Wood Flooring Hardness Scale

A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring.

Wood flooring hardness scale. Understanding how the janka hardness scale works is simple. 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. In short a higher number rating on the janka scale equates to a harder wood species. What is a bad janka rating.

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. The type of construction and finish also play an important role in the durability and ease of maintenance of any wood floor. The lower the number the softer. To give some quantification to the issue of wood species hardness the lumber industry created the janka hardness scale a standard now widely accepted as the best means of ranking a wood s hardness.

The janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. The best wood for hardwood flooring typically falls above 1000 on the scale. Although this janka hardness test is one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations it should be used only as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. The janka test measures the amount of force needed to drive a 0 444 inch steel ball into wood to a depth equal to half its diameter.

It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. All these ratings have been organized onto a scale called the janka hardness scale. A janka rating provides a great barometer for determining how well a particular floor may withstand denting and wear. The higher the number the harder the wood is this should be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring.

It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. A rating of 950 lbs or higher on the janka scale is the standard for wood flooring options.