Hickory (1,820) is the hardest domestic wood species available. Its natural grain patterns do an excellent job hiding scratches and dents, so it's perfect for homes with kids and pets. Many manufacturers choose hickory specifically for their most durable flooring lines.
For example, Brazilian Walnut owns a Janka rating of 3684. That makes it an exceptionally durable material for hardwood flooring. Brazilian Cherry is another durable exotic species with a 2350 rating. Among domestic hardwood species, hickory tops the charts with an 1820 rating.
The species of your hardwood floors determine its expected life span. Hardwoods like cherry and oak can last up to 30 years, as can engineered hardwood. Pine has the longest life span as it hardens over time, and it's not unusual to find original pine floors in homes 100 years old.
White oak is one of the more durable domestic hardwoods available. On the Janka scale, white oak is rated at 1360, behind only hickory and maple. But durability is more than just hardness. White oak accepts finishes and stains quite well, which further protect it.
Prime grade hardwood flooring is free from any visible knots, mineral streaks, and color variations, giving it a clean, uniform look. There will also be a minimal amount of sapwood defects and filler, if any at all.
The hardest wood used for flooring is Ipe, also known as Lapacho, but it is very rare and expensive. The hardest wood commonly used for flooring is Hickory, which has a rating of 1820 on the Janka wood hardness chart.
Pine is a softwood and usually the cheapest flooring option. Then there is bamboo, followed by maple, hickory, red oak, white oak, cypress, and white ash. The most expensive hardwood flooring includes African blackwood, Brazilian cherry, zebrawoods, ebony, mahogany, and Brazilian walnut.
Pure black ebony wood, which is the most valuable, only comes from trees that are at least 150 years old. Ebony wood is extremely hard and durable, with a beautifully striped wood grain. It ranges in hue from deep red to solid black.
Looking at the current wood floor colour trends 2024 and potentially into 2025 we can see that natural browns and white wood floors are the most popular. Natural browns are the most popular wood floors followed by white wood flooring. Natural brown and white are hardwood floor colours that never go out of style.
Firsts and Seconds grade (FAS)
The Firsts and Seconds (FAS) grade is the highest hardwood grade, requiring: A minimum board size of 6″ wide x 8′ long. A length of 8 feet or longer. A yield of 83-1/3% to 100% clear wood cuttings. A minimum cutting size of 3” wide x 7' long or 4” wide x 5' long.
The Best Time of Year to Buy Flooring
In fact, it's usually right around the New Year. Unlike cars, boats, and appliances that change models every year, flooring prices drop around the New Year because that is when demand is at its lowest and warehouses are willing to make deals to move product.
Short Answer: Yes – Old Flooring Should Be Removed
Any time you hear “renovation” it means there's some demo involved. In the case of a flooring renovation the bulk of the demo work is usually removing the old flooring. (Removing old quarter-round and trim might also be necessary.)
The typical lifespan of engineered hardwood flooring ranges from 20 to 30 years or more, depending on factors such as the quality of materials, installation process, maintenance routines, and environmental conditions. Suppose you take good care of high-quality engineered hardwood floors with thicker wear layers.
Wider boards are usually used for flooring because they better reflect the design and patterns of the wood. Although hickory wood is harder than many other kinds of wood, a major drawback is that it is very prone to swelling.
The most durable wood floor finish is aluminum oxide, which can last up to 25 years with proper care.
Warm, earthy tones. Finally, one of the top flooring trends of 2024 is a return to warm, earthy tones, including various shades of brown, tan, beige, greige, taupe, and terracotta.
Pale Brown and Medium Brown are the epitomes of timeless hardwood floor color. These shades offer warmth and versatility, blending seamlessly with various decor styles and color palettes.
Hickory (1,820) is the hardest domestic wood species available.
Extreme Hardness: Ironbark is among the hardest hardwoods in the world with a Janka rating of 14.0 kN—two and half times harder than Spotted Gum and three times harder than Blackbutt—compared to other Australian species, it is unrivaled in its resistance to wear and indentation.
Cost Considerations
Walnut flooring, typically priced higher than oak, commands a premium due to its luxurious appearance and limited availability. The rich color variations and unique grain patterns of walnut wood contribute to its higher cost.
The best hardwood floors are made with wood species that are readily available and — you guessed it — very hard. Oak flooring, maple flooring and cherry flooring are all good choices. Other species include bamboo (which is actually a grass), walnut, ash and mahogany.
Elevating your home's feel with durable and sophisticated hardwood flooring will cost you $3–$10 per square foot for materials and $3–$8 per square foot for labor, totaling $6–$18 per square foot. * This means transforming a 200-square-foot room might cost $1,200–$3,600.
Stick with thin widths for a classic wood floor: If you're a traditionalist, planks between 2 ¼ inches and 3 inches are most common in homes and give you that classic hardwood floor appearance. Go wide if you love character: Wider floorboards of 5 to 12 inches reveal a wood's character, including grain and knots.