Welcome to our Education Centre. This page was provided to answer some common questions and address some issues and provide useful information. Here is a table of contents to the various sections in this document. Click the topic of interest and it will take you to that section.
Hardness: The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. This measurement is a good indicator of how hard or easy a wood species is to saw or nail.
Stability: Wood stability is determined mainly by the density of its rings. Generally speaking, the closer together the rings are, the more stable the wood, and the opposite is also true: the greater the space between the rings, the greater the tendency of the wood to expand and contract with the moisture content or humidity of the area where it’s installed.
| RELATIVE HARDNESS OF SELECTED WOOD FLOORING SPECIES | |||
| SPECIES | JANKA HARDNESS lbs | HARDNESS Compared to Red Oak | DIMENSIONAL STABILITY Compared to Red Oak |
| Black Cherry | 950 | 26% Softer | 33% More Stable |
| Black Walnut | 1010 | 12% Softer | 26% More Stable |
| Teak | 1155 | 10% Softer | 50% More Stable |
| Yellow Birch | 1260 | 2% Softer | 9% More Stable |
| Red Oak | 1290 | ------- | ------- |
| American Beech | 1300 | 1% Harder | 14% Less Stable |
| Ash | 1320 | 2% Harder | 26% More Stable |
| White Oak | 1360 | 5% Harder | 1% More Stable |
| Bamboo (natural) | 1380 | 6% Harder | 61% More Stable |
| Hard Maple | 1450 | 11% Harder | 4% More Stable |
| Merbau Cabreuva | 1500 | 14% Harder | |
| African Walnut / Sapele | 1510 | 15% Harder | |
| Kempas | 1854 | 30% Harder | |
| Purple Heart | 1860 | 31% Harder | 42% More Stable |
| Merbau | 1925 | 33% Harder | 57% More Stable |
| Tigerwood (Goncalo Alves) | 2160 | 40% Harder | |
| Santos Mahogany (Cabreuva) | 2200 | 41% Harder | 35% More Stable |
| Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) | 2760 | 53% Harder | 19% More Stable |
| Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) | 3540 | 64% Harder | 36% More Stable |
| IPE (Brazilian Walnut) | 3680 | 65% Harder | 26% More Stable |
Here are some cleaning and care tips that will keep your hardwood floors looking and feeling like new for a lifetime.
Q: What brands of flooring do you carry?
A: We have established relationships with a variety of quality manufacturers. Check out our manufacturers here. We are proud to carry the #1 Hardwood Flooring Brand in the industry… Mirage.
A: We provide complete flooring, staircase, moulding and wood products and services. We provide custom milling and reproduction services for those special heritage home items, or a broken spindle, etc. We offer complete hardwood floor refinishing services. Tired of that old carpet grade staircase, we can resurface it and make it a focal point in your house. For more details on all our products and services, click here.
Q: Do you provide wood for specialty projects?
A: Whether you’re a novice or seasoned professional, and no matter your project, we either have it or can get it for you. Visit us today to view our inventory of specialty wood.
Q: What makes Brockville Wood Products different from its competitors?
A: We source, install and finish everything we sell. We are committed to all aspects of your project and will always strive to quote and schedule the work to get it started and finished on time, and to get it right! Potential subfloor issues are always addressed before any floor covering is installed. All floors are delivered onsite in advance of the installation to acclimatize the materials to your environment. In special cases, we are able to accommodate most requirements because of our working relationships with various mills. Finally, once a job is done, we will follow-up with you to ensure that you are happy with our work and craftsmanship. We are counting on your positive reviews!
Q: What is the secret to your success?
A: It isn’t really a secret. It is simply a matter of:
