Butcher block countertops are a gorgeous choice for a kitchen. If you're unsure of which wood to choose for yours, consider ...

High-quality strand-woven bamboo, whether solid or engineered, ranks high on the Janka hardness scale, in some cases outperforming even Brazilian cherry. High quality traditional bamboo is less ...

Gem and mineral hardness is measured on the Mohs scale. The numbers are based on the relative ease or difficulty with which one mineral can be scratched by another. But the Mohs scale is deceptive.