Janka Wood Hardness Comparison Flooring

The janka scale is a standardized measure of wood hardness.

Janka wood hardness comparison flooring.

The janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0 444 steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. The scale used in the table is pounds force. The scale was invented in 1906 by gabriel janka an austrian wood researcher and standardized in 1927 by the american society for testing and materials depending on the room where the flooring will be installed a certain level of hardness may make it a more desirable choice. Does hardwood floor hardness matter lauzon flooring description.

Each wood species has its own hardness. Our chart is based on the janka hardness scale which is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various wood species to resist denting and tolerate normal wear. The janka hardness test from the austrian born emigrant gabriel janka 1864 1932 measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring.

These ratings were calculated using the janka hardness test which measures the force needed to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in a piece of wood. The janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. Forest service list the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring. Wood is commonly measured by a test known as the janka hardness test.

When measured by the janka hardness test some hardwoods are softer than some softwoods and they may also be softer than bamboo. Still the very impressive janka ratings accurately depict the excellent durability of these non wood flooring products. It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. The janka scale measures the denting and wear resistance of a wood sample it measures the force required to embed an 11 28 mm 0 444 steel ball to half via.

Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. Durability is a major factor to be considered when selecting a floor. This involves pressing a steel ball into the wood and measuring how deeply the ball dents the wood. The janka hardness test is often applied to bamboo and eucalyptus flooring products after manufacturing a process that artificially hardens the material by the addition of resins.

The grades are arranged from softest to hardest and the number is the janka rating for that particular grade of hardwood flooring. At wickham flooring we offer 8 different species of hardwood the hardest being hickory. The following comparison chart illustrates the relative hardness of various species of wood flooring using the janka scale.