Janka
hardness
Scale

THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR HARDNESS

The hardness of a wood is rated on an industry wide standard known as the Janka test. The Janka test measures the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball into the wood by half its diameter.  This test is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood specie to withstand denting and wear. It is also a good indicator of how hard a specie is to saw, mill and nail. 

There are many things to consider when choosing your wood, including the hardness, natural colour of the wood, the grain and the stability.

How Stable is Your Wood?

Stability is defined by the level of flux, expansion and “movement” a wood will have when exposed to different humidity levels. Certain woods need to be dried longer in the mill, and some also need to be acclimatized in your home, to create a more stable presence. However, Superior Hardwood Flooring by Herwynen Sawmill Ltd. does not recommend acclimating our products to the jobsite; by doing so you will void the warranty on your hardwood floors. Please note that Maple and Hickory are two species that tend to take on moisture quicker than other wood species so extra caution is to be taken with these two product species. We also highly recommend keeping all of our species within our recommended tolerances.

We have all the information you need to review your wood and find out which wood is best for you. As you explore our wood options for your home, feel free to refer back to this chart to see where your wood choice ranks on the hardness scale.