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Soft Wood?

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Isn't Pine a soft wood? (below tables)

Re: JANKA Rating, Client Question (bottom of page)

Isn't Pine a Soft Wood?

Pineflooring.ca provides a wealth of material to educate and entertain potential Clients ... understanding, of course, that even "Pine People" are born with an inherent 'fear' that pine is (in general) 'a soft wood'. But, is pine really a soft wood?

People who 'inherently' know ... really don't know ... Part I of II

RED Pine is greatly underestimated as a flooring material. A playful explanation might have you consider that people simply do not know the facts ... or, when told the facts, refuse to understand or believe them.

Notable Quote

"I've read the information on your website but I don't understand why it is 'the exact opposite' of any research I have done. Is your pine different?"

Softwood or Soft Wood?

People are familiar with the terms 'hardwood' and 'softwood' and interpret them (logically) to mean that a wood is either hard, dense and durable, or not. But, "the facts" are NOT logical ... they are in conflict because, Hardness, Density and Durability has nothing to do with the common terms of 'hardwood' or 'softwood' ... (brace yourself) ... these 'industry' labels are misleading as they actually refer only to the type of growth or tree vegetation that the wood is taken from.

I will paraphrase "Hardwoods & Softwoods" by: Clive Smith ... "The best example of contradictions to misleading labelling such as 'hardwood' and 'softwood' include balsa wood and RED (pitch) pine's quality of density and hardness. Balsa has a weight of ~8 lbs/cu.ft. yet, Balsa is classed as a 'hardwood'. Pitch Pine, on the other hand, weighs five (5X) that of balsa at ~40 lbs/cu.sf. and is classified as a 'softwood." As you know, balsa is light and used to build model and toy aircraft whereas, pitch pine is used to build wharfs, piers, docks, warehouses, barns, ships and cathedrals because it has long been recognized in Europe as being strong and resilient to weather, mildew, 'predators', etc. ... Pitch Pine is classified as a 'softwood'.

Re: Canadian Woodworking: Issue #45 December 2006.

On a related matter; Pineflooring.ca uses winter-cut and kiln-dried Northern Ontario Red Pine (N.O.R.P.) which weighs ~40 lbs/cu.ft. (prior to kiln-drying) whereas, Marreed-Prestman has never and will never consider using any White or Yellow Pines or Eastern (NB) Red Pine for flooring as their density/hardness is about half that of N.O.R.P.

Why 'the inherent' discrepancy' between logic and reality?

In a world where people can not agree on any 'meaningful and logical standard', for anything ... compromise inevitably leads to confusion ... TRADITION dictates that hardwoods are taken from deciduous trees and softwoods are taken from coniferous trees — regardless or their relative hardness, density and durability.  This fact is contradictory and misleading but, that's 'compromise'.

Why is the Softwood label misleading, and perhaps, unfair to consumers?

The 'softwood label' for many types of woods is unfair because people think that any and every wood classified as a Softwood is in fact, 'a soft wood', and vis-à-vis, people are unaware that a Hardwood is not always 'a hard wood'.

People who 'inherently' know ... really don't know ... Part II of II

Red Pine is greatly underestimated as a flooring material. Again, a playful explanation might have you consider that a preacher — with the stature of a "Billy Graham" — could talk until he was "blue-in-the-face" and still, some people would ignore the fact that — in this day-and-age of space-age materials — a birch bark canoe impregnated with Aluminium-Oxide Cured "Diamond Tough" Resin that is protected on its exterior surface with another floodcoat of Aluminium-Oxide Cured Resin is "a thousand times stronger" than the traditional birch-bark canoe of old. What was once "nature's workhorse" for transporting people and supplies over lakes and rivers is now an 'unrecognizable' vessel capable of crossing oceans and attacking white-water canyons with abandon ... that is the improved strength and flexibility of today's space-age materials in resin technology.

People who 'inherently' know, really do not know ... the inherent hardness or softness of wood has little or no relationship to the Density, Hardness and Durability of a properly kilned, installed and finished floor. The quality of the finish is as important as the hardness and quality of the wood.  A quality pine floor is crafted based on the integrity of materials, installation expertise and Flood-Coat Top-Coat finishing techniques.

People are surprised to hear that a modern-day (two person) canoe has the strength to carry thousands of pounds of weight, glide effortlessly over lakes and still have the stretch-ability required to bounce off of white-water river rocks and canyon walls ... that is the strength and flexibility of aluminium-oxide cured resins with today's "diamond tough" resin curing additives.

Lastly, "Pine People" know better than to "throw the baby out with the bath water" ... we want "the ambience" of the birch bark canoe for its connection to nature as it affects our living environment. Pine People value the warmth and beauty of Red Pine and understand the benefits of 'modern technology' ... they do not want a synthetic 'pine' floor. As such, potential Client's inherently research their purchasing decision.

RED PINE "U"

The Janka Hardness Scale for Wood Species

Again, kindly consider the fact that Red Pine — as a solid substrate — is rated about four (~4X) times harder than White or Yellow Pine(s) on the authoritative Janka Hardness Scale for Wood Species (above). Red Pine is rated higher than some Eastern American and Southern U.S.A hardwoods.  To confuse the issue further, Do Not Confuse "Hardness" with "Durability" or with the "Suitability" of any particular wood species for flooring.  All three (3) labels are — in a perfect world —  completely separate issues.

In this day-and-age of space-age materials — the critical element — in my opinion, is my use of Aluminium-Oxide Cured "Diamond Tough" resin (floor finish) that I apply — personally — in two (2X) separate FloodCoat TopCoat applications .... firstly, the Impregnation/Saturation-Coat expands and hardens the wood fibres to "high density" then, the FloodCoat TopCoat WearCoat application provides a "ROCK PINE" surface finish.

The Cure

Red Pine is a dense substrate (in comparison to other types of wood) and space-age Aluminum-Oxide cured resin is more durable than traditional Epoxy Cured urethane and polyurethane ... and amazingly, about twice (~2X) as durable as "prefinished" floor finishes whereby manufacturers use acid and titanium additives because these fluid resins allow the use of NANO-technology (micro-spray film) that cures instantly under ultraviolet light (UL) and result in great production speed. But, people are human to a fault and, "inherent facts" will always remain in their lexicon. Marreed-Prestman understands the myths and the misunderstandings that are prevalent in the marketplace so — be fair to yourself — consider the valuable information provided throughout my website before you invest in wood flooring of any kind. Because, an educated Client is predisposed to the Intrinsic Value of the flooring work I do.

JANKA Rating, Client Question

Question: "I note Janka Hardness ratings for Red Pine vary dramatically, from 1575 noted on your website to the mid 500's on other's sites. Why is this?  Thanks, Doug, Mississauga, ON."

Answer: Hi Doug: Thank you for visiting "a married and depressed man" .... A. Marreed & D. Prestman 'Distressed' Pine Flooring Inc. at www.pineflooring.ca . As per your inquiry: JANKA (J) Ratings for various wood species are determined by the number of pounds of pressure required, to halfway press a steel ball, with a diameter of .444 inches, into the topside and ends of a board.

"Janka is an International Standard Test for Relative Hardness. In North America, certifiable test results are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Services, Forest Products Laboratory.

Other 'testing' sources, such as, 'hardwood' flooring associations have their own rating systems that, in some cases, are based on 'self-interest' and 'tradition' including "coniferous and deciduous" 'ratings' and 'classifications' that defy logic and lack scientific testing and certification.

Livability is Measured by Performance and Lifestyle

'Hardness' is important but, Livability is Paramount ... when you are living with a spouse, kids, dogs, visitors.

Red Pine has a rating of 1575 (J) on the Janka Hardness Rating Scale (J) For Wood Flooring Species. Therefore, Northern Ontario Red Pine is approximately four times (~ 4X) more dense and harder than (any) of the White Pine(s) which have an average rating of ~ 0380 (J) ... but, more surprisingly, N.O.R.P. has a "hardness and durability" rating that is slightly higher than a number of American hardwood species.  Top off that amazing fact, consider that N.O.R.P. has twenty-two annual rings per inch of thickness (slow growth) — that is an average of 22 years of growth per inch of 'width — whereas White Pine growth rings are less dense (fast growth) at eight (8) rings per inch of thickness.

Having said that, Livability is not measured solely by Hardness and Durability, it is measured by 'Warmth', Performance and Lifestyle ... a decision in favour of a casual, yet sophisticated, flooring material and 'Diamond-Tough' finish for a more carefree lifestyle.

Consider this as well ... when a 'perfectly' manufactured hardwood floor is dinged, dented or scratched, its "man-made perfection" is lost".  The Consumer is 'forever' disappointed with the livability and enjoyment of their floor. Whereas, my new 'distressed' Northern Ontario Red Pine floor can take the abuse by camouflaging normal "wear and tear" and Livability actually improves ' as the floor ages.

"The Eye is Not Drawn to a Single Imperfection".

Value Package

Furthermore, White and Yellow Pines and other true Soft Woods, are 'offensive' (to the perception of Northern RED PINE) only because an uninformed client usually assumes all pines are "too soft" for rustic yet, sophisticated flooring ... without regard for the extraordinary durability of Northern Ontario Red Pine and perhaps, for the Value Package I offer in Premium Materials, Expert Installation and Artistic Finishing.

"A Higher Authority"

PineFlooring.ca aims to educate and entertain potential Clients for "Kid-and-Dog Friendly Flooring." of Heritage and Intrinsic Value. My website represents a culmination of years of research and experience.

PineFlooring.ca has been referred to by lawyers and consumers as "An Authority" by 'connecting' my knowledge and experience (as illustrated within this website) to further their legal cases in "Ontario Small Claims Court" ... in support of their 'Flooring Battles' with commodity-oriented retailers, unresponsive builders and schlock contractors. I ask you, my potential Client's, to respect the fact that PineFlooring.ca is not intended as such for the wood industry nor, for disenchanted consumers. PineFlooring.ca is intended to fulfill my goal of educating and entertaining Pine Lovers and securing the 'sale' of  handcrafted and artistic wideplank wood floors ... for a knowledgeable and appreciative audience.

I hope you are being entertained and informed?

Questions, comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Can I clarify "a fact" for you?

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