Refinish My Floors, LLC – professional hardwood flooring company
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The Character of Wood

Wood Species for Hardwood Floors

Every species has its own color, grain and hardness. Use this guide to compare popular flooring woods, then send us photos or samples and we'll help you choose.

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Close-up of diagonal hardwood flooring planks showing the wood grain

Relative Hardness of Common Flooring Species

Hardness is measured on the Janka scale. Higher numbers resist dents better. Values are approximate and vary by sample.

SpeciesJanka hardness (lbf)Availability
Brazilian cherry (jatoba)2,350Readily available
Hard maple1,450Readily available
Red oak1,290Readily available
White oak1,360Readily available
Southern yellow pine690Readily available
Heart pine (antique)1,225Salvaged supply varies
Black walnut1,010Moderately available
Santos mahogany2,200Moderately available
Purpleheart2,520Limited availability
Brazilian teak (cumaru)3,540Moderately available

What Is Most Common in Maryland?

Oak makes up roughly 80% of the hardwood floors we work on in Maryland. Red oak has warmer undertones and an open grain. White oak accepts neutral and gray tones with a calmer, more contemporary look. Maple is hard and tight-grained, and needs more careful preparation. Cherry and exotic species cost more and are usually ordered in for the job.

Not Sure Which Species You Have?

Send photos of your floor and we can usually identify the species and tell you your refinishing options. See our white oak vs. red oak guide or download the NWFA wood species brochures.

Maryland Home Improvement License #112416 · $1M Liability Insured · Bona Certified · NWFA Member · 30+ Years Experience

Photos From Our Work

Rubio Monocoat hardwood floor color samples fan deck
Rubio Monocoat hardwood floor color samples fan deck
Elegant hardwood floor background

Contact Us

Ready for a fast, free estimate? Contact us today—calls, texts, and emails answered quickly, even outside business hours. We proudly serve Montgomery County (Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, Chevy Chase) and Baltimore County (Windsor Mills, Randallstown, and more).

[email protected]
(240) 277-5953, (240) 608-0854
Aspen Hill, MD, Washington, DC 20906, United States

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