When choosing a new wooden floor it is extremely important to think about the amount of traffic and footfall that the particular area will get. If the room or area is likely to receive relatively low footfall then it does not cause a problem, but if it is expected that a relatively high number of people will pass through, or it is a busy room (hallway, living area, etc) then it is worth considering a harder and more durable hardwood floor.
Solid wood floors are great options for high footfall areas as they can be sanded and re-finished a number of times to create the impression of a newly refreshed hardwood floor. It is also worth considering different species of wood as they can vary quite considerably in their levels of hardness. Jatoba is one of the hardest hardwood flooring materials available, but it is quite rare and very expensive.
Alternatively, Oak flooring has medium hardness, and is quite a popular choice as it is aesthetically pleasing and can be found at reasonable prices. A much softer option would be Engineered Walnut flooring, which can dent and scratch very easily and is not recommended for high traffic areas.
All hardwood flooring is measured for its hardness and durability.
For more information on this, please see: ‘What is the Janka hardness scale for hardwood flooring?’ For further information, see our article: ‘Things to consider when buying hardwood flooring’
