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.
Oak wood is not as easy to polish as fine-grain wood. It is also very heavy so it is very difficult to make a contemporary piece of furniture. Oak wood is also very difficult to cut and prone to cracking if not handled properly. If the oak wood is not completely cleaned, the furniture may shrink and turn into cracks.
Sensitive to Humidity and Heat –
Like most hardwood varieties, maple is sensitive to extreme humidity and temperature changes. If summer humidity is an issue in your home, this wood isn't suitable as it can expand and contract, warp and split.
Are maple cabinets cheaper than oak? Maple cabinets are slightly more expensive than oak, although prices tend to vary over time. At the time of this writing, maple cabinets cost between $2,500 and $6,000 for a standard 10x10 kitchen. Oak kitchen cabinets may cost a bit less, averaging $2,000 to $5,000.
Sugar maple, 24 BTUs per cord. White oak, 24 BTUs per cord. White ash, 23.6 BTUs per cord. Yellow birch, 21.8 BTUs per cord.
Overall, white oak is the best choice for projects that call for water-resistant, decay resistant wood. Oak offers more options as far as grain pattern, and will provide a richer look when used as cabinetry or flooring. Maple is lighter, more affordable, and works well in contemporary spaces and for indoor projects.
Not as dense as oak or as splittable as ash, seasoned maple is still a popular choice, burning slow and steady, with excellent coaling. Red maple works too, but doesn't burn quite as hot. A downside: sugar maple is rather smoky, though the smell is sweet.
Maple is the most common type of wood used in countertops. Its light hues blend well with any color while adding an open feeling to the kitchen. At a moderate price, many find it a good balance between quality and cost. Though not as durable as oak, maple offers a little more variety in slabs than other types of wood.
Drawbacks of Oak Cabinets
Uneven staining results – Oak's porous surface means it stains well, but stain can also excessively darken the grain, making the cabinets look streaky. High weight – As a particularly dense wood, oak is heavier than most other hardwoods.
While many different options for wood species exist, the most common high-quality choices include solid oak, beech, cherry, maple, and walnut.
Maple cabinets can look especially beautiful with a dark wood floor. If you want to complement them with a softer wood, consider a birch color. Birch comes in a variety of different tones, including yellow and brown. This color is ideal for a contrast between dark wood cabinets and light oak floors.
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.
The cons of maple flooring
Discolours over time – As with any solid wood, with constant exposure to light it will yellow over time.
On average though, hard maples have higher scores than oaks – making them even more resilient. Grain patterns: Oak's grain patterns are more pronounced, giving it a rustic appearance. Maple, on the other hand, has subtle grains that contribute to its clean and modern look.
Cons – Because of its ability to mimic pricier woods, it puts maple trees at risk from deforestation. Maple does not have much grain variation so some people think it is not a very interesting wood. Pros – It's a strong and stable wood that allows for intricate and complex carvings. The color and shading is beautiful.
Oak wood is prized in furniture making as well as in flooring and cabinetry because of its durability, workability, and natural beauty. White oak has some water resistance to it, so it has historically been the choice for crafting things like wine barrels and boats.
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.
Oak cabinetry often features an orange finish, making your kitchen appear outdated. To tone down the warmth and create a modern kitchen with oak cabinets, outfit the rest of the kitchen in cool, refreshing tones such as blues or greens.
Although oak is a durable wood, it is not immune to scratches and gouges from daily wear and tear. Furniture movement, pet claws, and high heels can all leave marks on the surface of the wood, which can detract from its natural beauty.
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.
Quartz is the most durable countertop material. A perfect choice for any kitchen or bathroom, quartz countertops contain a mixture of crushed quartz and resin. These materials create diverse appearance options that range from vibrant, customizable colors to the tried-and-true natural finish.
Maple wood kitchen cabinets are incredibly versatile! And far from outdated. They're one of the most durable woods used in kitchen cabinets, and with the right finishes, they can fit in perfectly with any look, whether it's a traditional, modern, rustic, or contemporary kitchen.
Best Types of Wood for Your Fireplace
Hickory: Hickory is known to create high heat, and its signature hickory smell which makes it so popular for smoking meat; it's undoubtedly one of the best woods for burning. Maple: Like oak, maple produces a steady flame with a constant heat output.
Woods like oak, hickory, and ash are some of the hardest to burn due to their density and moisture content. They burn hotter and longer than softer woods like pine or fir.
Modestly Expensive (Between $6-$13)
The maple, cedar, and walnut are domestic, but the rest are foreign woods.