HARDWOOD FLOOR DURABILITY
Paws and claws? No problem!
Hardwood floors are built to handle the demands of everyday life, from busy households and heavy foot traffic to pets and active families. With the right wood species, professional installation and proper finish, hardwood flooring can remain beautiful and durable for decades. Homes with pets can benefit from choosing finishes that provide better resistance to scratches, dents and everyday wear.
HARDWOOD FLOOR HARDNESS - JANKA SCALE
Each species of hardwood has a different level of hardness. Some common domestic species like walnut, cherry, and birch are less hard in comparison to other common domestic species like maple, hickory, and oak.
The hardness of solid wood is measured according to a system called the Janka Scale. The Janka Scale gives a good indication of how well a wood species can be expected to withstand dents and dings. The scale is determined by the amount of pound-force required to push a .444-inch diameter steel ball halfway into the wood.
Ratings for both domestic and imported species are included in the scale; however, none of these values apply to engineered wood flooring. While Janka values give a general sense of how hard solid wood is, other factors also contribute to the durability of wood as well. This can include things like how the wood is cut and the finish that is applied to the wood.