Prone to Scratches and Marks – As maple has a naturally light colour and fewer grains than other hardwoods, scratches and marks are easily visible on its smooth surface. If you have pets, you'll have to be careful about this issue because their claws will leave scratches that are visible over time.
Both Oak and Maple floors are considered among the most durable wood floors and can last for generations. Maple is among the harder wood species, with a 1450 rating on the Janka wood hardness chart. As one of the densest wood species, Maple is ideal for high-traffic areas.
While Maple is a very hard wood, it is not completely resistant to scratches. The light colour of Maple can make scratches and dents more noticeable, especially in high-traffic areas or homes with pets and children.
Hickory is one of the hardest and most durable hardwood species available, making it an excellent choice for engineered wood flooring. With its distinctive grain patterns and natural color variations, hickory adds character and charm to any room while providing superior scratch resistance.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is one of the best waterproof and scratch-proof flooring options. It gives a natural hardwood look and offers great durability and resistance to water and scratches. Luxury Vinyl Plank is made up of multiple layers, including a tough top layer that protects against scratches and dents.
The cons of maple flooring
Discolours over time – As with any solid wood, with constant exposure to light it will yellow over time.
So let's take a look at maple wood. The good news is that not only is maple more affordable than many other hardwoods, it's also a great option in terms of being eco-friendly.
Which is a harder wood, maple or oak? In terms of hardness ratings, maple ranks higher than oak which makes it more scratch-resistant. Maple is ideal for high traffic areas like floors and cabinetry. That being said, both are excellent choices for different purposes due to their unique characteristics.
In fact, with proper care and maintenance, most MFMA maple floors will last for generations.
Light-colored hardwood floors will always hide any dents and scratches the best. Since scratches are usually light colored, they blend right into the floors, and are not as noticeable.
So, when looking for the most durable hardwood floors, you should primarily look at wood from species like Brazilian Cherry, Hickory, Brazilian Walnut, Hard Maple, White Oak, Bamboo, Santos Mahogany, Red Oak, Australian Cypress, and Tigerwood.
Staining maple is not an easy proposition. However, with enough delicate and meticulous care, it can be done and done well. Additionally, it is highly advisable to practice, practice, and practice some more on test panels before beginning work on a client's floor.
Oak is by far the most common type of wood used for wood floors in the US, especially Red Oak. It grows abundantly in the US. Thus Oak is an affordable hardwood.
1. Use Dewaxed Shellac for Your Best “Clear” Finish On Curly Maple. Of all the basic clear topcoats you can choose from, dewaxed shellac provides a surprising chatoyance that you just don't get with other finishes.
Pros – Affordable and ultra durable. It can take a beating and look great for many years to come. Because it takes dark stains well, maple is often used to mimic more expensive woods. Cons – Because of its ability to mimic pricier woods, it puts maple trees at risk from deforestation.
Oak or Maple Flooring & Investment
White Oak flooring with a whitewashed finish. Oak is generally slightly more expensive than Maple, the cost of the [floor] depends on the width and length of the floorboards, the grade of the lumber and several other factors.
List of Least Expensive Hardwoods. You can work with Maple, Poplar, Alder, White Oak, Beech, and Ash as they are less expensive than more exotic species of hardwood like Cherry, Walnut, and Mahogany.
Use microfiber mops to clean and avoid anything that will leave excess water on the floor. Get rid of heel marks using an approved floor cleaner applied with a microfiber cloth or tennis ball.
Light wood flooring is a trend that embodies minimalist elegance, and in 2025, its popularity continues to rise. The subtle, delicate shades of wood, such as oak, maple, or birch, add sophistication to any living space.
Tiles made from hard materials like porcelain or ceramic are among the most scratch-resistant flooring.
Characteristics of balsa wood make it a unique hardwood albeit, when weight for weight basis is excluded, it is the weakest of all commercial species. The logs must be converted promptly after felling to prevent extensive splitting.
Maple wood is harder than oak, but not as stable. 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.