All Hardwood Is Not Created Equal
All wood species have a unique level of hardness that is measured using the Janka scale.
A common misconception when it comes to hardwood floors is that they all have the same level of “hardness”, when in fact, the level of hardness varies greatly by the specie of tree. There is a scientific scale used to measure the hardness of different woods call the Janka Scale. It basically tells us how resilient a certain species of wood will be to dents, scrapes, and wear by measuring the amount of pounds-force required to imbed a steel into the lumber (Wood Database). The higher the Janka rating, the harder the wood.
Hardness
“Janka”
Scale
Curious about where your lumber falls on the scale? Check out the list below:
Walnut, Brazilian 3680
Teak, Brazilian 3540
Cherry, Brazilian 2820
Gum, Spotted 2473
Mesquite 2345
Mahogany, Santos 2200
Hickory/Pecan 1820
Maple, Brazilian 1500
Maple, Hard 1450
Cypress, Australian 1375
Oak, White 1360
Ash, White 1320
Beech 1300
Oak, Northern Red 1290
Birch 1260
Teak 1078
Walnut, American Black 1010
Cherry, Black 950
Pine, Southern Yellow 870
Douglas Fir 660
Source: “Hardwood [Janka] Scale”. Pg. 11. Real Wood Real Life. The National Hardwood Flooring Association.