Janka Hardness Scale
The Janka hardness test is a measurement of the force necessary to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various species to tolerate denting and normal wear, as well as being a good indication of the effort required to either nail or saw the particular wood. Please note that this is just a partial list containing some of the most popular choices in wood flooring as well as some of the more exotic species we carry. For a detailed description of a particular species, click on its name to view a wood flooring specification page on that type of wood.