How durable is hardwood and is it right for your home?

Manufacturers apply various surface as well as impregnation treatments to hardwood to make it more durable and withstand the rigors of every day life. State-of-art technology coupled with continuous research and development has resulted in hardwood floor treatments that offer a product which maintains its natural beauty while being tough enough to adorn the buildings of commercial establishments that are subjected to the heaviest foot traffic on a daily basis, and still look good for years.

Today, most hardwood floors are treated with urethane which makes the floor more durable in terms of scratching and staining. Additionally, most modern day urethane finishes contain particles of Aluminum Oxide which increases the abrasion resistance of the wear layer. Wax is the oldest and probably still the best finish. Wax finishes penetrate the hardwood structure and offer a high level of durability, and are also the easiest to apply, maintain and repair.

When selecting a hardwood, consider the amount of foot traffic in your home, as well as the floors intended use. Floors that are subjected to heavy foot traffic need to have a higher degree of scratch and dent resistance. This can be achieved through the use of a species of hardwood that consists of a less porous structure, thus making the wood harder. The Janka hardness test measures the relative hardness of numerous species of wood and can assist you in selecting a hardwood that is less porous, making it less susceptible to denting, staining and scratching. Note that the Janka hardness test must be used as a guide only, as the region a particular species is grown will also affect its hardness.

When considering the durability of hardwood and whether it is the correct choice for your home, keep in mind that aged hardwood floors add character to a room and in fact people pay a premium for new hardwood floors that appear to be aged. Also, minor scratches can be easily remedied through the use of the numerous scratch repair kits that are available to the consumer.