Is Hickory considered a hardwood?

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Like Dan Yeager noted, hickory is considered a hardwood because it comes from a deciduous or leafed tree. This is confusing however because some hardwoods are softer than some softwoods. As far as how hard it is, hickory is one of the hardest woods commonly used in American cabinetry.



Similarly, it is asked, is Hickory a hardwood or softwood?

On average, the wood of softwoods is softer than hardwoods. Hickory (a hardwood) wood is harder than cypress (a softwood) wood and oak is harder than cedar. However, there are many exceptions to this trend. The Southern pines are softwoods but they are denser than yellow poplar, which is a hardwood.

One may also ask, is Hickory hardwood durable? Hickory's hardness rating -- which clocks in at 1820 on the Janka scale, a ranking of wood's resistance to wear ranging from 0 to 4,000 -- makes it a durable choice for home flooring, but it's this same quality that also makes hickory a difficult hardwood to work with.

Also know, is hickory wood harder than oak?

The Janka scale rates hardness or density of hardwoods: the higher the number, the harder or more dense the wood. Hickory is the hardest of the three types with a rating of 1,820. White oak is second with a rating of 1,360. Red oak is the softest of the three at 1,290.

What wood is harder than Hickory?

Maple and hickory are both harder woods than oak. Hickory has a bolder look than oak or maple and is often sold as wide planks.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What's the most expensive type of wood?

World's Most Expensive Wood In The World
  • African Blackwood – $ 10,000 Per Kilogram. Source: Link.
  • Agar Wood – $ 10,000 Per Kilogram. Source: Link.
  • Ebony – $ 10,000 Per Kilogram. Source: Link.
  • Sandalwood – $ 20,000 Per Kilogram.
  • Pink Ivory – $ 7-8 Per Board Feet.
  • Lignum Vitae – $ 5 Per Pound.
  • Purple Heart – $ 11.99 Per Board Feet.
  • Dalbergia – $ 14-16 Per Board Feet.

What is the strongest wood in the world?

Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale. That's more than twice as hard as Osage orange (one of the hardest domestic woods) at 2,040 lbf and more than three times harder than red oak at 1,290 lbf.

Is Hickory good flooring?

Hickory Flooring is Sturdy and Durable
If you get a lot of traffic in the area of your home where you want to install new flooring, hickory is a good pick because it's one of the harder and more durable woods. Its density makes it resistant to normal wear and tear that can show up as scratches and dents in the wood.

Does hickory flooring darken over time?


It can vary widely in color, even within the same plank, and will darken somewhat over time. Hickory flooring planks laid next to each other can be quite different in color and pattern, making hickory a distinctive choice for homeowners who want striking detail for the interior design of their home.

What is the hardest finish for hardwood floors?

The hardest wood floor finish is aluminum oxide, but it only comes on prefinished boards. If you want something durable you can add after installation, acid-cured is your best bet.

What is the hardest wood at Home Depot?

Hickory is the hardest common wood that is commercially available, followed by pecan, hard maple and white oak.

Is Hickory flooring good for dogs?

Oak. Oak is versatile and abundant, a great and affordable choice for homes with pets. Hand-scraped Hickory is a great option to stand up to scratches and wear and mask damage from pet nails.

How can you tell oak from Hickory?

Start by taking a small sample from your load and holding a flame to it. When you do so, you will find that hickory has a strong aroma that hits you like a train the second the smoke goes into the air. Oak, on the other hand, is a lot more subtle.

Is hickory wood valuable?


High-quality hickory logs are certainly on-par with red oak species—some instances more valuable, some instances less valuable. This of course depends upon who purchases your standing timber and the quality of your trees.

What wood is closest to Hickory?

The density and appearance of pecan is so similar to hickory that the National Hardwood Lumber Association will not separate it from the hickory species. The majority of hickory and pecan lumber products are simply referred to as hickory, with no distinction between the different species.

Does engineered hardwood dent easily?

Scratches, Dents and Other Small Marks
Due to the fact that engineered flooring has a top layer of solid wood it is actually susceptible to the same drawbacks of having solid hardwood floors such as easily being scratched and dented.

What flooring goes with hickory cabinets?

Tile flooring is a great option for kitchens, especially with Hickory cabinets. Tile flooring can include ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, etc.

How can you tell if wood is mahogany?

How to Identify Mahogany Wood
  1. Press your fingernail into the wood to determine whether or not it's a soft or hardwood. If your fingernail leaves a mark, it is softwood.
  2. Observe the corners of the wood in order to determine if the wood is solid or a veneer.
  3. Observe the pattern and grain.
  4. Observe the color.

What is the best quality wood flooring?


Top 5 Brands for Solid Hardwood Flooring
  • 01 of 05. Bruce. Bruce. Best for quick availability and returnability.
  • 02 of 05. Carlisle. Carlisle. Best for plank sizes.
  • 03 of 05. Lumber Liquidators House Brands. Lumber Liquidators.
  • 04 of 05. Hearne Hardwoods. Hearne Hardwoods.
  • The Woods Company. The Woods Company. Best for reclaimed solid wood flooring.

What is the most expensive hardwood flooring?

High: Some of the most expensive wood floors are made of exotic woods such as Brazilian walnut, tigerwood, mahogany and cypress. Costs tally $8 to $14 per square foot on average, with installation costs running around $4 to $8 per square foot.