There are a number of factors that affect the durability of a hardwood floor, despite a common misconception that hardness is the only important consideration. The DM staff writers are often joined by topic experts, to bring you the most accurate, reliable and trustworthy content. But if you can somehow come by ethically-sourced ebony, it is one of the most durable wood flooring options around. Tom's estimate in-house was quick and accurate and we had a complete quote before he left. Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles. For more information,visit this page. Tile durability . In spite of popular opinion, these floors do call for occasional waxing, based on traffic flow across the floor, with special cleaning solutions made to seal as well as protect the floor from abuse and . The result of that is turned into very attractive floor coverings. It has a look that resembles real hardwood floors, but it's typically just a picture that's been printed onto it. On the other hand, if you know that you don't need the most durable hardwood floor because of your lifestyle but wan to ensure you don't need to refinish it very often, you can use a good finish to help improve durability. Oak is a durable wood choice, with a number of advantages, including price, appearance, and ease of repairs. Keep in mind while reading that what matters most is what works for you and that no matter if you get the most durable hardwood floor or a softer wood, maintenance cannot be avoided. Contact Us Our Services We serve the residential market, offering complete hardwood flooring services. All You Need to Know, Review: BRUNT Workwears Torra Pant & Shevlin Hoodie. #6. Not surprisingly, the answer is bamboo. Teak is a very hard wood, and it is available in both solid and engineered varieties. As a result, it is a very hardy, durable flooring but some don't care for the appearance. This is the biggest disadvantage of engineered hardwood floors. Chances are your retailer has already put this finish on the hardwood flooring if you are opting for prefinished flooring. And since pet urine, scratch marks, and slobber can all wreak havoc on your floor, you may end up refinishing your wood floors more often than someone without pets. The. Growing at approximately 35 inches per day (or 1.5 inches per hour), bamboo is the ultimate in sustainable wood. We mentioned bamboo a little earlier, but we want to go into a little more detail since there are so many options to choose from! At the end of the day, the most durable wood flooring depends on you. Not having to worry about that is just another great way it saves you money down the line. Natural oils and hard wax oil finishes have a similar way of protecting the wood to oil-based polyurethane they soak into the pores and coat the wood from the inside out. We went to several flooring places throughout the front range before finding MacDonald Hardwoods. Solid hardwood flooring is certainly a durable flooring option and high quality, well maintained hardwood floor will outlast us all! Note that no matter if you get the most durable hardwood floor or a softer wood, maintenance cannot be avoided. Laminate is a cost-effective and easy-to-install flooring that's ideal for rental properties. Because its amazing grain appears in stripes of alternating colors, just like the stripes of a Bengal tiger! So how do you go about choosing a type of hardwood for your floor that is durable and long-lasting, but also goes well with your furniture and design? It also has good resale value thanks to it again having layers of real wood on the outside. But if not, you should know: tile is cool now! The Most Durable Hardwood Flooring Wood floors can be stained as well as refinished to match up with almost any decor and almost any lifestyle. Think of getting a piece of furniture and having it crack or tear all the time; you end up spending money on repairs and reupholstery or buying the same piece of furniture soon after purchasing the original. Fun name, right? As it turns out, waterproof laminate flooring is realand some of the best laminate flooring brands make it. Wood can be purchased with or without a finish, and tile can be purchased with or without a glaze. Think of getting a piece of furniture and having it crack or tear all the time; you end up spending money on repairs and reupholstery or buying the same piece of furniture soon after purchasing the original. So, here are some examples of the most durable hardwood floor wood species. They can help you with everything. If you go for a type of wood that matches your interior design but is cheap and too soft, you will find yourself replacing it very soon, due to scratches, scuffs, and dents, and it will end up costing you more in the long run. In fact, the wood is threatened and extremely hard to come by in the amounts needed for flooring. Hickory is the most durable wood species grown domestically with a Janka rating around 1820. Theyre not necessarily the most durable wood species in the world, just some of the most durable ones used to make floors! For this reason, they may not be a good choice for your kitchen if your dishwasher has a tendency to leak. Solid wood flooring and Engineered hardwood flooring. Some of the most common are: Thats righttwo of your most durable wood flooring options arent even made of real wood! What can be avoided is an excess number of repairs with durable wood flooring options. Teak is an extremely durable wood flooring choice with a Janka rating of 2330. And we mean cool. There are many different types of hardwood flooring, and they all have different levels of general durability. And its truethe cost to install engineered wood floors is often less than the cost to install solid wood flooring. As you may be aware, wood has a relative hardness scale; some are very soft (balsa, for instance) and others, such as Bull Oak, are harder than a coffin nail. It is likely a job you would prefer not to repeat any time soon. Thats seriously hard. Featuring Lamton Long Length Legendary Collection in Pitch Amber SKU: 15162380. Unlike the popular perception that engineered wood flooring is fake wood flooring, it is just another type of wood flooring. By investing in the durability of a hardwood floor you'll save yourself money in the long term. At the higher end of the price range, laminate can be even more durable than many wood flooring options. One choice out-performs the rest: hardwood floors. Any softer and it won't stand up to much, so this is about a good entry point. It is also a very durable wood that holds up well against daily scuffs and scratches. Finding the ideal type of wood flooring for dogs can be a challenge, as every wood can be dented and chipped. When it comes to the solid vs. engineered wood debate, we have to mention price. Regarding its durability, its going to vary wildly between the countless species of wood you can buy. It helps fight the fading of the floor, keeping it as shiny and beautiful as newly done flooring. Assuming the wood isnt badly damaged in some unrepairable way, when it comes time to replace it, you will likely be able to get a good amount of money back for it. The higher the Janka number the better. Exotic woods tend to have the highest Janka rating. Below you'll find more information regarding how hardwood floor finish matters, the wood hardness scale Janka, and some suggestions for the most durable hardwood floor. The price was right, the staff was responsive in helping us make our selection and answering all our questions, and the installer was great. Bruce and Scott were extremely professional and insightful with their hardwood floor suggestions for our 2nd floor, measured and estimated within one day, and scheduled construction the next. However, bamboo treated with successive (up to ten) coats of aluminum oxide finish will be quite tough, provided good bamboo and good finishing by a quality producer. Hickory is the hardest species of wood local to the USA and is known for its durability, damage and moisture resistance, and interesting grain patterns. Rated to last up to 25 years in a single application, it makes the surface much less likely to scratch or fade. Oil-based polyurethane finish is one of the most durable wood flooring and thus it is also the most popular one. Wood is strong, but engineered hardwood flooring is even stronger. If youre looking for a hardwood floor that can stand up to big swings in temperature, moisture, or humidity, engineered hardwood is probably going to be your best bet. Youve probably come across laminate flooring in your research, but if not, heres the scoop: laminate is a composite flooring product made out of three layers: Basically, laminate can be made to look like absolutely anything thanks to its photo-realistic image layer. White Oak happens to also be a very popular wood for flooring. Here are three factors to consider. Call today! Bamboo is eminently sustainable, which is good for the environment and the bamboo industry. How do you know what kind is best for your situation? By now, you should have a good understanding of the different flooring options. Aluminum oxide is a UV coating, and it works against fading caused by direct sunlight. Durable hardwood floors are more resistant to stains and spills and are far easier to clean than carpet. Required fields are marked *. And while not all types of floor tiles are glazed, the ones that are are generally more durable. If youre looking to install your flooring by yourself, getting laminate wood may be the easiest option for you due it being designed to easily lock together with other planks. But there is one thing we can all agree on: youre going to need an expert to help you find the best wood floors. strong that it may not even be possible to properly sand it when you need to. Compare tile vs. wood floors. For that, wed go with hardwood floor alternatives like vinyl plank. Its also somewhat infamous for making the floor so strong that it may not even be possible to properly sand it when you need to. That doesnt mean its cheap, necessarily, but it can be less expensive than other super-hard exotic woods. This is by far one of the biggest engineered wood disadvantages there is, though most products purchased from the best engineered wood flooring brands can be refinished at least once. How to get a picture for how hard the flooring you're looking at is, you'll want to look up the species on the wood hardness scale. If youre looking into different types of floor tiles, youre probably in on the secret already. Laminate is typically sold in four-foot strips or even as tiles, meaning it can be much easier to transport and install than the 10+ foot lengths that real hardwood typically comes in. That means you need to ask your flooring retailer about the durability of any finish you purchase. Are there some disadvantages of cork flooring? Obviously, an engineered, Hickory wood floor is going to be more durable than a solid California Redwood floor. It's water-resistant, durable, and can withstand scratches, pets, and plenty of foot traffic with ease. The exterior is made of layers of real wood that have been pressed together under intense hydraulic pressure with a veneer added afterward. The higher the number, the stronger the wood. has a Janka hardness of around 1000. So, if longevity is what makes the flooring durable for you, solid hardwood flooring is the best option for your flooring requirements. Which is More Durable: Solid or Engineered Hardwood Flooring? Brazilian walnut boasts a deep color and a gorgeous grain. It can be sanded down to remove scuffs, just like real hardwood can. Flexible. Whats the Most Durable Hardwood Flooring You Can Get. Chances are your retailer has already put this finish on the hardwood flooring if you are opting for prefinished flooring. You can even buy engineered bamboo flooring! Is this a historic location or do you just want to have a more retro look? These are the traditional type of finishing. This innovative floor combines the natural beauty of hardwood with extreme durability. Get Directions >, info@macwoods.com It's relatively inexpensive, great for the homeowner. It has a look that resembles real hardwood floors, but its typically just a picture thats been printed onto it. I can't say enough good things about MacDonald Hardwoods. Cleaner. However, it is more commonly used on woodwork and furniture rather than flooring. Its also more durable in some ways than real wood due to how its made. To ensure that you wont have to, make sure your new floor is properly finished with a coating that will increase durability, improve appearance, and add to the existing qualities of your chosen wood. Unlike carpet, hardwood floors provide no protection or hiding places for allergens like dander, pollen and other matters that reduce air quality. 7. Heres why. If youre looking for the most durable wood flooring there is, Brazilian walnut is going to be right near the top of the list. We are We recently completed a kitchen renovation and needed flooring throughout the main level. If that is, you've selected the right kind of hardwood floor material. Once your wood type is chosen, be sure to select a good, durable finish that will extend the life of your new hardwood floor, and ensure that it looks good for years to come. Ash One of the most common exotic hardwood species for flooring, Santos mahogany is a super durable wood flooring option. Here are the 7 most popular choices for hardwood flooring, as well as their hardness and other characteristics. The installation was exactly on schedule and for the number of days quoted. Softer woods will also require a maintenance coat a little more often to maintain durability. This scale tests the hardness of the wood by measuring how much force it takes to embed a .444 inch steel ball halfway through an average-sized plank of the variety in question. Yes 25 years, It has held up beautifully. But it is true that among the common options, mahogany hardwood is the hardest and most durable. Engineered hardwood can stay at its place even when there are changes in the moisture and humidity of the environment, which makes it a low-maintenance option. It has become very expensive and difficult to procure, and if you intend to buy ebony flooring, you should ensure that you are able to find ethically sourced and properly certified wood to avoid adding to the demise of this rare and beautiful species of tree. So when we talk about the most durable wood flooring, this is one of the best bets. Specifically, the Janka wood hardness scale, a test that measures how much force is required to bury a .444-in diameter steel ball halfway into the sample plank. And that means solid wood could be the better choice for you. This traditional woodwork coating can work for a very smooth floor that is not expected to take much damage or wear and tear. Now that you understand what the Janka Hardness Scale is, lets get into the main event: our 13 picks for most durable wood flooring. That said, teak may be a little too pricey to use as something like mudroom flooring. This wear layer is designed such that it eliminates the problems that laminate flooring has with maintenance. Choose wood with a rating over 1,000 on the Janka Scale to ensure long-term durability. It can be refinished almost indefinitely! We ran into several challenges with our 1,400 square foot project, and yet installation started on the day we scheduled and was completed ahead of schedule. Thus, with proper maintenance, natural oil, and hard wax finish can be a very good option. Although it would not have the same durability, feel, and wood grain, staining a more sustainable wood with an ebony tone would be a more conservational choice. Tiles are an extremely popular choice for flooring because they offer a wide range of design choices, and they look great in a number of situations. Hickory measures 1,820 on the Janka scale, and is long-lasting, wearing well in high traffic situations. Goncalo alvesalso known as tigerwoodsports a 2250 on the Janka scale. Choosing your hardwood floor is not just a matter of picking something that looks the way you want for your design you will need to make sure that your chosen wood type will stand up to the daily beating it is likely to take, whether it is from many feet passing through, pets and kids running across it, or chairs being dragged around the room. As you may be aware, wood has a relative hardness scale; some are very soft (balsa, for instance) and others, such as Bull Oak, are harder than a coffin nail. Bamboo and Laminate: The Two Most Durable Wood Flooring Options That Arent Actually Wood, Laminate is an extremely durable composite flooring, The Most Durable Wood Flooring for Dogs and Other Pets, Conclusion: The Most Durable Wood Flooring Depends on You. was specifically created for this reason. And its not even real wood! 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