Solid Wood Species

Janka Rating: This test involves establishing the hardness of the wood specie by measuring the force required to embed a 11.28mm steel ball halfway into the plank. This is a very good test as it measures the ability of the wood specie to withstand denting and wear.

These test results will give a good indication of which floor species is better to use in high traffic areas. We have highlighted the species usually available in South Africa.

Wood Flooring Species Janka Hardness
Lignum Vitae 4500
Brazilian Ebony 3692
Ipe - Brazilian Walnut - Lapacho 3684
African Pearlwood - Moabi 3680
Bolivian Cherry 3650
Lapacho 3640
Cumaru - Brazilian Teak 3540
Ebony 3220
Brazilian Redwood - Paraju 3190
Angelim Pedra 3040
Bloodwood 2900
Red Mahogany - Turpentine 2697
"Southern Chestnut" 2670
Spotted Gum 2473
Brazilian Cherry - Jatoba 2350
Mesquite 2345
"Golden Teak" 2330
Santos Mahogany - Cabreuva 2200
Pradoo 2170
Brazilian Koa 2160
Sucupira - Brazilian Chestnut 2140
Brushbox 2135
Karri 2030
Sydney Blue Gum 2023
Bubinga 1980
Cameron 1940
Tallowwood 1933
Merbau 1925
Amendoim 1912
Jarrah 1910
Purpleheart 1860
Goncalo Alves - Tigerwood 1850
Hickory - Pecan - Satinwood 1820
Afzelia - Doussie 1810
Bangkirai 1798
Rosewood 1780
African Padauk 1725
Blackwood 1720
Merbau 1712
Kempas 1710
Black Locust 1700
Highland Beech 1686
Wenge 1630
Tualang 1624
Zebrawood 1575
True Pine - Timborana 1570
Peroba 1557
Kambala 1540
Sapele - Sapelli 1510
Curupixa 1490
Sweet Birch 1470
Hard Maple - Sugar Maple 1450
Caribbean Walnut 1390
Coffee Bean 1390
Natural Bamboo 1380
Australian Cypress 1375
White Oak 1360
Tasmanian Oak 1350
Ribbon Gum 1349
Ash White 1320
American Beech 1300
Red Oak Northern 1290
Caribbean Heart Pine 1280
Yellow Birch - Iroko Kambala 1260
Movingui 1230
Heart Pine 1225
Brazilian Mesquite - Carapa Guianensis 1220
Larch 1200
Carbonized Bamboo 1180
Teak (Burmise Teak) 1155
Cocobolo 1136
Brazilian Eucalyptus - Rose Gum 1125
Makore 1100
Peruvian Walnut 1080
Boreal 1023
Black Walnut - North American Walnut 1010
Teak 1000
Sakura 995
Black Cherry - Imbuia 950
Boire 940
Paper Birch 910
Cedar 900
Southern Yellow Pine Longleaf 870
Lacewood - Leopardwood 840
African Mahogany 830
Mahogany - Honduran Mahogany 800
Parana 780
Sycamore 770
Shedua 710
Southern Yellow Pine Loblolly and Shortleaf 690
Douglas Fir (Oregon) 660
Chestnut 540
Hemlock 500
White Pine 420
Basswood 410
Eastern White Pine 380
Balsa 100