Walnut Flooring Hardness Rating

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

Walnut flooring hardness rating.

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. Relative hardness of wood flooring species. In short a higher number rating on the janka scale equates to a harder wood species. It is important to remember that the testing process used in the janka scale is an impact test not a test of scratching scuffing or any other wear and tear that flooring experiences.

The scale used in the table is pounds force. It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. Walnut janka hardness rating 1010. Wood hardness chart species alphabetical hardness species by hardness hardness mahogany honduran 800 padauk 1725 mahogany santos 2200 tabaccowood 1750 maple hard north american 1450 rosewood bolivian 1780 maple ivory 1500 bamboo carbonized 1800 maple soft 999 hickory 1820 merbau 1925 pecan 1820 mesquite 2345 yellowheart 1820.

A janka rating provides a great barometer for determining how well a particular floor may withstand denting and wear. 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. Using this wood will add value to your home so mentioned below are a few pros and cons of installing walnut flooring. The lower the number the softer.

The janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0 444 steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. Forest service list the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring. The higher the number the harder the wood. The janka hardness scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another.

Understanding how the janka hardness scale works is simple. Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. The janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. To learn the basic hardness of different common woods used in flooring check the chart below.

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. Homeowners like the natural color of walnut flooring and the warmth it automatically adds to a room. Janka hardness ratings of wood species. The janka hardness rating for walnut is 1010 which means that it is a softer wood species.

Also known as black walnut or american walnut this wood species usually has fine straight graining and coloring is a rich almost chocolate brown. Below are listed the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring.