What is oak on the Janka scale?

Red oak is used as the standard and its hardness is 1,290 on the Janka scale. White oak is just a bit harder at 1,360.

What is the hardness rating of red oak?

1290
Red Oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1290, while White Oak’s rating is 1360, making it slightly more impervious to dents and scratches.

What wood is harder than oak?

Maple is harder than oak. Harder woods can be susceptible to decay, while softer wood resists it. Where you use the hardwood is more important than its density and hardness. Differing sub-species of each variety also play an important role when considering the choices between oak and maple.

What is a Janka rating for hardwood floors?

Janka Ratings. The hardness of wood flooring is measured by something called the Janka test. A .444 inch steel ball is driven into the wood in question to half of the ball’s diameter. It is important to remember that this is an impact test, not a test of scratching, scuffing, or any other wear and tear that flooring experiences.

What does the Janka hardness Chart Show?

The results shown on the Janka Hardness Chart indicate the hardness of a wood’s face, and not its edges (or “side hardness”). This should only be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. Depending on where the wood is harvested the results may vary.

What is the Janka scale used for?

The Janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. The Janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0.444″ steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. The scale used in the table is pounds-force.

What are the hardness ratings of different wood species?

Janka Hardness Ratings of Wood Species WOOD SPECIES RATING: SOFT TO HARD Yellow Birch 1260 Red Oak, Northern 1290 American Beech 1300 Bamboo* – Teragren Craftsman II 1307