Is Red Oak flooring good for dogs?

Yes, Red Oak is an excellent choice for dog owners in Ottawa. Its strong, coarse grain pattern naturally hides dents and scratches better than smoother woods like Maple, making it ideal for active homes.

Can you change the color of Red Oak floors?

Absolutely. Red Oak is porous and absorbs stain deeply and evenly. We can apply any custom color, from whitewash to dark walnut, right here in your home.

What is the cost of Red Oak flooring in Ottawa?

Site-finished Red Oak typically costs between $9 and $13 per square foot installed and finished, offering a high-end custom look at a competitive price.

Does Red Oak turn pink?

Natural Red Oak has pinkish undertones. However, we can neutralize this using custom green-based stain mixtures or darker pigments like 'Jacobean' to achieve a neutral or brown aesthetic.

Site-Finished Hard Maple Flooring in Ottawa

Experience the clean, seamless beauty of Canadian Hard Maple. Renowned for its creamy white tones and subtle, closed grain, Maple is the top choice for modern Ottawa homes seeking a bright and airy aesthetic.

Unlike the coarse texture of Oak, site-finished Maple sands down to a glass-like smoothness. It is incredibly dense (harder than Oak), making it resistant to dents. While it is naturally beautiful with a clear coat, our craftsmen use specialized techniques to stain this dense wood if you prefer a custom colour.

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Why Choose Hard Maple?

Sourced from our local Canadian forests, Hard Maple (Sugar Maple) is the density champion. Its tight, closed grain structure doesn't trap dirt, making it a hypoallergenic choice that is easy to keep clean. If you want a floor that feels solid, looks consistent, and maximizes the natural light in your home, Maple is the answer.

Bright & Contemporary

Maple is the secret to achieving that airy, 'Scandinavian' or minimalist look popular in modern Ottawa homes. Its creamy white tones and subtle grain reflect light, making small spaces feel larger and more open than darker, grain-heavy woods.

Superior Dent Resistance

With a Janka hardness rating of 1450, Canadian Hard Maple is roughly 12% harder than Red Oak. This incredible density makes it highly resistant to deep dents from dropped toys, heavy furniture, or high heels, making it a fortress for your subfloor.

Smooth & Hypoallergenic

Unlike the open 'pores' of Oak that give it texture, Maple has a closed grain. When site-finished, it sands down to an incredibly smooth, tabletop-like surface. This eliminates dirt traps, making it easier to clean and ideal for allergy sufferers.

Oak hardwood flooring installed in a modern living room, showcasing a warm, elegant finish.

Our Maple Site-Finished Installation Process

Installing Hard Maple requires a higher level of precision than other woods. From managing humidity to our specialized fine-sanding techniques, our four-step process ensures your bright, modern floor is flawless and built to last.

Consultation & Grade Selection

Acclimatization & Prep

We help you navigate the unique grading of Maple. Most clients choose 'Select & Better' for that clean, creamy-white Scandinavian look, but we also offer 'Character Grade' if you want to feature natural dark mineral streaks and knots.

Maple is incredibly dense and reacts to humidity changes. We deliver your raw wood days in advance to acclimatize to your Ottawa home. This crucial step prevents the 'cupping' or gapping that can happen if Maple is installed too quickly.

Precision Sanding & Buffing

Maple shows everything. Our team uses a specialized fine-grit sanding sequence and high-powered lighting to ensure the floor is glass-smooth. We meticulously remove every sanding mark (chatter) before a single drop of finish touches the wood.

Seal & Non-Yellowing Finish

To keep your Maple floors bright and white, we typically apply water-based commercial finishes that will not yellow (amber) over time. We seal the wood to protect its creamy tones and walk you through how to maintain that fresh look for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Does Maple hardwood flooring turn yellow over time?

Natural Maple will develop a slight golden patina with age, but the deep "amber" or orange color often associated with old gym floors comes from oil-based finishes, not the wood itself. To keep your Maple floors looking bright and modern in your Ottawa home, we use premium water-based polyurethane finishes that are non-yellowing and clear.

Can you stain site-finished Maple floors dark?

Staining Maple is technically difficult because its tight grain absorbs pigment unevenly, which can lead to "blotchiness" if done by amateurs. As expert site-finishers, we use advanced techniques like "water popping" and wood conditioning to open the grain, allowing us to successfully apply medium-to-dark stains. However, Maple is most famous for its natural, clear-coat beauty.

What is the difference between "Hard Maple" and "Soft Maple"?

This is a critical distinction. We exclusively install Canadian Hard Maple (Sugar Maple), which is dense and durable for flooring. "Soft Maple" (Silver or Red Maple) is about 25% softer and prone to denting; it is typically used for furniture or cabinetry, not for flooring. Always confirm your installer is using true Hard Maple.

How much does site-finished Maple flooring cost in Ottawa?

Installing and finishing raw Hard Maple is comparable to Oak, generally costing between $10 and $14 per square foot for the complete project. This price includes the raw material, installation, professional sanding, and finishing. Choosing a custom stain rather than a clear coat may add slightly to the cost due to the extra labor required to prevent blotching.

Is Maple harder than Oak flooring?

Yes. Canadian Hard Maple (Sugar Maple) has a Janka hardness rating of 1450, which is approximately 12% harder than Red Oak (1290). This superior density makes Maple incredibly resistant to deep dents from dropped objects, heavy furniture legs, or high heels.

Is Maple flooring good for dogs and pets?

Maple is excellent for resisting dents from heavy paws due to its extreme hardness. However, because Maple has a very smooth grain and light color, fine surface scratches can be more visible than on a textured wood like Oak. We recommend a matte or satin finish for pet owners, as this sheen hides claw marks significantly better than a semi-gloss.

Why does Maple flooring show gaps in the winter?

Maple is a dense wood that has a higher "shrinkage coefficient" than Oak, meaning it reacts more noticeably to humidity changes. In Ottawa's dry winters, Maple planks may contract slightly. To minimize this, we properly acclimatize the raw wood before installation and recommend keeping your home's humidity between 35% and 50% year-round.

Is Maple better for modern or traditional homes?

Maple is the number one choice for modern, contemporary, and Scandinavian design styles. Its subtle grain and light, creamy color create a clean, minimalist backdrop that makes spaces feel larger and airier. However, "Character Grade" Maple (which features knots and dark streaks) is also becoming popular for rustic and farmhouse aesthetic designs.

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