, and mid-century throwbacks.
Walnut has a unique grain pattern, which includes both swirls and straight lines, to create visual interest. Each plank of a walnut wood floor is distinct and captivating.
Like cherry, American walnut and black walnut are slightly softer than other hardwoods like oak or maple, but it’s still plenty durable for most homes. Because it’s softer, it allows for easier implementation of intricate designs, so homeowners can personalize their spaces. Brazilian walnut, on the other hand, ranks extremely highly on the Janka hardness scale – one of the most durable hardwoods available.
American or Black Walnut Janka Rating: 1010
Brazilian Walnut Janka Rating: 3680
Bamboo: A Modern Hardwood Alternative
Bamboo flooring is a sustainable and contemporary alternative to traditional hardwood species. Crafted from rapidly renewable bamboo plants, this flooring option makes a positive environmental impact. Bamboo requires less water to cultivate and generates more oxygen than other hardwoods. Because of its rapid growth cycle, it reaches maturity in just five to seven years, as compared to decades-long growth periods of oak, maple, and other species.
Aesthetically, bamboo provides a clean, minimalistic look. It has a fine grain and uniform texture that brightens spaces without being distracting. It comes in a variety of shades, including natural light tones and darker, carbonized hues that are achieved through a heating process.
In terms of durability, certain types of bamboo, especially strand-woven bamboo, is hard enough to rival traditional hardwoods, making it suitable for high-traffic areas. It also naturally resists moisture and is antimicrobial – which is why bamboo cutting boards are so popular!
Bamboo Janka Rating: 1300 to 1400
Hardwood Flooring Samples Can Help You Make a Decision
It’s hard to imagine what your hardwood floor will look like based on a written description alone. To see examples of these hardwoods in person, contact a local hardwood flooring installation company.
But choosing the right hardwood floor is more than just picking a pretty wood. By understanding Janka hardness ratings and considering the unique characteristics of each species, you can choose a wood species that balances durability, functionality, and beauty.
