There is a common misperception that American Black Walnut is not a dense enough wood species to be used for hardwood flooring.

Château Napoléon has made and delivered hundreds of thousands of square feet of Walnut flooring over the years, with virtually no follow up complaints about excessive damage.

First of all, American Black Walnut is our preferred species, due to the absolutely beautiful reactions we get from it utilizing our French oxidizing techniques. These techniques were originated in France, and I introduced them to the U.S. market. There is no other species that is so radically and beautifully changed by these methods. Hence, our Cendré (ashen or oxidized) line of hardwood flooring has always been our best seller.

The density measurement method used on hardwood flooring is called the Janka test, which measures the amount of pressure in pounds needed to pressure a ball bearing to break the surface tension of and indent a piece of hardwood flooring.

There are softwood species, and hardwood species. Walnut is a hardwood, but not high up in its Janka rating of 1,010 lbs. American Oak for example is rated higher and is therefore harder at a rating of 1,360 lbs.

Practically, what difference does the hardness rating matter in the everyday wear and tear of a hardwood flooring? If one drops a pickle jar on the hardwood floor, American Oak will sustain a dent of X depth, while Walnut will sustain a dent of X plus 25%. But both will sustain a dent.

The real difference becomes apparent with the introduction of pets into the living environment, and specifically large dogs. Their nails, when left unattended, have the ability to eventually scratch a hardwood floor and create small grooves through the finish and into the wood itself.

Walnut flooring will show this effect 25% more than American Oak, but both will show the damage. Only imported species with significantly higher Janka ratings like Brazilian Cherry, with a rating of 2,820 lbs. on the Janka test, or Cumaru, with a rating of 3,540 lbs. will actually completely resist this damage.

My recommendation is always to purchase the beauty of our Cendré line of French oxidized Walnut flooring, and simply enjoy its spectacular beauty for decades to come! Under normal circumstances it will perform beautifully and hold up well.

Should you currently own or later introduce a large dog to the home, simply go to www.softpaws.com and purchase their easily applied nail caps for your pet. This will prevent the deep scratching that could damage your beautiful flooring, and completely solve the problem that might otherwise arise.

Robert Malins
Château Napoléon Owner