Hardwood Species

To help you make a wise decision on wood species, we have included the Janka scale. The Janka Test is the standard assessment of a species' hardness. The following scale shows the hardness of many species. The higher the number, the harder it is.

Hardness Rating » [PDF - 105 Kb]

	Northern Red Oak Northern Red Oak distinguishes itself from other varieties of oak by its uniform colour, which varies between pink and reddish brown. Other oak varieties (Appalachian, White and Southern) present more natural defects, such as minerals streaks, and darker contrasts (white to dark brown colouring). Northern Red Oak is dense and rigid, resists well to wear and has high shock resistance. This species stains very well. Northern Red Oak remains the preferred species amongst hardwood flooring buyers.
	Hard Maple Hard Maple flooring is stronger than Northern Red Oak. Its colour varies from a creamy white to  beige. Hard Maple is dense, tough and stiff, thus offering excellent shock resistance. Hard Maple is graded mostly according to colour, with a clear grade having a pale and more uniform colour. Mineral streaks are part of Hard Maple's characteristics. Note — Hard Maple does not stain well.
	White Ash The neglected one — although harder and more stable than Northern Red Oak, White Ash has increasingly gained in popularity over the last few years, especially with homeowners favouring a stained colour floor. White Ash flooring, once it is stained, is barely distinguishable from Northern Red Oak.
	Brazilian Cherry An exotic species that really grabs attention thanks to its look and dramatic colour transformation, which occurs over time from a greyish orange to a warm reddish brown, Brazilian Cherry is stronger and more stable than any domestic species.
	Yellow Birch A species appreciated for its contrasting colours, which run from creamy yellow to dark brownish red. Although considered a "hardwood" species, yellow birch is the softest of the traditional hardwoods. P.M. Cantin Flooring does not recommend Yellow Birch in high-traffic areas. However, Yellow Birch does give a lot of character to a child's room. It is also important to note that Yellow Birch does not stain well.
	American Cherry American Cherry is another wood species whose colour changes dramatically with time (from a reddish white to a brownish red). Unfortunately, this species offers little resistance to wear and shock, and is thus only recommended for borders and certain types of inlays.
	Beech Its colour varies from a reddish brown to white. Even though it is harder than Northern Red Oak, Beech is not recommended for our climate due to its great instability. Unless the relative humidity can be rigorously controlled in a home, P.M. Cantin Flooring advises against installing Beech flooring.