When you are looking for the best hardwood floor for your home, there are certainly plenty of wood species to choose from. While many wood varieties boast the same benefits like timeless style, color choices and ease of installation, hardness is an often overlooked factor. For those individuals looking for an easy-wearing and durable set of hardwood floors for their home, hickory is among the top choices in the industry for strength, reliability and aesthetic beauty.
Hickory is known for its unparalleled strength and shock resistance, which is no wonder why it has been used as the primary wood for tool handles for centuries. The wood is available in approximately 20 species, 15 of which are in North America and another five in Asia. Hickory can withstand an astonishing 1,820 pounds of force, as opposed to other flooring varieties like red oak which can only handle 1,290. With these variations in wood strength and long-term viability, finding a wood species that can stand up to the rigors of a specific household can make an investment in top hardwood floors a more viable one.
A great graphic to consider is the Janka Hardness Scale. The Janka hardness test measures the force in pound per square inch required to embed a 0.444″ steel ball to half its diameter in a 2″ x 2″ x 6″ piece of wood. This test is a good measurement of how a wood product will withstand denting and wear.
Additionally, with color choices that range from creamy tan to reddish brown, you will be hard-pressed to find a version of hickory that isn’t conducive to your design ideas.
Of course, one of the most important factors to keep in mind is that pricing for these wood types is based on its availability, not its rank on the Janka scale. Hickory is also an easy-to-care for floor covering that will remain brilliant with weekly sweeping and mopping, as well as refinishing several times over its lifespan. Hickory’s versatility, timeless style and functionality in a variety of environments makes it a logical choice for homeowners looking for an attractive and functional foundation for their living spaces.
Best Flooring Choices 