When it comes to strength and durability, maple and oak are some of the best kitchen cabinet materials you can have. After all, they're both hardwoods. That being said, maple is a slightly stronger hardwood product than oak. Maple is one of the strongest and most durable natural wood options available.
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. Oak is slightly less hard – White Oak has a 1360 rating and Red Oak a 1290 rating.
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.
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.
Pricing: Generally, oak is more expensive than maple. However, each has several varieties whose prices depend on their quality. Average oak prices range from $4.99 to $7.49 per sq. foot while average maple prices can range from $3.74 to $5.75 per sq.
Maple is indeed a very dense, very hard type of hardwood, however, its biggest downside is that it's not very scratch-resistant. Due to its light color, which ranges from creamy white to a light brown, maple does not handle scratches very well.
The cons of maple flooring
Discolours over time – As with any solid wood, with constant exposure to light it will yellow over time.
As we mentioned earlier, oak has a rougher texture than maple, which translates into a more matte stained finish. On the other hand, stained maple appears glossy because of its smooth texture. Oak's prominent grain makes it ideal for staining, as its texture will emerge proudly through a stained finish.
Oaks and maples are both deciduous trees, meaning they lose their foliage in the fall, with new growth coming on in the early spring months. The overall stature of these two trees differs. Oaks tend to have much rougher and gnarled bark than maples.
Maple, by its density and grain structure, does not like to "take" stain the way oak soaks it up. An oil-based wiping stain just isn't the right product for you to use -- given your goals. It is a fine product, but not the one you want here. A water soluble dye product would be much better for you.
John Boos & Co. Deals Primarily in Four Hardwoods
As you can see in the accompanying graph, rock maple is the hardest of these four hardwoods - about 15% harder than red oak, which ranks second. Black walnut ranks third in hardness - about 20% below red oak. Cherry is another 5% or so softer than walnut.
Hard maple is a fine-grain and light-color wood slightly more expensive than oak but less dense. A popular choice for semi-custom 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.
Decay Resistance
Depending on species, white oaks are rated as resistant or very resistant to moderately resistant to decay. True white oak and bur oak are considered durable, and the wood has had specific applications because of this attribute.
Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF
An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.
It's a good choice as oak is one of the most durable types of wood as well as one of the most readily available. With the right installation and finish, oak can provide you a beautiful floor that can last more than 100 years.
Oak and maple trees are two of the most popular trees in North America. They are both beautiful and have unique features that make them stand out. Many people choose to plant these trees together because they complement each other nicely.
Is Maple Wood Good Quality. Yes, sugar maple is a good quality hardwood. Aside from their creamy color and beautiful grain pattern, sugar maples are often sought out for their strength and density. Furniture made from sugar maple can certainly withstand normal wear and tear and still look great for years.
Although not as tough, stiff, or heavy as hard maple, soft maple tends to resist warping and twisting better. Its color ranges from pale brown to almost white with brown streaks. Hard maple remains strong when bent, absorbs shock well, works nicely with both power and hand tools, and resists wear.
Quercus acerifolia, commonly called maple-leaf oak, is a rare species that is only known to grow in the wild in a few upland forest areas in the Ouachita mountains of west central Arkansas. Maple-leaf oak was first described in 1926 by Palmer and was given the name of Quercus shumardii var. acerifolia.
The satin sheen is the most popular finish for hardwood floors. This hardwood floor sheen has about 40% luster and is easy to keep clean.
A glaze layer is the secret ingredient to a great oak finish. A dark glaze emphasizes oak's beautiful strong grain. Glaze is nothing more than a thick stain applied over a sealed surface. Apply the glaze with a stiff brush across the grain.
One of the types of high-quality wood used for making furniture is teak wood as it is durable and highly fire-resistant. Other types of wood include rosewood, deodar, oak and mahogany.
American maple hardwood flooring is a classic, and is a solid investment as it has great longevity – not just in actual terms because of its durability – but because it is a popular choice that is unlikely to go out of fashion. But as with all hardwood flooring, your investment is only as good as the installation.
Maple hardwood flooring is a favorite in so many homes due to its light color, hardness, and fine grain pattern. Maple is a perfect fit for modern or contemporary styled homes or for just about any space that can benefit from a clean, consistent surface that brings the natural look indoors.