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Flooring that you can find in your local hardwood floor showroom varies in strength. As you search to find the best material for your home or remodeling project, it is important to learn about the durability. This will allow you to be confident it will stand up to the everyday wear and tear of the environment in your home. Your  hardwood flooring experts are here to answer those questions you have about how hardness is rated, and what makes the most sense for your home:

What is Hardwood?  

You may be familiar with hardwood flooring, but there is meaning behind where hardwood flooring comes from! Hardwood flooring comes from hardwood trees, which equals, wood from trees with broad leaves. Hardwoods are common in North America and some of the more common types include Beech, Black Walnut, Sassafras, Sycamore and White Oak. Learn more about the various types of hardwood trees in the American Hardwood’s Guide to American Hardwood Species. In fact, according to their research, hardwood trees make up 40 percent of trees in the United States!

What is the Janka Rating System?

The durability of wood is measured by an industry standard rating system called the “Janka Ratings System.” The Janka Rating System, also known as the “Janka Hardness Scale” helps determine the durability of various types of wood. This is important when choosing the type of wood for your remodel or home project. The Janka Rating System takes the various types of species of hardwoods and by measuring pressure applied, rates just how hard they are. The higher the rating, the harder the wood is. Hickory happens to be among some of the most durable hardwoods available.
 

How is the Janka Hardness Test Conducted?

The goal of the Janka Hardness Test is used to determine how much force can be applied to the wood. In Make’s article “How Wood Hardness is Measured,” the test measures force applied to a steel ball that is 0.444 inches in diameter halfway into the wood. The higher the rating, the harder is the quality of the wood.

Most Durable Types of Hardwood:

When choosing hardwood flooring for your home remodel project, oak, hickory, and maple are among some of the most popular and durable types available. As you begin to start your hardwood floor installation project, work with your local company to find the best wood that has the right level of hardness for your home!
 
Ready to find the best hardwood flooring for your home? Ward Hardwood Flooring can help! We are your experts to help you find the best style of wood that is durable and accommodating to your lifestyle.  From antique and reclaimed wood to wide plank flooring and more, review all of our hardwood flooring options to find the flooring solution that works best for you! Give us a call at 303-674-6966, email us at info@wardhardwoodflooring.com or stop by our local showroom! Find us at 29390 Industrial Way #100 in Evergreen, Colorado. We are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and available by appointment only on Saturday.

When it comes to deciding what your next hardwood floor installation will be, there are many different types that can be taken into consideration. Updating your flooring is not only a drastic remodel for your home, but will also add value! Various types of hardwood flooring can add the perfect touch of character that fits your personality, décor and overall look and feel of the home. A unique option that can be used both for flooring or for wood wall options is Beetle Kill Blue Pine lumber.
 

Why is It Called Beetle Kill Blue Pine?

Common to wood in Colorado, the Mountain Pine Beetles can spread to Lodgepole and Ponderosa pine trees. The result of this is a blue stain that causes wood to turn a blue to gray color that eventually kills the tree but actually does not damage the wood at all! It just changes the color and isn’t harmful to humans, animals, etc. This is a great natural solution that reclaims the wood to add character to your home.
 

Applications

Beetle Kill Blue Pine is a great option for hardwood flooring because it is so diverse in appearance. First, it is a great lighter colored flooring option that will help smaller spaces seem larger or to lighten up a full room, floors, etc. Next, this type of pine is a great option for an accent wall.  Accent walls can be used in any room of your home to give it a unique look that can perfectly complement white, blue or other colored walls. Many homeowners even choose to use Beetle Kill Blue Pine for an entire room. Find more ideas on Houzz’s suggestions for incorporating beetle kill pine accent walls. This is something you can work with your contractor on to find the best application for your home. Last, you can also use this type of wood for your cabinets! This is a great way to change the look of your kitchen - and is more unique than most other options!
 

Staining

By staining Beetle Kill Blue Pine, you can add even more personality to this gorgeous wood. Choosing the right stain will bring out the character and personality of the wood, making it perfect for floors, walls, cabinet or even tables and other furniture projects you may have. Watch Sell This House Extreme’s video “Stained Beetle Kill Blue Pine” to see a live transformation using this type of wood.
 
Ready to take the next step with your home? Ward Hardwood Flooring has been serving the Denver community for over 30 years. Our large selection of custom reclaimed and wide plank hardwood floors, timbers, staircases and custom built-ins will enhance the atmosphere of your home. Our family owned company will make your vision come alive. Learn more about Beetle Kill Blue Pine Flooring and ideas to include in your hardwood floor installation project. To get started, give us a call at 303-674-6966. You can also stop in our Ward Hardwood Flooring showroom from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and with an appointment on Saturday.  
 

As you prepare to upgrade your home, adding antique wood is the perfect touch for a rustic aesthetic. This feature can be added in several different ways from walls to flooring. It can be a great addition in any style home; from traditional to modern, you can incorporate this style of wood for a gorgeous and personalized upgrade. Here are three ways you can incorporate antique wood in your Denver home: Flooring: Antique flooring can add much character to your home, due to the history each piece holds within it - each plank almost tells its own story. It’s also available in a variety of colors enabling you to create a unique look by incorporating a mix of many. Wide plank is a popular choice and typically provides a clean aesthetic that really can open a room. Plus, by adding antique wood to your home, you are using recycled materials. Older wood often stands up to everyday demands more than some of the newer wood that you might find more frequently. This environmentally friendly option is quite diverse in its opportunities as well. You can work with your hardwood flooring company on the ideal finishing treatments completed after the install, and an expert can easily handle it to create the look you desire.

Walls and Ceilings: A great (and sometimes overlooked) addition to a home is a wood accent wall or ceiling. Many homeowners are choosing a focal point or room to be completely outfitted with wood walls. If using darker wood, larger rooms are typically ideal as darker colors can make rooms feel smaller. An accent wall can add an artistic touch. It usually isn’t overwhelming to behold and can complement a variety of wall colors. In some cases, homeowners choose a selection of one or two styles of wood planks to incorporate into their wall or design. Ceilings are also a way you can incorporate this type of wood into your remodel. They fit especially well in kitchens or large rooms with light walls. Find examples in Better Homes and Garden’s “20 Brilliant Uses for Reclaimed Wood.” Wood beams are another great addition on your ceilings. They add a rustic appearance to expand the room.
 
Furnishings: If you enjoy remaking different accent pieces for your home or taking on DIY projects, this type of wood is a solid choice. It stands up to the test of time and can be used anywhere! Because it is so durable, consider using it for some of your shelving or inside cabinets (however open shelving is trending).

As you look for ways to incorporate antique wood into your remodel, Ward Hardwood Flooring can help! Learn more about our different types of antique and reclaimed flooring to find which one is best for your project. For more ideas, check out the article about hardwood flooring in Colorado and unique uses for beams, timbers and siding.  

When ready, stop by and see us! Our showroom is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also call us at 303-674-6966. We will work with you and make your vision come to life. Our start-to-finish custom services will ensure the life of the product. You will love your new flooring or accent!

As you plan your hardwood floor installation, there are some considerations to really make the most of your renovation. From stair and handrails to accent walls, you can add character and charm into your home that you will love to see every day and will impress your guests! Use these ideas and incorporate them in your home to make the most of your renovation:

Stair and Handrails: If your home has stairs, consider upgrading your current stair and handrail setup to match your flooring. Whether you are looking for a classic, traditional look, or something a little more contemporary, wood is a great material with many different options. You can work with your hardwood floor installer to match the stair components to best accentuate your flooring. You can keep the same colors or work with them to look for lighter or darker colors that accommodate your style. Next, you can choose how the stairs end, if you would like a stairwell that begins with a straight stair, or if you would like to add nosing to it, which adds a rounded curve. For handrails, you can add the style you prefer leading up the stairs as well as alongside a loft or open walkway looking to the floor below. Find ideas for your stair handrails in HGTV’s 17 Stair Handrail Photos.
Accent Wall: Liven up a room by utilizing an accent wall! You will want to choose a different type of wood that is different than your hardwood flooring, but an accent wall can add extra color and character to a space. Choose a darker and rugged wood for a rustic appearance, or a sleek, light and smooth wood for a contemporary or modern feel. You can add other accents as well. Incorporate it in your skylights and raised ceilings, fireplaces, around bathtubs or showers or on the outside of built-in counters. Review these hardwood wall treatments to get ideas for your project.


Beams and Mantels: The perfect accents to gorgeous hardwood flooring include wood beams and mantels. Many homeowners love adding wood beams to their ceilings to tie in the ceiling with the flooring, and to provide a natural appearance. Choose reclaimed rough lumber that can be de-nailed, kiln or air-dried. Mantels are also a great addition. They are the perfect feature to accentuate your hardwood floors, as well as highlight your fireplace or area you would like to place the mantel. It serves a great purpose to add opportunities for new décor in your living room, dining room, family room—or anywhere you choose to add them! When you prepare for your hardwood flooring project in Colorado, Ward Hardwood Flooring can help! Not only will our team of experts help you find the perfect hardwood flooring to fit your vision, but can help you choose the complements that will add that extra “wow” factor for you and your guests. From stairs and handrails to accent walls and beams, Ward Hardwood has all of the options you need to personalize and customize your home. Call us at 303-674-6966 to get started or visit our local showroom! We are located at 29390 Industrial Way #100 in Evergreen, Colorado and are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment only on Saturday.

As you move forward with plans to renovate your home, there is a great way to give it so much character. Antique hardwood! Homeowners all over the country are choosing this solution for their floors to impress guests and create a very welcoming appearance. When trying to decide on the best type of hardwood for you and your family, here are some reasons to consider this solution and the benefits it has.

1. Recycling Material and Saving the Planet: When using antique flooring, you are saving wood that may not have been used otherwise. Even better, you are saving the environment! With millions of trees being wasted each year, recycling hardwood has several environmental benefits. For starters, it gives this wood a home. Second, it helps to keep it out of landfills and lying out in other areas where it is taking up space, rotting and attracting pests and animals. By using antique wood for your floors, it helps to slow the need to cut down more trees for new flooring and all the work that goes into it. Learn more about environmental benefits from purchasing and installing antique floors in The Guardian’s “Recycled Wood: The Truly Green Key to a Sustainable Built Environment.”
2. Look and Feel: Antique flooring has a look and feel unlike anything else! With each plank coming from potentially centuries of history, you can add that history to your home. Also, because of age and uniqueness, it will be exclusive to your home. Plus, when shopping, there are all types of styles of antique floors. This allows you to find the right look or feel for you. Older oak, heart pine and ranch house blend are darker colors to add depth and soul into the floors. For lighter and brighter options, look at hickory, wormy chestnut and tobacco pine. For the best of both worlds, the old world blend is fantastic. Over years, it will maintain its quality and can easily be refinished if it becomes dull.
3. Durability: The quality and durability of antique floors is outstanding. Being some of the highest of quality available, you can rest easy that your investment will last for many years to come. Why? The trees grew for hundreds of years allowing them so much time to strengthen. They grew during a different time where they did not need to grow and be cut down quickly.

For the best antique hardwood for your home renovation project, choose Ward Hardwood Flooring! You will fall in love with any of our styles to create the perfect vintage and rustic feel in your home. Our reclaimed flooring is sourced from mills of the highest standards. You can use it for floors, beams, siding and more. Plus, you have your choice of wide planking and long lengths in oak, heart pine, tobacco pine, wormy chestnut, ranch house blend, hickory or old world blend. Find the best prices with our current specials and 2016 inventory and wood installation. Visit our showroom at 29390 Industrial Way #100 in Evergreen, Colorado or give us a call at 303-674-6966. We are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday.