We all know how hardwood floors are some of the most durable floors anyone can have in their home. It has always been the material of choice for many people because of its strength and ability to withstand foot traffic and heavy furniture pieces. To add, most hardwoods are also easy to clean and maintain, making them perfect for homes with kids and pets.
However, not all hardwood floors are the same. The quality, available designs, pricing, and, of course, the durability will vary depending on the specific hardwood type. As the homeowner, it’s your job to ensure that all these specifications meet your standards. This involves measuring the actual durability to have an overview of how long the flooring will last.
That said, what exactly is the role of durability in hardwood floors? How can you measure it, and what can possibly affect its overall level? This is what we’re going to talk about in the following sections.
How to Measure the Durability of Hardwood Flooring
Before everything else, let’s talk about how to measure a hardwood floor’s durability.
The best way to start determining a hardwood floor’s durability is to learn about its Janka Rating. A Janka Rating is a result of a Janka Hardness Test. A Janka Hardness test was created by Gabriel Janka who worked for the Forest Products Lab of the US Department of Agriculture. Mr. Janka was tasked to scientifically measure the hardness of US hardwoods. He developed this test that we use to this day (since formalized by the American Society for Testing and Materials) specifically to determine the durability of wood. This industry-standard data is a great place to obtain an accurate view of how durable a certain wood or floor type is. You can learn more about how this test is administered below.
4 Factors to Consider in Choosing the Most Durable Hardwood Floors
1. The Janka Hardness Test For Rating Wood Species
The hardness of wood is measured by an industry-standard called the Janka rating. The Janka rating is a result of a Janka Test. The Janka test consists of using a .444 steel ball and forcing it into each species of wood until it’s halfway inside the wood. The Janka rating is the amount of force it took to shove the steel ball halfway inside each wood species. Of course, the Janka Rating Test isn’t the only thing that you should rely on when determining the durability and, ultimately, choosing a hardwood flooring type. There are some other factors that you need to consider.
2. Hardwood Flooring Type: Solid vs Engineered Wood Flooring
Hardwood comes in two main types, solid or engineered. Engineered hardwoods are made up of a multi-layered wood core with a top piece of solid hardwood called the veneer layer. Solid hardwoods are 100% solid wood all the way through. As a general rule, the thicker the floor, the more durable it will be to dents. Typically solid and engineered hardwood will be equally scratch resistant as both share a solid hardwood top for you to walk on. Engineered hardwood is known to be more stable when faced with moisture changes or moisture exposure. So we typically classify engineered as the most durable hardwood to stand the test of time.
3. Hardwood Flooring Sheen or Gloss Level
You also need to consider the shine, gloss, or as we call it, the “sheen” of hardwood flooring. Why would a sheen visual affect the durability of a floor? It doesn’t. However, high gloss or high sheen flooring reveals way more scratches or imperfections than a low gloss or matte finish hardwood. A scratched-up gloss may technically last as long as a low gloss floor, but you’ll be interested in replacing a floor that looks scratched up versus a floor that doesn’t look scratched up. A high-gloss finish will show scratches and wear more easily than a lower sheen hardwood. A low-sheen or low-gloss floor will look its best the longest, so we recommend low-gloss flooring if you’re looking to find the most durable floor options available.
4. Unfinished vs Prefinished Hardwood
Lastly, consider the finish of hardwood flooring. Most hardwoods come in either unfinished or prefinished varieties. Unfinished hardwoods need to be sanded and stained in your home, while prefinished hardwoods come with the finish already applied at the factory.
The advantage of prefinished hardwood is you don’t have another labor cost for your flooring installation. Prefinished floors have multiple layers of finish applied to them for a thicker and more dense finish to create a more durable top coat for your hardwood floor. Prefinished floors have the most durable finishes due to the harsh chemicals they can apply and seal to hardwood. Prefinished floors are a more durable option than less effective at-home finishes you can apply to unfinished floors.
Unfinished flooring was a more common option in previous years. The main advantage to buying unfinished floors is you can stain your floor any color you want. You aren’t artificially limited to hardwood inventory because the color you want is sold out in prefinished. Unfinished flooring used to be cheaper to purchase and you could install and finish the floor yourself to save money on the final installation. You’ll notice in today’s economy, that wood, in general, is expensive, and manually applying the finish yourself doesn’t affect the bottom line as it once did. The finishes you apply to unfinished flooring are not as strong or durable as prefinished hardwood.
When looking for the most durable hardwood floors we suggest you shop for prefinished hardwood.
Best Wood Species Options for Durable Hardwood Floors
Oak
One of the most popular wood species options for a durable hardwood floor is oak. Oak is a very hard wood, and it is available in both solid and engineered varieties. Oak floors are also easy to clean and maintain, making them perfect for busy families. Oak will typically come in two type, Red Oak or White Oak. Red Oak will have a light pinkish, shades of salmon in the heartwood, and distinct grain patterns. White Oak can show a contrast between light colors, a nutty brown color, and cocoa hues with dramatic grain patterns that range from simple and sleek to intricate swirls. Read more about oak flooring in our full red oak and white oak blog post.
Hickory
You should begin your search for durable hardwood in Hickory. Hickory is a renowned hardwood floor because of its extremely high level of durability. It’s one of the top scorers in the Janka Rating Test. Hickory flooring is not as popular as other types of real wood flooring, and it’s fair to say that it’s not for everyone because of its rustic appearance. If you like hardwood that looks like actual wood, you will be pleased with hickory. You can read more about this type of wood in our Hickory Hardwood Flooring post.
Maple
Maple is another great option for durable hardwood floors. Maple is slightly harder than oak, and it is also available in both solid and engineered varieties. Maple floors are also easy to clean and maintain. Maple hardwood will show creamy, blondish tones and feature subtle grain patterns. Maple hardwood is a favorite for interior decorators to match the current trends. You can learn more about maple flooring in our Maple Flooring post as well.
Teak
Teak is another great option for durable hardwood floors. Teak is a very hard wood, and it is available in both solid and engineered varieties. Teak has a termite advantage to traditional wood species of hardwood. Teak has oils that naturally repel termites. The main downside to teak is it can be quite expensive for some budgets.
Ash
Many people also look for ash hardwood as a durable hardwood floor option. It might sound weak due to the name, but ash has always been a material of choice since the olden days. Ash hardwood is more durable than red oak on the Janka scale. The problem with Ash planks is they can be difficult to find in longer or wider planks. If that bugs you, it is because the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that feeds on ash trees, prevents most trees from making it to a full growth cycle.
Jatoba or Brazilian Cherry
Jatoba is also known as Brazilian Cherry, and it is one of the hardest exotic woods available, making it a great choice for durable hardwood floors. Jatoba is only available in solid form, so it might be more difficult to source for your next project due to limited supply. However, once it is installed, it will last for many years.
These are just some of the best hardwood floor options you can choose from if you want a durable floor that will last for many years. When choosing the right wood floor for your home, keep these factors in mind in order to land on the most durable flooring possible.
Finishes to Choose for a Durable Hardwood Floor
There are many options for finishes for hardwood floors, but not all of them are created equal. Some finishes are more durable than others, and some are better at resisting scratches and scuffs.
Here are some of the best finishes for a durable hardwood floor:
Polyurethane: This is a clear finish applied over the top of the wood. It’s durable and resists scratches, scuffs, and stains.
Varnish: This is a clear finish applied over the top of the wood. It’s durable and resists scratches, scuffs, and stains.
Shellac: This is a clear finish applied over the top of the wood. It’s durable and resists scratches, scuffs, and stains.
Lacquer: This is a clear finish applied over the top of the wood. It’s durable and resists scratches, scuffs, and stains.
Aluminum-Oxide: This is the toughest finish you can apply to a floor today. It’s the most durable and resists scratches, scuffs, and stains.
As you can see, there are many options for finishes that will make your hardwood floors more durable. When choosing a finish for your floors, make sure you choose one that is durable like Aluminum-Oxide.
The Best Option for Pets
Since it’s a common behavior for pets, no matter what kind it is, to scratch and try to nibble on flooring. This is the main reason why some homeowners stray away from hardwood floors despite how aesthetic it looks.
However, you don’t necessarily have to do this. Like any other, there are certain hardwood floor types that will be perfect even for the heaviest nail scratching. Here are some of the most durable ones that you should consider:
– Hickory
– Jatoba or Brazilian Cherry
– Hard Maple
On the flip side, make sure to avoid hardwoods that are on the softer side of the spectrum, such as Pine and American Cherry.
Solid or Engineered: Which Is More Durable?
When it comes to hardwood floors, you have two choices: solid or engineered. Solid hardwood is just that – it’s made of one solid piece of wood. Engineered hardwood is made of multiple layers of wood that are glued together with a piece of solid wood on top.
Both types of hardwood floors are durable, but engineered hardwood is more resistant to moisture and humidity due to the multiple layers of wood to help promote stability as well. The multiple layers of wood prevent warping and cupping due to moisture changes or exposure.
If you’re looking for a durable hardwood floor to stand the test of time, engineered hardwood is the way to go.
The Bottom Line
When choosing a durable hardwood floor, there are many factors to consider. But the most important thing is to take care of your hardwood floors like you would any other investment.
Regularly sweep and clean your floors to remove dirt and debris. If you use a damp mop to clean them, be sure to dry them immediately afterward. If you spill something on your floors, wipe it up right away.
By following these simple tips, you can keep your hardwood floors looking new for years to come.
Contact Us for Your Durable Hardwood Flooring Choices
Choosing hardwood floors is hard (no pun intended) because there are a lot of choices around to the point that examining their qualities one by one can get overwhelming.
Even so, you can expect both the price and the time you spent hunting for the best hardwood floor will be worth it. You will never go wrong since it’s one of the best when it comes to durability and the value it can bring to your home. Just make sure to take a number of important factors into account, such as the floor type, your needs, and your preferences.
If you don’t want to go through the struggle of picking hardwood floors alone and without sufficient knowledge, how about you give us a call? We’ll be with you every step of the way until you land on the perfect floors for your home.
Just contact us at 1-800-253-2728, and we will be right with you.
