Maple vs Oak Hardwood

12 years ago

Me again with another design dilemma!

We decided to get hardwood throughout the main floor of our newbuild (except foyer and powder room) and are now facing the dilemma of maple vs oak.

Although I love the uniform look of maple, I'm concerned wear and tear (ie scuff marks, dents, etc) will show easily. It is also much costlier than oak.

We found an oak alternative that we like and it does camouflage the wear and tear noted above a little easier and I believe it's harder than maple (correct me if I'm wrong). It is also less expensive than maple.

I watched an episode of Sarah's House by Sarah Richardson and they opted to go for the oak floors with the mentality that it's being covered by furniture, area rugs, etc and at the end of the day, hardwood is hardwood.

What do you guys think? Should we suck it up and go for the maple or just stick with oak since we found an alternative we like (not as much) as well?

Featured Answer

PRO

Cancork Floor Inc.

12 years ago

You may want to keep in mind the colour the floors will become over time. A "clear coat" of polyurethane over oak will allow the oak to fade to a very pale variation of yellw (think dried straw). Maple on the other hand, will yellow with age. Even with a clear finish (non-yellowing finish) the maple will yellow.

If you are planning on staining the floors, remember that maple is harder to stain. It takes a very knowledgeable flooring installer to achieve your colour when working with maple. Oak is much easier to work with and stains produce better/easier results.

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Comments (13)

feeny
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
According to the Janka scale, hard maple is rated 1450, whereas white oak is rated 1360, and red oak 1290. So maple should be the (just slightly) harder wood flooring. Maple floors are beautiful and one of my favorites, but I love white oak floors too. Either should serve you well.
shal1217
Original Author
12 years ago
Good to know that maple is actually harder.
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PRO
User
12 years ago
Quarter sawn white oak would give you a uniform finish and gives you more finish options.
yoboseiyo
12 years ago
maple is beautiful.
it's a tighter grain, and that's why it's harder.

if you do oak, try to avoid gunstock unless you reeeeeeallly like that finish. it'll date the house.
User
12 years ago
What oak alternative?
shal1217
Original Author
12 years ago
I'm not sure what type of oak it is.... it's a smooth semi-gloss finish. Colour is toffee.
shal1217
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Cancork - both options are stained. Since the maple is hard to stain I believe it will be pre-stained before installation. I think the oak will be stained on site but I may be wrong about that one.
PRO
David Frosch
12 years ago
Maple itself might be a little bit harder it will show all imperfections in your floor whereas Oak flooring is very forgiving with usage plus maple does not take color well even if you pop the grain or condition the wood - Maple wants to be natural
shal1217
Original Author
12 years ago
Hmmm good to know, thanks Michael!
diyher
12 years ago
gunstock ......it'll date the house??????? That is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. so, according to you, anyone who has gunstock stain in their house is now dated and should probably replace it all. No such thing as a classic wood floor color being dated. Gunstock was sold 30 years ago, and Gunstock is still being sold today.
Scarlet Zhu
12 years ago
We had oak in last house and having maple in the current house. Oak hides some dents and wear, maple looks more uniform. Maple is only a little bit harder than oak, so I think it's mainly for the look. Somebody just does't like oak's grain. Some loves it. If you choose a very dark stain, they are not so different. I always think maple looks like a little bit morden with nature colour. Good luck with the design!
jmeyer34
11 years ago
We have Country maple floors and love it. It does yellow though, but it gives it more of an antique look. Old world charm