Maple Vs Oak Wood Flooring

There are two types of oak available red oak and white oak.

Maple vs oak wood flooring.

Choosing between maple vs oak hardwood flooring can be challenging. This is largely because it is virtually non porous. Fewer imperfections maple has a consistent grain pattern that is more subtle than oak with fewer imperfections. Other types of maple flooring are softer and they should be avoided.

Maple on the other hand is more challenging to coat with stain. This is largely because it is virtually non porous. Oak offers more options as far as grain pattern and will provide a richer look when used as cabinetry or flooring. Depending on your location and the brand it could be red or white oak but either is cheaper than quality maple or hickory flooring.

It s comparable in price to oak cherry and ash which are also american hardwoods. Maple is lighter more affordable and works well in contemporary spaces and for indoor projects. Initially it seems that maple is more costly than the other most popular choice in hardwood flooring oak but that is not necessarily the case. Three essential factors make oak and maple stand apart from each other appearance durability and pricing.

Its durable and glassy surface finishes to a high gloss that can take punishment. To bring your flooring costs down even further consider second or third grade maple wood. Overall white oak is the best choice for projects that call for water resistant decay resistant wood. 3 15 to 7 00 per square foot.

Red oak flooring is also durable but with its more prominent grain lines it s more time consuming to maintain. Hardwood harvested from the outer wood of the trunk or sapwood is usually a light creamy white color while hardwood harvested from the center of the tree or heartwood is a deeper shade of brown with a slight reddish hue. Oak has been used for centuries and will continue to be in demand for generations. They also come in different species which makes the choosing process tricky.

Differences between oak and maple flooring. Red oak has a reddish rosy tone and a medium to heavy grain pattern. The strength and consistency of oak measures up well against maple hardwood flooring and traditional themes demand the use of traditional building materials. Hard maple is a premier flooring material.

Maple grows relatively quickly and abundantly around the u s which keeps the cost of this wood low. Which style of flooring is the easiest to stain or refinish. Maple wood is harder than oak but not as stable. Durable maple flooring is extremely hard and dent resistant even more so than oak flooring.

Oak wins over maple when you want a dark or dramatic but for neutral tones or to lighten up a space oak is less popular. Maple is commonly used for bowling alleys dance floors and high end homes. Exotic hardwoods such as teak and mahogany will cost more. A recent survey of retailers we conducted found these hardwood flooring prices for just the material.