There are various things which affect the durability of a wooden floor. Not surprisingly, one key element is the type of wood you choose, but no matter the type of wood you have, you can always improve the durability of your wooden floor by applying a hard wearing finish or sealer.
The importance of durability for your wood flooring project will depend upon your particular needs. The things you need to consider include the amount of traffic and wear and tear you anticipate as well as your commitment to on-going maintenance. In general, the harder the wood you choose for your floor, the harder wearing and longer lasting your floor will be.
The types of wood used in wood flooring production range in durability from oak, through to teak and walnut. Typically Brazilian by origin the likes of teak and walnut, often known as cumaru and ipe respectively, while more expensive than oak, are harder wearing, more durable options.
Without getting too technical, there is an industry-recognised method of measuring the durability of wood, which is called the Janka Ball Hardness Test. The Janka Ball Hardness Test is used to measure the force it takes to embed a steel ball (measuring just over 1cm) into the wood to half its diameter! Although the test is fairly complicated and in itself, not directly relevant to your choice of flooring, if durability is high on your priority list, it’s particularly useful to know the Janka Ball Hardness Test ratings of the woods you’re considering. Typically ranging from the high 00’s into the thousands, the Janka Ball Hardness Test for the likes of oak will normally be around the 1,300 mark with cumaru and ipe scoring much higher, with scores reaching around 3000.
Another factor which will affect the durability of your wood floor is the type of seal or finish you choose. Wood floor finishes range from oils at one end of the spectrum to varnishes at the other. Typically, a floor finished with oil will have a much less hardwearing or less durable finish than a floor finished, for example, a polyurethane varnish.
When it comes to commercial wood floors, which face up to daily levels of serious footfall, in the likes of shops, hotels and bars, a specially formulated commercial grade finish will be required.
The good news regarding wood flooring durability is: no matter the situation, there’s bound to be a wood and a finish which fits the bill.
—
FAQ
What factors affect the durability of a wooden floor?
The durability of a wooden floor is impacted by several elements such as the type of wood chosen and the kind of finish or sealer applied. The amount of anticipated traffic and wear and tear, as well as the commitment to maintenance, also significantly influence the durability of your wooden floor.
How does the type of wood influence the durability of the floor?
Different types of wood offer varying levels of durability. For example, woods like oak, teak, and walnut (or cumaru and ipe, respectively), are commonly used for flooring due to their high durability. Woods like teak and walnut, although more expensive than oak, are harder wearing and thus more durable.
What is the Janka Ball Hardness Test and why is it important?
The Janka Ball Hardness Test is an industry-recognized method of measuring the durability of wood. The test measures the force needed to embed a steel ball into the wood to half its diameter. If durability is crucial, knowing the Janka ratings can guide your choice of wood. For instance, oak typically scores around 1300, while cumaru and ipe score much higher, around 3000, indicating greater durability.
How does the finish affect the durability of a wood floor?
The type of finish you choose for your wood floor significantly influences its durability. Finishes range from oils to varnishes. An oil finish usually results in a less hardwearing or less durable finish than a floor finished with, for example, a polyurethane varnish.
What type of finish should be used for commercial wood floors?
For commercial wood floors, which face daily heavy footfall in places like shops, hotels, and bars, a specially formulated commercial-grade finish is required to enhance durability.