Maple Hardness and Durability Maple flooring has a Jenka hardness ranking of 1450 which is a good bit harder than oak flooring, the industry standard for hardwood. This means that maple flooring is quite hard, less prone to dents and is very durable (it's a popular choice for bowling alleys for this very reason).

Besides, which is better oak or maple hardwood floors?

Maple cannot absorb stain as well as oak, mainly due to its consistency. Maple timber is less porous than oak, making it more resistant to dents and scratching. If you can live with the natural tone, maple presents an excellent value for any room.

Secondly, is Maple a stable wood? Although hard maple is very stable compared to other species, some consumers believe that it is more likely than hardwood oak to twist and warp. Maple is less porous than oak, which makes it slightly more susceptible to dents and scratches. Because of its consistency, maple also does not absorb stain as well as oak.

One may also ask, does maple make good flooring?

Maple Flooring Pros and Cons Maple flooring is best suited for contemporary spaces due to its light natural finish and clean surface. Its subtle grain pattern makes it a great choice for large, open spaces that need consistency. Maple wood is harder than oak, but not as stable.

What is the most scratch resistant hardwood flooring?

The hardest and most scratch-resistant species, such as ipe, cumaru and jatoba, come from the tropics, and they typically score 3,000 pounds or more. Domestic hardwoods and raw bamboo, on the other hand, are about half as hard.

Are dark wood floors going out of style?

Dark floors are officially on the way out. In 2020, we're moving toward the lighter end of the spectrum. In fact, the lights are getting even more extreme with more white-washed, beachy looks. But you'll see some warmer, middle-of-the-road hardwood flooring ideas sneaking in, as well.

What's the best type of hardwood flooring?

The best hardwood floors are made with wood species that are readily available and — you guessed it — very hard. Oak flooring, maple flooring and cherry flooring are all good choices. Other species include bamboo (which is actually a grass), walnut, ash and mahogany.

What is more expensive oak or maple wood?

Maple is slightly less expensive than oak, with an average price of $7 to $11 per square foot for materials and installation. In some cases, you could pay $15 or more per square foot.

What is the strongest hardwood floor?

Generally speaking, the hardest wood for flooring is Ipe (or Lapacho). However, this is very hard to find, due to its rarity. This also makes it a very expensive flooring product. Therefore, more widely available, and hardwearing are Hickory and Maple flooring.

Do oak floors scratch easily?

The simple answer is that it depends on the wood. While wood flooring isn't as resistant to scratches as stone or tile, some types of wood are harder to scratch than others. The scratch resistance depends on the type of wood, the grain pattern and whether or not it's protected by a hard finish.

Are oak floors expensive?

The benefit of all three of these types of flooring is that they are moderately priced hardwoods. Oak is generally the least expensive of the three. It typically costs around $2.50 to $6 per square foot.

What is the hardest wood in the world?

Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale. That's more than twice as hard as Osage orange (one of the hardest domestic woods) at 2,040 lbf and more than three times harder than red oak at 1,290 lbf.

Is maple or oak better?

Maple is less porous than oak, and even though it's harder, maple doors and cabinets are more susceptible to dents and scratches than oak because of the smooth, uniform surface. Red oak, with its coarse flame pattern, hides scratches better.

Which is harder maple or birch?

Hard maple is harder and has more density than birch. On the Janka hardness scale, which ranks wood density, hard maple ranks 1,450. Yellow birch ranks 1,260.

Can maple floors be refinished?

If your maple hardwood floor's finish looks scratched, scuffed and dingy, you can restore its color and luster with a new finish. You can prepare the floor for refinishing by using a liquid floor refinisher, which is a type of chemical finish stripper designed to remove hardwood floor finishes.

Does maple hardwood change color?

Virtually all hardwoods change color as the years go by. Light-colored wood, such as maple, will naturally darken due to exposure to UV light and oxygen. As the years pass, even a white maple piece will develop a honey-gold patina.

Do hickory floors scratch easily?

Hickory Flooring is Sturdy and Durable If you get a lot of traffic in the area of your home where you want to install new flooring, hickory is a good pick because it's one of the harder and more durable woods. Its density makes it resistant to normal wear and tear that can show up as scratches and dents in the wood.

Is maple or oak better for kitchen cabinets?

Hard Maple Cabinets Hard maple is a fine-grain and light-color wood slightly more expensive than oak but less dense. A popular choice for semicustom and custom cabinets, maple can be stained, but it is most often dressed with a clear or natural finish to achieve a light, contemporary look.

Why is white oak more expensive than red oak?

Price – In general, there is not a major price difference between red oak and white flooring. Because unfinished hardwood is a commodity item, the price tends to fluctuate weekly. At times, red oak costs more; at other times, white oak costs more. the price will often vary based on width and grade.

Is White Oak more expensive than red oak?

PRICE: There is not a major difference between the price of Red and White Oak. Because unfinished hardwood flooring is a commodity item, the price fluctuates from week to week. At times, Red Oak is more expensive, and sometimes White Oak costs more.

How much does maple hardwood flooring cost?

The cost of hardwood maple flooring varies based on whether homeowners choose a finished or unstained product. Unstained maple typically costs around $6 to $8 per square foot, while stained maple costs $8 to $14 per square foot. That cost includes labor and installation.

What is the best finish for maple?

Another commonly used finishing technique on maple is to apply tung oil or linseed oil after the final sanding. These oils tend to bring out the curly or tiger looks of the maple. Follow the oil with a coat or two of shellac. For a more durable finish, top-coat over the shellac with a clear lacquer or polyurethane.