The Janka Hardness Scale
The Janka Hardness Scale is an important aspect of choosing the right wood flooring. This classification determines the durability of a particular type of wood over another. Gabriel Janka, a Austrian wood researcher invented the scale in 1906. The classification was standardized in 1927 by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
A certain level of hardness may make a more charming choice, depending on the room where the flooring will be installed. The higher the number on the scale, the harder and more scratch resistant a wood is. The harder a wood is, the more difficult it becomes to saw or run through a mill. The great news is that this does not impact the price for flooring.
Where The Scale Comes From
The classification was determined for displaying the results of the Janka hardness test. The test uses a 2″ x 2″ x 6″ piece of wood and a 0.444″ steel ball to determine how hard the wood is. The test sums out how many pounds per square inch, or PSI, of force is needed to push the steel ball half way into the wood plank.
Test Variables
If the Janka test is operated on a specimen of wood, the results may vary, depending on the grain of wood used for the test. As an example, if the grain is flat, it is presented on the Janka scale. Even though vertical wood grains are also tested, the results are not usually shown on the scale. Wood is also tested on the sides or ends, because that provides a different hardness rating, but these ratings are not displayed on the typical hardness scale.
What The Scale Looks Like
This scale starts at zero, with this option being the softest wood choice. Unfortunately, this makes it easy to dent and scratch. A rating like this would not make for a good floor, even though no wood on the scale has this rating. The highest rating on the scale is a 4000, making for an extremely hard wood. This is also not likely suitable for flooring because it would be so hard to saw.
How To State The Janka Rating
This is where the Janka rating starts to get a little confusing. Depending on the country, the rating is done differently. For example, in the United States, the Janka ranting is supplied in pounds force, whereas in Sweden it is stated in kilograms force, while Newtons are used in Australia.
What is A “Good” Janka Rating?
This will provide buyers with an indication of how strong the floor is. A “good” Janka rating serves only as an indication, because it is not just the hardness that plays a role in the appearance and durability of a floor over time.
What is A “Bad” Janka Rating?
Balsa wood is commonly used in crafts, ranks at 100 on the scale, this meaning it makes it the softest wood on many scales. This type of wood would not be used for flooring. In conclusion, it is easy to see why a rating of 1000 or higher is the standard for flooring options.
A Closer Look At Oak
The most popular wood flooring choice is oak, but where does it rank on the scale? White oak has a rating of 1360 and red oak has a rating of 1260. Most likely the abundance of oak available for saw mills is leading to the mass production for flooring purposes that makes it an affordable option. The more economical something is to the public, the more widely used it is likely to be. Strictly referring to the Janka rating, there are other choices for harder woods.
A Closer Look At Engineered Hardwood
Where do engineered hardwoods stand on the Janka Hardness scale? They don’t, really. Knowing that these hardwoods are made with a layer of softer wood beneath them, their hardness cannot really be gauged exactly with the scale. Because of the variances in materials used to build the layers of flooring from brand to brand, little information is available on how these engineered woods would fit into the scale. Engineered flooring with a thicker veneer of solid hardwood would be stronger, but this may or may not be the case. You do not need to focus on the Janka Hardness Scale when buying an engineered wood floor.
Hardwood vs. Softwood
To make things easier, consider two homes by the beach, where sand will provide the means for scratching on the floor surface.
For example, home A uses a soft wood, such as American Cherry (950 on the Janka Scale) and the owners take extreme care in cleaning the floor and keeping the sand from the inside of the home. Ten years after the installation, the flooring looks as new as it did the day it was installed. Imagine that the residents of the home include children and pets. The Janka Hardness Scale may lead people to believe this would be a bad flooring choice, when in all actuality, it may actually be the perfect one!
The second example is home B, which uses a fairly hard wood, such as Brazilian Cherry (2820 on the Janka Scale). The owners don’t always cleaning up after themselves and maintain a highly active lifestyle. Six years after the installation, the floor looks terrible and may also need replacement. The Janka Hardness Scale may lead people to believe this is a better choice of flooring, when it is not necessary the best pick.
Can Softer Mean Stronger?
Understand not to confuse the hardness of the flooring with its strength. The hardness serves only as an indicator of how well the floor will withstand wear and tear day to day, rather than how strong the wood is. Hardness or softness do not relate to the way the wood feels. The scale has also nothing to do with how soft a floor is in terms of comfort and satisfaction.
What Does All Of This Mean?
We recommend you to pick a hardwood floor based on its look and price before anything else. No matter what, wood will need to be taken care of correctly to withstand the wear of time. If it isn’t taken care of, it doesn’t matter how hard or soft it is. Try using the Janka rating if a decision cannot be reached. Also remember that softer woods don’t necessarily mean earlier replacement and repairs. Going with look and price first is always the best idea.