I assume you are talking about the Valenza Series from Hartco. Last month we installed engineered Ironwood from the Valenza Series which has the exact same aluminum oxide finish as yours and the Janka rating is very similar to yours and we have had absolutely no problems with scratching (except for the time I dropped some planks on the floor but that is predictable). We have a dog and he has not made any scratches on the floor. We are very happy with the finish and hardness of the floor.

Yes, the Valenza Series. We have the 3/4 inch solid wood LaPacha -- so ours is not engineered. But, ours is so sensitive that it almost seems that we received a faulty product. Although, we purchased 35 boxes, so you'd think it wouldn't ALL be bad. We're perplexed, to say the least.

I remember before I purchased it I got samples of Ironwood, Pradoo and Kempas from the Valenza Series. I got a nail and scratched each one. Kempas scratched very easily (it dented also), less so with the Pradoo, and Ironwood was difficult to scratch and dent (but of course it still scratched slightly). I would take a left over piece of LaPacho and see how easily it is to scratch with a nail and compare it to other hardwood samples.

I worked for Hartco and I can tell you that no finish is scratch proof. I don't know the specific product but perhaps its a dark floor so scratches show more easily? You can screen and recoat down the road and you won't have to sand.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does it mean to "screen" a floor?

the advantage of prefinished floors is when they get scratched you can add a new layer of finish without the need to resand the floors. Urethane won't stick to urethane so you chemically abrate the top coat before adding more finish. This is called screening and is used by using largin 3m buffing pads and chemicals such as Tye Koat or similar.

No that is not exactly what screening is.

No chemicals are used when screening. Only a buffer and a buffer screen, not a pad.

TyKote is all chemically done, no buffer.

Your flooring is new...you are having problems with it from day one...contact your dealer...

It is a manufactured product...it is possible that the finish is not up to specs...