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Flooring Species:
There are lots of species to choice from when looking for flooring. Some of the things you may want to keep in mind when looking at flooring options are; the look you want, the cost per square foot (project budget), availability of the species, and durability of the different options.
The hardness of a wood species is determined using the Janka test. This test is performed by driving a .444 inch steel ball halfway into a wood sample. The force required to do this is recorded in pounds (lbs). The higher the lbs required, the harder and denser the wood and the more resistive to dents and scratches! Look on the chart below to see how your favorite flooring species stacks up!
| Botanical Name |
Species |
Janka Rating |
| Ebony, Brazilian | 3692 | |
| Tabebuia, spp | Walnut, Brazilian (Ipe) | 3680 |
| Manilkara, bidentata | Cherry, Bolivian | 3650 |
| Dipteryx, odorata | Teak, Brazilian | 3540 |
| Lonchocarpus, castilloi | Cherry, Caribbean (Mayan/Aztec) | 3100 |
| Rosewood, Brazilian | 3000 | |
| Rosewood, Patagonian | 2800 | |
| Brosimum, rubescens | Bloodworth | 2900 |
| Hymenaea, courbaril | Cherry, Brazilian | 2820 |
| Mesquite | 2345 | |
| Rosewood, Caribbean | 2300 | |
| Mahogany, Santos | 2200 | |
| Tigerwood | 2160 | |
| Peltogyne, spp | Purple Heart | 2090 |
| Tristania, spp | Brushbox, Northern | 2045 |
| Guibourtia, demeusei | Bubinga | 1980 |
| Rosewood, African | 1980 | |
| Intsia, spp | Merbau | 1925 |
| Jarrah | 1910 / 1915 / 2081 | |
| Astronium, spp | Goncalo Alves/Tigerwood | 1850 / 2160 |
| Hickory | 1820 | |
| Pecan | 1820 | |
| Machaerium, sclieroxylon | Rosewood, Bolivian | 1780 |
| Morado | 1780 | |
| Ptercarpus, soyauxii | Cherry, African | 1725 |
| Padauk | 1725 | |
| Patens | 1691 | |
| Timbergrass Bamboo | 1642 / 1650 | |
| Milletia, laurentii | Wenge | 1630 |
| Zebrawood | 1575 | |
| Afrormosia | 1560 | |
| Maple, Brazilian | 1500 | |
| Maple, Patagonian (Brazilian) | 1500 | |
| Walnut, African | 1500 | |
| Sappelle | 1500 | |
| Cauratari, ssp | Ash, Silky | 1460 |
| Maple, 'Hard' (North American) | 1450 | |
| Royal Mahogany | 1400 | |
| Merbau | 1400 | |
| Walnut, Caribbean | 1400 | |
| Bamboo - Natural | 1380 | |
| Cypress, Australian | 1375 | |
| Oak, White | 1360 | |
| Pterogyne, nitens | Amendoim | 1340 |
| Oak, Vintage | 1325 | |
| Ash, White | 1320 | |
| American Beech | 1300 | |
| Fagus, slyvatica | European Beech | 1300 |
| Dicorynia, guianensis | Angelique | 1290 |
| Oak, Red (Northern) | 1290 / 1260 | |
| Kimbala | 1260 | |
| Birch, Yellow | 1260 | |
| Heartpine, Caribbean | 1240 | |
| Heart Pine; original (N. Amer.) | 1225 | |
| Black Walnut (North American) | 1010 | |
| Eucalyptus, delegatensis | Ash, Victorian (Oak, Tasmanian) | 1010 |
| Teak | 1000 / 1155 | |
| Southern Yellow Pine | 870 | |
| Mahogany | 800 |
| Red Oak |
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The standard in American flooring selection is Red Oak. It looks beautiful, it has good moisture resistive properties, it's density has a solid rating, the price is very affordable and it's a renewable, readily-available species. Generally available in several grades, widths from 2 1/4" to 6" and 7", pre-finished and unfinished. |
| Heartpine |
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Heartpine or Pinus Palustris (of marshes) is a slow growth species that is almost extinct in the world. It's called 'heart' because it contains a very high percentage of the reds, browns, burgundies and claret color that you see in the center of most pine trees. Its also know as 'longleaf southern yellow' pine. Heartpine trees could live to 450 years and today only survives naturally in isolated patches. We chopped most of the Heartpine down during the industrial revolution and used it to build tobacco warehouse and textile mills. We exported much of it to Europe as well, for similar purposes. The slow seasonal growth pattern of the Heartpine gives is extremely tight grain patterns and makes it very dense and durable. It is also naturally rot resistant and bug resistant. It is virtually immune to termites and powder-post beetles. Today, Heartpine is reclaimed from the old structures, re-milled, and installed as new flooring. It's slow growth means that Heartpine comes in wide planks; typically 4", 6" and 8" wide. But its also a bit more expensive than a lot of the more common flooring options; starting at $6.00/SF and up! But the beauty of the dark, rich colors can't be beat! |
| Rosewood |
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Rosewood is a beautiful, dense wood that is appearing more and more on the residential and commercial markets. It's typically available in pre-finished with planks 4" and 5" wide and 3/4" thick. It has a similar look to Brazilian Cherry. All of the millwork that I've worked with has had good millwork and fits very tight. |
| Maple |
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Maple is a beautiful, light colored wood. It's more dense than oak and costs about the same. It's widely available in unfinished but runs a bit on the expensive side for pre-finished. Some of the millwork can be a little on the rough side and it typically needs some minor, on-site grading for small knots and mineral streaks. It's typically available in a 3/4" x 4" planks. |
| Southern Yellow Pine |
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Yellow pine is a beautiful, light wood. Its typically some of the softest wood. and price is usually low. It will often have lots of knots and other character. It also stains great. It's typically available in wide planks; 4", 5", 6" and up. It's most readily available in 3/4" thick planks, but can be found in 1/2" planks as well. |
| Brazilian Walnut, also know as Ipe (E-pay) |
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An extremely hard floor that is dark overall but with lots of variety in color. Very tough to work with when sanding and finishing. Available in prefinished. |
| Afzelia |
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| Ash |
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| Beech, American |
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| Blackwood |
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| Bloodwood |
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| Birch |
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| Bocote |
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| BrazilianWalnut |
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Also know as Ipe (E-pay). It's density is marvelous to behold but a very difficult wood to sand and finish. If you are considering buying this exotic wood, strongly consider buying it pre-finished! |
| Bubinga |
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| Cedar |
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Too soft for floors. |
| Cherry, North American (Black Cherry) |
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| Cherry, Bolivian |
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| Cherry, Brazilian |
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| Chestnut |
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| Cocobolo |
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| Cypress |
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| Cyprus, Australian |
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| Elm |
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| Hickory |
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| Leopardwood |
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| Mahogany |
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| Merbau |
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| Mesquite |
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| Myrtle |
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| Pecan |
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| Purpleheart |
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| Zebrawood |
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