“Hardness” of wood is referring to density, and we measure that in hardwood flooring on the JANKA Hardness scale. This is PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure. We use Red Oak (1290 PSI) as a baseline standard of “hard enough”. Hard enough to be functional and to not easily dent in normal household use. If you drop a pan, you are going to get a dent whether it is Brazilian Cherry (2820 PSI) or Yellow Birch (1260 PSI). But functional differences come under the red oak baseline in popular wood such as American Walnut (1010 PSI) Teak (1155 PSI) and American Cherry (950 PSI). These “softer” floors can leave dents from high heel shoes or debris stuck to the bottom of your shoe. A Christmas party could destroy your floor! These are beautiful grains and natural colors, so some people opt to forego their shoes in the house and take special care of their floors so they can enjoy the unique looks they provide.

Color and grain are equally as important as function and wear in your home. It is just about knowing your expectations for your floor and getting what fits your home and lifestyle.

We find most people who are looking at the “Hardness” of the wood and making that a key decision element can be somewhat confused. We can with our (number of years and three generations of hardwood flooring experience) we will help you understand so you can feel confident you have made the right choice for both your home and your family.