In laymans terms it is a way to measure a woods resistance to denting.
Hardwood janka rating scale.
It is important to remember that the testing process used in the janka scale is an impact test not a test of scratching scuffing or any other wear and tear that flooring experiences.
Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating.
The higher the janka rating the more dent and wear resistant a particular wood is.
Janka wood hardness scale.
Although not exact the scale is a good reference for which hardwood can better withstand denting and wear when compared with another wood species.
A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring.
The janka hardness scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another.
The janka hardness test from the austrian born emigrant gabriel janka 1864 1932 measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.
Janka hardness ratings of wood species.
The janka chart is commonly used in the flooring industry to compare hardwood flooring types.
The janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0 444 steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter.
The scale used in the table is pounds force.
To learn the basic hardness of different common woods used in flooring check the chart below.
It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood.