Wood Hardness Chart

Choosing floors with the wood hardness chart

Durability is a prime consideration when selecting the wood for your new floors. There’s a wide range of woods commonly used for flooring and lots of variety in the density of each species. The denser the wood, the more resistant to scratches, dents and dings the floor will be.

To get a read on the density and durability of Oak vs. Maple or Pine vs. Oak, for example, you can simply consult the Janka wood hardness chart. The Janka test measures wood density by determining how much force is required to push a small steel ball halfway into a plank. The test results are listed on the Janka wood hardness chart as pounds of force, or pounds-force (lbf). An extremely dense wood like Ebony, for example, requires 3,220 lbf to embed the steel ball. In comparison, an extremely softwood like balsa requires only 70 lbf.

With the Janka wood hardness chart, it’s easy to compare the relative density of a Red Oak floor (1290 lbf) with the much harder Hickory (1820 lbf) or the much softer Eastern White Pine (380 lbf).

At Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, we offer hardwood and pine floors made with species that span a wide range of values on the Janka wood hardness chart. Our wide plank specialists can walk you through the benefits of using a highly dense wood like Maple or a much softer wood like Cherry. They can also help you explore all your options for customizing your floor to your needs.

Common types of flooring on the Janka wood hardness chart

While the Janka wood hardness chart provides values for many types of wood, only a limited number of species are commonly available as hardwood or Pine floors. At Carlisle, we offer a variety of woods that range from extremely dense to fairly soft, enabling our customers to choose the perfect floor for their home.

• Hickory (1820), the hardest of commonly available hardwoods, boasts a tensile strength that rivals steel. Hickory features very interesting grain patterns and a color palette that runs from lighter blonde in the sapwood to rich cocoa brown and beige in the heartwood.
• Brown Maple (1450) is known for its hardness and durability. This aesthetically beautiful hardwood features subtle and consistent grain patterns with distinctive brown heartwood and striking color variations across its planks.
• White Maple (1450) is also one of the stronger hardwoods with grain patterns that are more subtle than Hickory or Oak. The natural color tones and neutral appearance of White Maple are in high demand for both traditional and contemporary settings.
• White Oak (1360) has dense fibers that make for exceptionally durable floors. With dramatic grain patterns and color tones that feature nutty brown and cocoa hues, White Oak is comfortable in a wide range of designs, from casual to formal to contemporary.
• Rift and Quartersawn White Oak (1360) produces strikingly beautiful floors with straight parallel lines that run the entire length of the plank, thanks to special cutting techniques.
• Ash (1320) offers neutral and natural hues with many color variations and a meandering grain pattern. Natural Ash hardwood flooring may feature colors from light blonde to cream to rich nutty brown.
• Red Oak (1290) is known for its deep, salmon tones in the heartwood and for tight, consistent grain that yields boards of exceptional widths and lengths.
• Birch (1260) features intriguing combinations of color tones that run from blonde to warm amber to rich reddish-brown. White Birch flooring is renowned for its varying grain patterns that range from subtle swirls to flamelike effects.
• Walnut (1010) is prized for its complex grain patterns, rich chocolate hues and surprising purple undertones. One of the most attractive yet resilient woods available, Walnut is suitable for everything from rustic country kitchens to high-rise city lofts to elegantly formal sitting rooms.
• Cherry (995) floors will darken over time – the rich red tones in a Cherry plank will mature to a burnished auburn color as the floor ages. American Cherry wood flooring features subtle but distinctive grain structure and is one of the most popular of all hardwood floors.
• Heart Pine (1225) has a density that rivals Oak and hues that range from pumpkin and amber to darker, more modern colors.
• Eastern White Pine (380) is a softwood that wears in over time to create a floor with a distinct lived-in appearance. Eastern White Pine offers smooth grain, subtle knots and lighter hues that can be treated with a wide variety of finishes.

Why choose wide plank floors from Carlisle?

When you come to Carlisle, you’ll be working with the country’s #1 provider of handcrafted wide plank floors. For more than 50 years, we’ve produced floors of the highest quality using time-honored techniques and the most reliable timber from American forests. Every Carlisle floor is a masterpiece that reflects the style and sophistication of the homeowner who commissions it. Your Carlisle floor will be a central design feature of your home that will continue to inspire you every time you into the room.

When designing your wide plank floor, our wide plank experts will work closely with you to understand your aesthetic and design requirements. They’ll walk you through all the options for wood based on the wood hardness chart and other characteristics of each species. Ultimately, our team will help you settle on a hardwood, Pine or reclaimed floor that will be the perfect surface for your home.