Do maple floors turn yellow?

The cons of maple flooring
Discolours over time – As with any solid wood, with constant exposure to light it will yellow over time. If there is one specific part of the floor that will be exposed to direct sunlight from a window it will discolour faster than other parts of the floor leading to a two tone effect.

How do you keep maple floors from yellowing?





If you want to avoid the yellow, use a water borne polyurethane (e.g. Bona Traffic HD). They are much lighter and more clear. Oil based polyurethanes will give you a yellowish coat, so your floors will have a yellow tint. They will continue to get darker and more yellow over time.

How do I keep my hardwood floors from turning yellow?

To help your yellowed floor regain its original colour, you should sand it again until you uncover the grain of the wood, then protect it with a new varnish – this time, with a water-based varnish to prevent future discolouration. It will thus regain a lighter appearance that will stick around for years.

Do maple floors darken?

Yes, Maple wood will darken over time. The very bright and light color of maple wood will slowly turn into dark color over the years.

Does maple change color with age?

Like cherry, maple will darken over time, though far less dramatically. Maple starts off very light and bright, with a few pink and grey tones. Over time, it will age to a warm golden honey color. Other light brown woods, like ash and white oak will slightly darken to a beige or amber color.

Is maple a good choice for flooring?





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.

What finish does not yellow?

Acrylic based finishes, both water and solvent based are the best choice for non-yellowing finishes. Waxes also will not yellow as well as some catalyzed lacquers and varnishes.

Do hardwood floors go yellow over time?

Over time, hardwood floors, especially those with a polyurethane finish, tend to become a shade of yellow which is not very desirable and diminishes its elegance. If your white oakwood floor is under direct sunlight, it will change color over time. This is most noticeable in the first few months post-installation.

What polyurethane will not yellow?

The Best Non-Yellowing Water-Based Polyurethane
The best non-yellowing clear coat is Minwax’s Polycrylic. It’s easy to use, dries within a few hours, can be applied multiple times within 24 hours, dries completely clear, and doesn’t yellow over time.

What are the disadvantages of maple wood?



Difficult to Stain
Since maple has a tight grain, it doesn’t always absorb stain well, leading to uneven patches. In areas with a more open grain, excess stain may be absorbed, resulting in dark spots. This could be a problem if you’re considering installing light-coloured maple.

Does maple wood turn orange?

The light color of maple surfaces comes from a clear oil finish, but this oil finish breaks down and regains its original oily orange color in a gradual and inevitable chemical process.

How long do maple floors last?

Maple – Affordable popular choice that can last decades up to 10 years if well maintained. Ash – Durable, water-resistant, shock-absorbent wood that is light in color and lasts for 100 years or more.

What does aged maple look like?



It tends to be a white hue with pitch fleck and mineral streaks adding some reddish-brown tints to it, though the color will deepen some with age. Stains bring out the mineral streaks more, so you’ll not only see them more often in a stained piece, but they’ll be darker too.

Do hardwood floors change color over time?

Yes, all hardwood floors will slightly change colour over periods of time, especially if they are in contact with direct sunlight. The most noticeable colour change will happen in the first few months after being installed.

What does maple look like stained?

So, yes, maple can be stained to look like walnut. But it can be. It is a quite difficult task because maple does not stain so easily. In my experience even though it is possible, staining maple wood to look like walnut is not a good idea.

What is a good finish for maple?

Another commonly used finishing technique on maple is to apply tung oil or linseed oil after the final sanding. These oils tend to bring out the curly or tiger looks of the maple. Follow the oil with a coat or two of shellac. For a more durable finish, top-coat over the shellac with a clear lacquer or polyurethane.

What color stain is best for maple?



Best Stain for Maple Wood

  • Best Stain Color for Maple – Minwax Wood Finish Penetrating Stain.
  • Best Water-based Stain for Maple – General Finishes Water-Based Stain.
  • Best Stain for Maple Plywood – Minwax 61350444 Polyshades Stain.
  • Best Gel Stain on Maple – Minwax 260304444 Interior Wood Gel Stain.

How do you get even stain on maple?

To get an even, uniform color when staining hard maple, apply the wood conditioner with a paintbrush, or seal the grain with a thin coat of sanding sealer before staining. After application, scuff with 320 grit sandpaper, then stain as though the wood were unsealed.

Should you stain maple?

Staining tight-grained woods like Hard Maple is a problem for finishers. For amateurs the best advice is to avoid staining hard Maple, Birch, and Cherry.

Does maple stain blotchy?

Maple is notorious for blotching. It is an extremely hard wood that blotches due to poor sanding technique. Maple must be sanded uniformly. Stain absorption rates of maple can differ greatly as a direct result of sanding technique.