I’m always a bit hesitant to talk about the hardness of wood surfaces because I think it gives people the idea that the floor itself is hard. While it’s crucial for a fitness floor to cushion impacts—particularly from jumps—the concept of ‘hardness’ is actually about durability rather than the floor’s firmness underfoot.
When we refer to the ‘hardness’ of a wood floor, we’re focusing on its resistance to dents, not necessarily how much it cushions your landing. This distinction is important because, in any active setting, items like hand weights are bound to be dropped. And from my experience in group exercise rooms, it’s almost guaranteed that the floor will show signs of denting.
To assess hardness, the Janka hardness test is typically used. This test involves measuring the force required to embed a .444” diameter steel ball halfway into the wood. The force, recorded in pounds, indicates the wood’s hardness. While straightforward, this test was designed for unfinished wood floors. Prefinished floors, like ours, which include durable finishes such as aluminum oxide, can complicate these results. However, Janka hardness ratings remain a reliable standard in the sports flooring industry.
Online, you can easily find a Janka hardness chart for various wood species. These ratings range significantly—from softwoods like Balsa, which rates at 100, to extremely hard woods like Brazilian Mahogany, rated at 3840. Commonly used in basketball courts, Maple has a Janka rating of 1450. Our primary product, European Beech, stands at 1300—a figure not far from Maple, considering the broad spectrum of hardness.
As mentioned, a wood’s hardness reflects its durability. Moreover, the finish applied to the wood enhances this durability, making regular maintenance crucial to preserving your floor’s resilience over time. The actual shock absorption of the floor, which contributes to its comfort during impact, depends on various system components designed to effectively dissipate the energy of impacts.