Multi-Dimensional Assessing Quality and Durability When Specifying Timber Flooring - Architecture & Design
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Photography by Dave Kulesza. Multi-Dimensional Assessing Quality and Durability When Specifying Timber Flooring
Design by Liminal Architecture and photography by Dianna Snape
3
1. 2. 2. 4
Timber as beautiful
1.
as the story it tells.
5.
1. Dowel House 2. Supernormal Restaurant 3. Pumphouse Point 4. Landscape Restaurant 5. Frey
ARCHITECT: FMD Architects DESIGNER: Relm Furniture ARCHITECT: Cumulus Studio ARCHITECT: Circa Morris Nunn Architects BUILDE
Dowel House is an award-winning Jason Stancombe, furniture designer Visitors to the award-winning Landscape Restaurant & Grill was The d
refurbishment of a single fronted and founder of Relm Furniture, was Pumphouse Point, designed by inspired by the island of Tasmania. Pods
terrace by Melbourne architectural commissioned to design the dining Peter Walker of Hobart architects Located in Hobart’s historic way t
practice FMD Architects. furniture for Supernormal Natsu Cumulus Studio, are subtly waterfront precinct in the famous taper
pop up restaurant, at the National transported from the expansive, raw IXL jam factory, every element of the out on
“ This humble material is elevated Gallery of Victoria’s (NGV) garden environment of the surrounding design has been carefully selected, Tasm
ncher Studio
to a higher level as it blurs the restaurant. Jason used timber to World Heritage wilderness into a and embraces the history of the thick
boundaries between the functional, complement the bluestone walls and comfortable, safe and warm retreat. place. venee
the decorative and art,” says FMD garden locations. and v
Architects, Fiona Dunin. “The dowel Guests encounter rough sawn Ganche Chua, director architect
de characteristics which exist in the timber
3. establishes a consistent design
approach through each space while
varying its function in each instance.”
Jason says timber “brings warmth
and an organic feel to furniture”.
He chose to use Tasmanian Oak as
Tasmanian Oak boards on the full-
height walls as they enter, giving a
sense of being only one step from
at Circa Morris Nunn Architects
says “The use of subtle and targeted
lighting against a carefully crafted
Mich
Lane,
timbe
but aren’t necessarily obvious. Tasmanian
“it’s readily available, sustainably
and responsibly sourced, is machined
the living forests outside. The
timber continues until ultimately
backdrop of dark coloured walls,
carpet, sheers and rich textured
that w
timbe
s I’ve developed a way, over many years, Oak just as we require it, and has minimal
checking and misses, providing a
guests reach their suite where the
refined finish and the detail reflect
recycled timber, juxtaposed
against the heritage stone and
good
to beh
Tasmanian
that gets just the right effect. And it’s superior product.” the comfort and calm of their own
private sanctuary — connected to
timber structures allow us to create
an immersive space that both Cordw
not a treatment that’s going to wear off. Tasmanian
Oak
the wilderness but cosseted from
the elements.
complements and showcase the
exceptional food, wine, as well the
high
comm
Timber
In fact, it’s very hard wearing because it “ People are looking for authenticity in
significant collection of landscape
paintings including a number of Tasm
becomes heat treated. The longer it is in their travels. Extensive use of timber
in different finishes not only adds
John Glovers that are unique to this
restaurant.”
Black
out situ, the more beautiful the patina. to the rawness of the location but it Tasm
where strength
delivers the tactile warmth I want The timber selected for the tables Oak
every guest to feel when they stay at and chairs has an incredible history
Pumphouse Point.” of its own. It is literally steeped
Simon Currant, Owner. in history. Hydrowood is timber
reclaimed from the depths of hydro-
meets beauty
Tasmanian electric dams. Submerged for more
Oak than thirty years, the 200-1000-year-
old forests are now being harvested
and processed using innovative
techniques. It is an Australian first.
Tasmanian
Blackwood
Introduction
Naturally warm and attractive, timber remains among While it is widely used by industry professionals, there
the most popular choices for flooring. One of the world’s is growing awareness of the limitations of the Janka rating,
oldest building materials, timber’s physical properties and including the fact that dent resistance is only one aspect
potential for sustainability are highly regarded. Combining of floor durability. Flooring must meet a range of
premium aesthetics with durability, timber has been a performance requirements, and hardness (or indentation
reliable choice for interior applications for centuries. It is resistance) is only one factor. Stability, that is the timber’s
also eco-friendly, being less emissions-intensive and more ability to resist dimensional change that can result in
sustainable over its lifecycle than other building materials warping and splitting, is an important consideration.
like steel and concrete. Scratch resistance, repairability, appearance and ease
of maintenance also contribute to the longevity of a
However, when specifying timber for specific applications,
flooring solution.
the varying properties of different species must be taken
into account. Setting aside the wide range of choices for In this whitepaper, we take a look at the Janka rating
colour and price, there are other factors to consider such as and consider how it relates to other performance criteria
durability, toughness, and a long lifespan when choosing for timber flooring. In doing so, we provide guidance
a species for particular flooring purposes. Flooring quality on how this impacts specification for different flooring
is often perceived to be directly correlated to its Janka applications.
rating – the flooring industry’s standard for comparing the
timber’s hardness.
1. Photography by XXXX. 2. Photography by XXXX. 3. Photography by XXXX.
“The Janka rating is primarily designed to test
a floor’s susceptibility to denting. The test
however does not reflect how the floor holds
up against scratching, daily wear and tear and
fluctuating environmental conditions.”
Photography by Adam Gibson.
Photography by Adam Gibson.
What is the Janka Rating?
The Janka hardness test is the rating used by the flooring for flooring applications. In comparison, Tasmanian Oak, a
industry as an indicator of wood’s resistance to denting. It commonly used flooring timber, has an approximate Janka
was invented in 1906 by Gabriel Janka, an Austrian wood rating of 4.9-5.5kN.2 Brazilian Walnut (16.37kN) and Grey
researcher, and later standardised by the American Society Box (15kN) are on the higher end of the scale.
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) in 1927. The test for
The Janka rating is valued because hardness is commonly
determining the Janka rating involves calculating the force
associated with how easily the timber flooring material
required to embed an 11.28mm diameter steel ball halfway
will wear. “Softer” timbers are easier to indent, scratch, and
into a sample of wood.1
wear over time, whereas hard timbers are perceived to be
In Australia, the results of the Janka test are expressed as more “durable”. A Janka rating between 4-8kN, referring
newtons (N) or kilonewtons (kN). The closer the Janka to medium density timbers, is considered by some flooring
rating is to zero, the softer the wood is according to the companies as the range suitable for flooring applications.3
scale, whereas a higher rating correlates with a harder Other companies advise against specifying any wood that
wood. For example, balsa wood, a wood commonly used for has a rating of below 5.5kN.4
crafts, has a Janka rating of 0.298kN and would be too soft
Limitations of the Janka Rating
Inaccurate ratings for mixed species Indentation resistance is only one aspect
The Janka rating has limitations with hardness accuracy
of floor durability
because it uses the lowest common denominator in the The Janka rating is primarily designed to test a floor’s
species mix as the measure. For example, Tasmanian Oak susceptibility to denting. The test however does not
is a mix of three different eucalypt species: Eucalyptus reflect how the floor holds up against scratching, daily
Regnans, Eucalyptus Obliqua and Eucalyptus Delegatensis. wear and tear and fluctuating environmental conditions
The lowest portion of the species mix, that is E. Regnans, such as temperature, moisture, and humidity changes.
also has the lowest Janka rating (4.9kN), when in fact Other factors like scratch resistance, appearance, stability,
most of Tasmanian Oak is made up of E. Obliqua, which and ease of maintenance contribute to a floor’s overall
has a much higher hardness rating (7.4kN). Accordingly, durability. A floor that balances all these properties is more
the relatively middling Janka rating of Tasmanian Oak is desirable and practical to consumers than hardness alone.
misleading.
A timber floor can be too hard
The reality is that Tasmanian Oak is one of the most widely
used flooring timbers in Australian history. These floors Some of the most appealing characteristics of timber
have lasted for hundreds of years and have stood the test flooring are its warmth, softness and spring under foot. A
of time. This performance in situ and over time is a reliable wood that is too hard may feel more like concrete when
indicator of this timber species’ suitability, longevity and walked upon.
durability in many applications.
Photography by Adam Gibson.
Specifying for Quality – Beyond Janka
Performance criteria for flooring Why is stability important
Floors must satisfy a range of performance requirements,
for timber flooring?
which align with the specific application and installation The key consideration when specifying timber flooring
conditions. Below is simplified performance criteria for is whether the material is fit for purpose. The differences
long-lasting timber flooring: in dent resistance between timbers on the “hard” to “very
hard” range of the Janka scale will not matter if the floor
Appearance.
is only subject to being walked on or the occasional
Timber should be expected to have variations in grain and
movement of furniture. At the high end of the Janka
colour. A timber floor’s colour may change when exposed
scale, the levels of hardness being offered is generally not
to sunlight. Factors such as species, finishing, and levels of
required for most applications.
sun exposure (direct or indirect) can impact how the floor
will look over time. Changes in atmospheric humidity will affect all end uses
of wood. Humid conditions, subfloor moisture, leaks
Moisture content and stability.
and spills are only a few of the occurrences that can
It is important to know how the floor will perform in
cause disfigurement and warping of hardwood floors.
different environmental conditions. Changes in moisture
Dimensional stability directly relates to how much the
and humidity can cause dimensional changes in wood.
floor will experience movement in service, providing
Different timber species exhibit different levels of
an indication of the ability of the timber to withstand
dimensional variation.
challenging conditions.
Indentation resistance.
Timber flooring will shrink or swell according to the
This property correlates to the Janka rating as discussed
species used, the installation environment and moisture
above. It is of high priority for floors that experience a
content. Specifiers will want to know the percentage
heavy traffic load (such as in commercial or public spaces
of dimensional change resulting from exposure to
that are subject to the traffic of thousands of people per
temperature and/or moisture changes. As shrinkage does
week), but this is not the majority of applications.
not occur in a uniform manner, the rates of shrinkage for
Scratch resistance. the length and width of the wood should be considered.
Moving furniture and pets are some common causes for Knowing these characteristics enables specifiers to assess
scratches on a floor. Wood hardness can give an indication suitability for a particular application.
of how resistant the floor will be to scratches, but the
Timber flooring is often supplied within a moisture
scratch resistance provided by the floor’s finish should also
content range of 9% to 14% (as provided by Australian
be considered.
Standard AS2796). If flooring is laid in a most environment
Finishing. (expected average moisture content of 12.5% to 15%), future
The right choice in finishing will protect a floor from expansion should be accounted for and the timber should
scratches, dirt and moisture, and also add it to its be acclimatised.5 Shrinkage should be accounted for in dry
appearance. While all coatings will wear over time, some environments (expected average moisture content of 8% to
finishes are more durable than others, and also help 10%) and acclimatisation is required.6
preserve the timber.
Workability and weight. “Dimensional stability directly
If the wood is difficult to cut into shape, or is too heavy, it
may add to installation time and costs. However, wood that relates to how much the floor will
is too soft or light may not provide sufficient durability. experience movement in service,
Repairability. providing an indication of the
The ease in which the floor can be repaired is an important
ability of the timber to withstand
consideration for owners as it will impact the cost of
maintaining the floor over a long period of time. challenging conditions”
Tasmanian Oak
The Premier Hardwood for Flooring
Applications
Sturdily withstanding the wear and tear of generations,
Tasmanian Oak has been the flooring of choice in
Tasmania and beyond for more than a century. Designers
and specifiers prefer Tasmanian Oak because of its stability
and reliability. Tasmanian Oak is a strong timber, easy to
work, and renowned for its stability in flooring applications,
giving performance that few other species can match.
Tasmanian Oak is light in colour, varying from straw to
reddish brown with intermediate shades of cream to pink.
It is recognised for its excellent staining qualities, which
allow ready matching with other timbers, finishes or
furnishings. It works extremely well and can be used in all
forms of construction as scantlings, panelling and flooring,
and can be glue-laminated to cover long spans.
About Tasmanian Timber
Tasmania’s biodiversity and verdant forests make it the
ideal environment for strong, high quality timber to grow
in: a significant portion of timber used for interior design,
furniture, and structural purposes in Australia can be
traced back to Tasmania
In recognition of the vital role that Tasmanian timber plays
in supporting sustainable local industries in Australia,
the Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board seeks to educate
designers and specifiers on the broad potential of timber
and its many unique characteristics.
Grown locally and sustainably, Tasmanian timber is
processed to the highest standards, and backed by the
technical support of Australia’s leading timber experts.
For more information on Tasmanian Timber,
visit tasmaniantimber.com.au
Photography by Adam Gibson.
Tasmanian Timber
Design System
Version: 1.5
Created: 23.10.2018
References.
1. United States Department of Agriculture. 4. Lifewood Timber Flooring.
“Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material.” USDA. “What is Janka Rating?” Lifewood Timber Flooring. https://www.
https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/fplgtr113.pdf lifewood.com.au/timber-floor-durability-janka-hardness-test (accessed
(accessed 28 March 2021). 28 March 2021).
2. Brisbane’s Finest Floors. 5. Housing Industry Association.
“Australian Timber Hardness Table: Which Is The Toughest?” “Moisture content and timber floors - getting it right!” HIA. https://hia.
Brisbane’s Finest Floors. https://www.brisbanesfinestfloors.com.au/ com.au/regional-news/vic/timber-floors-moisture (accessed 28 March
latest-advice/australian-timber-hardness-table-which-is-the-toughest 2021).
(accessed 28 March 2021).
6. Ibid.
3. Parquetry Flooring Company. “Janka Rating & Floor Durability.”
Parquetry Flooring Company. https://www.pfc.com.au/janka-rating-
floor-durability (accessed 28 March 2021).
All information provided correct as of April 2021
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