Readers ask: Can maple wood be stained dark?

September 2022 · 4 minute read

Maple is one of the most difficult woods to achieve a dark, uniform stain color on because it is a dense, closed grain wood and often absorbs stain very unevenly.

What kind of stain do you use on maple wood?

Top 7 Best Stain for Maple Wood| How to Stain Maple Dark

Can you stain over maple?

For those of you who don’t know, maple is a tricky wood to stain. It tend to absorb stain unevenly which leads to a blotchy look. By pre-sealing the wood with shellac, you can even out the color absorption.

Can maple cabinets be stained darker?

Maple cabinets can be stained to enhance the natural beauty of the wood, but they can also be stained to look like something else—even a dark walnut. Whether you choose to highlight the color of the wood or darken (or lighten) the wood to look like something else, you’ll have an attractive end result.

Can you stain maple floors dark?

Simply put maple is not a hardwood flooring wood that should be stained. You can read what the Wood Flooring Association has to say about maple flooring here.. Staining maple is generally not recommended by finish manufacturers since the dense grain does not allow the penetration of most pigments.

Is maple difficult to stain?

Materials Required. Some types of wood, like pine, cherry, birch and maple, are notoriously difficult to stain. A board that has a nice, attractive grain pattern can end up with dark, splotchy areas after you apply the stain. But there’s a simple way you can prevent most stain blotches.

Can you stain paint grade maple?

Due to darker heartwood being present within this grade, some surface cracking may exist. If staining, this grade is most desirable for a medium to dark stain color. To reduce the likelihood of a blotchy finish, we highly recommend a “Spray No Wipe” stain process, not a Wiping stain process when using this species.

Does gel stain work on maple?

Gel stain is particularly forgiving with splotch-prone woods like birch, cherry, maple, and pine. These varieties tend to absorb thin traditional stains unevenly, looking messy and unfinished no matter the number of thin coats, but accept gel stains easily.

Is it better to paint or stain maple cabinets?

Your budget may very well impact your decision on whether to paint or stain your cabinets. Painted cabinets actually cost more in most cases — up to 15% more than stained alternatives. Although, for cabinets with lower-cost MDF (medium-density fiberboard), painting looks better than staining.

Can you change the stain on maple cabinets?

Maple is not at all difficult to refinish because it takes well to sanding, and staining or painting. Stripping the old stain is not necessary if it is in good condition and you only want to darken or refresh it with the same color.

Does maple darken over time?

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.

How do you lighten maple wood floors?

The only way to get the wood lighter than its natural color is to bleach it or use a white wash stain.

Can you dye maple?

I would go with a dye on maple, but it will fade in too much sun. You might want to move the shellac up before the BLO to prevent blotching, or at least test the oil on a sample of your wood. Some maple is susceptible to blotching.

Does maple hardwood stain well?

Maple is one of the most difficult woods to achieve a dark, uniform stain color on because it is a dense, closed grain wood and often absorbs stain very unevenly.

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