Maple Vs. Red Oak Hardwood Floors

Maple wood floors are a commonly chosen hardwood flooring option.

Many homeowners turn to hardwood flooring for the beauty and value they add to a home. These are just a few advantages wood floors bring, however. Of the many options available to choose from, maple and red oak stand out as two popular choices.

Types

While red oak is merely a subtype of oak (its counterpart being white oak), maple comes in many forms, including hard maples like sugar maple and black maple, in addition to soft maples such as red maple and silver maple, to name a few.

Uses

According to LifeInfoZone.com, while red oak flooring is the most popular type of hardwood used in North America, maple offers a great alternative and is often used for flooring in bowling alleys and dance halls.

Durability

The Janka Table, a chart that measures hardness of different wood flooring types, rates maple at a 1450, making it a tougher, longer lasting flooring option than red oak, which gets a rating of 1290.

Cost

Maple flooring starts at $3 per square foot, while red oak can be bought for as little as $4 per square foot.

Appearance

Red oak is characterized by very little contrast between the lighter colored sapwoods and darker heartwoods. The wood has a reddish tint with oak, while maple offers a creamier, lighter look in its natural condition.

References

• MapleInfo.Org - Maple Lumber Properties and Use
• Helpful Kitchen Tips - Maple Flooring Review
• Wood Floors Online - Red Oak Wood Floors