General Information

(Ranked by Janka hardness rating)

The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. By the same token, it is also a good indicator of how hard or easy a species is to saw or nail. Northern red oak, for example, has a Janka hardness rating of 1290. Brazilian cherry, with a rating of 2350, is nearly twice as hard. If you're accustomed to working with red oak and decide to tackle a job with Brazilian cherry, you can expect it to be much harder to cut and nail.

• Source: Hardness ratings for most species taken from Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (Agricultural Handbook 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; revised 1987), except for Australian cypress, wenge, African padauk, merbau and Santos mahogany, which were provided by International Hardwood Flooring; heart pine by Mountain Lumber, and mesquite by Mesquite Products of Texas.

• Douglas fir rating is an average of ratings for Coast, Interior West and Interior North species.

(Ranked by dimensional change coefficient)

The numbers in the chart reflect the dimensional change coefficient for the various species, measured as tangential shrinkage or swelling within normal moisture content limits of 6-14 percent. Tangential change values will normally reflect changes in plainsawn wood. Quartersawn wood will usually be more dimensionally stable than plainsawn.

The dimensional change coefficient can be used to calculate expected shrinkage or swelling. Simply multiply the change in moisture content by the change coefficient, then multiply by the width of the board.

Example: A mesquite (change coefficient = .00129) board 5 inches wide experiences a moisture content change from 6 to 9 percent - a change of 3 percentage points.

Calculation: 3 x. 00129-= .00387 x 5 = .019 inches.

In actual practice, however, change would be diminished in a complete floor, as the boards' proximity to each other tends to restrain movement. The chart is best used for comparison.

* Although some tropical woods such as Australian cypress, Brazilian cherry, merbau and wenge appear in this chart to have excellent moisture stability compared to domestic oak, actual installations of many of these woods have demonstrated significant movement in use. To avoid problems later, extra care should be taken to inform potential users of these tendencies prior to purchase.

Source: Stability ratings taken from Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (Agriculture Handbook 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, US. Department of Agriculture; revised 1987).

Ah, the language of hardwoods. We speak it fluently at Packard Flooring but realize that most people need a little help with the translations. Following are some, perhaps, unfamiliar terms that you may encounter as you explore hardwood flooring options in depth.

Square Edges: A square edge means that there are no grooves in the floor. Planks or strips blend together, creating a focus on ,the overall floor rather than the individual boards. Typically the polished look of this treatment makes it a natural for more traditional homes.

Beveled Edges: When laid side by side, the angled edges of the beveled planks form grooves that seemingly outline each individual board. This effect, created when the edge of the board is milled at a slight angle, is most often utilized in more casual, relaxed rooms.

Micro-Beveled Or Eased Edges: The edges of each board are slightly angled during the milling process, making the outline effect around each individual board less pronounced than a beveled edge, but still apparent.

Factory-Finished Floors:  Save time and headaches by purchasing wood that has been pre-finished during the manufacturing process. This eliminates on-site sanding and staining (which creates a big mess) and potential delays. Perhaps most importantly, you also get a consistent finish quality with every floor.

Strip Flooring: Strip flooring is 21/4" wide. It creates a linear effect in a room and promotes the illusion of having a larger space. This type of flooring looks great in any decor, particularly contemporary ones.

Plank Flooring: Perfect for capturing a more casual style, Packard Flooring plank flooring varies in width from 3" to 12."

Floating Wood Floors: Manufactured in large, wide, pre-assembled wood panels that make installation fast and easy. The individual boards actually "float" above the sub-floor with no direct attachment. Of course, if you prefer, they can also be glued directly to the sub-floor.