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Maple vs. Oak
http://www.hawthornevillager.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3079		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  woodclan [ Wed May 17, 2006 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Maple vs. Oak
I need some input from all of you. I had my heart set on a maple hardwood floor in my family room. When I went to my my first structural appointment a week ago, my design consultant recommended I stay away from maple.

She said that because my 3 teenagers would be using that room a lot that maple is really too soft and I would see too many of the little dents in it as time went by. She said the oak would be much stronger and harder and wear better.

Reading over these boards I see that many of you have opted for maple (including maple staircases). Do you have children running around on them, dropping things on them? How have they held up and are you happy with them?

I will switch if it really is a necessary thing but any input you have is appreciated. Thanks.
Author:  Derek&Ruvani [ Wed May 17, 2006 10:43 am ]
Post subject: 
The higher the number the harder the wood

Douglas Fir 660
So. Yellow Pine (loblolly & short leaf) 690
So. Yellow Pine (longleaf) 870
Black Cherry 950
Teak 1000
Black Walnut 1010
Heart Pine 1225
Iroko - Kambala 1260
Yellow Birch 1260
Red Oak (Northern) 1290
American Beech 1300
Ash 1320
White Oak 1360
Australian Cypress 1375
Hard maple 1450
Brazilian Maple 1500
Zebrawood 1575
Wenge 1630
Kempas 1710
African Pedauk 1725
Bamboo 1800
Hickory/Pecan 1820
Purpleheart 1860
Jarrah 1910
Merbau 1925
Sydney Blue 2023
Brushbox 2135
Tigerwood 2160
Santos Mahogany 2200
Mesquite 2345
Brazilian Cherry 2350
Spotted Gum 2473
Bloodwood 2900
Tiete Rosewood 3200
Brazilian Teak 3540
Brazilian Walnut 3620
Author:  themasons [ Wed May 17, 2006 10:59 am ]
Post subject: 
i was under the impression that maple was harder than oak - confirmed by the numbers listed by Derek&Ruvani. the mirage website also states this:

http://www.miragefloors.com/us/deco/flo ... ecies.html

i'm not sure where your design consultant got her info, but i think she's confused.. go with the maple!
Author:  Mugatu [ Wed May 17, 2006 11:03 am ]
Post subject: 
We had maple at our semi (installed by Mattamy) and it was fine however we didn't have any little ones yet. Now we have Birch (also installed by mattamy) and it is softer. We do have a little one now and any of his heavier toys he drops you can see little dings and so on. Now with teenagers I don't think you'll have to worry so much about dents and stuff just probably normal wear. I personally really like the look of the maple and birch way better too. I say go with your gut and choose what you like, a couple dings here or there will give it character , just think of it that way!!! That's how we have started to think...haha!!
Author:  woodclan [ Wed May 17, 2006 11:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Wow! Am I glad I posted this. I am very upset that I was mislead. I think I'll be going back to my original decision. Thanks everyone.
Author:  michelle [ Wed May 17, 2006 11:23 am ]
Post subject: 
Not to complicate things but my parents have maple in their house, and my sister has oak in her house. My opinion is that nicks and dings and things like that are more visible in the maple because there is less texture to it. Because the oak seems to have more grain in it, it seems to cover up the nicks better.
Author:  themasons [ Wed May 17, 2006 11:49 am ]
Post subject: 
woodclan wrote:
Wow! Am I glad I posted this. I am very upset that I was mislead. I think I'll be going back to my original decision. Thanks everyone.


don't be too hard on her - i'm sure she wasn't intentially misleading you. she probably just had her facts mixed up. the design consultants can be helpful at times, but you really have to go with your gut - and research :)

good luck with your choices!

michelle wrote:
Because the oak seems to have more grain in it, it seems to cover up the nicks better.

this makes sense..but i think we'll still go with maple in our place. i prefer the look more than oak. since we have little kids (boys that like to throw things, for that matter) we are just getting the stairs done by mattamy and doing the living / dining room in a few years. it's all a personal choice!
Author:  woodclan [ Wed May 17, 2006 1:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just heard back from my design consultant. This is what she said on the subject: "Lastly, I stick to what I said about maple being softer, oak is definitely a harder wood. Not sure if I showed you our fireplace room but the maple is so nicked and it’s only been installed about a year. Also my repeat clients especially with kids and pets say they will never install maple again. Let me know if you need anything else. "

I am not sure what I am going to do now - but I think my gut is saying "maple"! I will take another look at that floor when I visit the design centre this weekend and make a final decision.
Author:  woodclan [ Wed May 17, 2006 1:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just heard back from my design consultant. This is what she said on the subject: "Lastly, I stick to what I said about maple being softer, oak is definitely a harder wood. Not sure if I showed you our fireplace room but the maple is so nicked and it’s only been installed about a year. Also my repeat clients especially with kids and pets say they will never install maple again. Let me know if you need anything else. "

I am not sure what I am going to do now - but I think my gut is saying "maple"! I will take another look at that floor when I visit the design centre this weekend and make a final decision.
Author:  Jen [ Wed May 17, 2006 1:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
woodclan wrote:
Just heard back from my design consultant. This is what she said on the subject: "Lastly, I stick to what I said about maple being softer, oak is definitely a harder wood. Not sure if I showed you our fireplace room but the maple is so nicked and it’s only been installed about a year. Also my repeat clients especially with kids and pets say they will never install maple again. Let me know if you need anything else. "

I am not sure what I am going to do now - but I think my gut is saying "maple"! I will take another look at that floor when I visit the design centre this weekend and make a final decision.


Why dont you go into a flooring store and pick the brains of staff that are actually trained and deal with flooring on a daily basis ???
Someone who specializes in flooring is going to give you better insight as they deal with it daily
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