All hardwood flooring is not created equal. It all starts with nature. Although called hardwood, many wood floors can actually be quite soft and therefore be much more susceptible to damage, wear and tear. When deciding on hardwood flooring, use the Janka hardness scale to help you.

For instance, chestnut wood flooring has a Janka hardness rating of 540 which means it’s a rather soft wood. Compare that to Brazilian Walnut (Ipe) which has a Janka rating of 3680, and there will be a marked difference between how the two hardwood floors perform in a home.

The Janka hardness scale for hardwood is just one of the factors to consider when choosing wood floors. Some species are very photo–sensitive and will easily darken when exposed to sunlight. Wood flooring reacts to sunlight in the same way skin does. So, if your hardwood floors get exposed to sunlight, you just may get tan lines where your rugs and furniture are. Visit our hardwood species section where we outline 75 different types of hardwood. 

Once you learn more about different types of hardwood flooring, you will be able to make a more informed buying decision for your home. For your convenience, print our free guide and checklist for buying hardwood flooring.