Maple vs Cherry Wood
Maple and cherry are two distinct varieties of wood. Both are varieties of hardwood. Maple trees are categorized within the Acer genus. Maple, a white hardwood, is known for its tight and even grain. Maple wood comes in both hard and soft woods.
Both are quite hard in comparison to other woods and are only used for certain applications. Cherry wood comes from the cherry tree, which is technically classified as a tree or shrub in the Prunus genus. Cherry wood exhibits a reddish-brown hue and a golden sheen.
When the wood is cut, it is fairly pale in color, but it gradually darkens and richens with age, eventually taking on its famed rich brown red hue.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that cherry and maple are two of my favorite woods to work with on home projects.
While both are lovely domestic woods with comparable features, maple and cherry have distinct properties that make them suited for different uses.
Types of Maple
Maple isn’t just one type of tree. It’s actually a term that covers a wide range of trees and shrubs known scientifically as Acer.
Within the Acer genus, there are about 132 different species that fall under the category of “maple.” These species are found across various regions, with many in Asia and some spread across Europe, northern Africa, and North America. Some of the well-known maple species include:
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
In the northeastern United States, the sugar maple tree, also known as the rock maple, is famous for its maple syrup production. It’s especially beautiful in autumn, as its green leaves transform into stunning shades of red, yellow, and orange. These trees can grow as tall as 80 to 110 feet.
Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
The Bigleaf maple is a tree species that is native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America and is one of the few hardwoods that are commercially available on the west coast. These trees can grow to be enormous, reaching heights of up to 150 feet.
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
The red maple is a frequently seen maple tree in North America, found in both urban landscapes and forests. Its leaves are green on top but silver underneath. In the fall, the leaves turn a vibrant red, inspiring the tree’s name. Red maples are not as tall as other maples and usually reach about 50 feet in height when fully grown.
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
The silver maple is known for its fast growth and is often planted for shade. Despite its rapid growth and tall height of about 80 feet when mature, it is prone to breakage due to its brittle nature, and its roots are shallow. The undersides of its leaves have a soft silver hue, and in the fall, the leaves usually turn a pale yellow color.
Black maple (Acer saccharum ssp. nigrum)
The black maple, a subspecies of sugar maple, is native to the midwestern United States. It features a rounded crown and dense foliage that turns a stunning golden yellow in the fall. These trees typically reach heights of about 65 feet and can thrive in various growing conditions, including cold climates.
Hard Maple vs. Soft Maple
Hard maple refers to the sugar maple and black maple trees, which are favored for flooring, furniture, cabinets, and even baseball bats. Soft maple trees, such as red maple, boxelder, silver maple, and bigleaf maple, are typically used for veneers, crates, and home woodenware due to their softer and lighter wood.
In terms of appearance, soft maple trees resemble hard maple. One way to distinguish them is by weight, as hard maple is usually heavier and denser. However, this method isn’t always foolproof.
Maple vs Cherry Wood
When it comes to creating custom wood furniture, there is a lot to learn about different wood varieties. Before selecting a wood type for your new table, bed, desk, or chair, examine its durability, color, cost, and features.
First, we have cherry wood, which is a popular and sought-after wood variety for solid wood furniture. Most of us have heard about cherry wood’s elegance and durability, as well as its red hues and the intriguing darkening that occurs over time when exposed to light.
Then there’s maple—both brown maple and hard maple. Maples feature a smooth, cherry-like wood texture. Brown maple, in particular, provides versatility and strength, whilst hard maple impresses with its light colors, hardness, and great strength.
Maple and cherry wood are both hardwoods that will survive for a long period. Hard Maple wood is renowned for its use in heavy-duty flooring, but Cherry wood is known for its distinctive color, which darkens over time. Cherry and maple are both long-lasting and sturdy.
While both types of wood are called hardwoods, they have distinct qualities that make them ideal for specific purposes.
Why are we comparing them? The similarities between cherry and brown maple are particularly remarkable. Brown maple is believed to have a smooth grain similar to cherry. With brown maple being less expensive, can you get the look of cherry for cheaper? The distinctions between the two highlight differing capabilities, which are crucial to notice because they may limit what you can do in terms of staining or painting.
Is Maple Wood Suitable for Making Furniture?
Maple wood is considered to be one of the most durable wood for furniture design. This type of wood will allow us to create furniture that can be passed down to our future generations. Despite being the second-most complicated wood, it is not challenging to work with, coming in second only to oak wood.
The wood has a gentle wood texture and a light brown color in its natural form. This wood is notable for its ability to be stained readily, allowing it to be transformed into the appearance of darker wood. The wood is cleanly finished and can be used to make a wide range of furniture.
Maple wood is commonly used to make office furniture and dining room tables due to its long-lasting toughness and easy ability to endure dents and scratches. It is one of the best woods for heavy-duty furniture due to its load resistance and durability.
Is Cherry Wood Suitable for Making Furniture?
Cherry wood is famous for furniture making due to its unique characteristics and color. The Cherry wood has a dark-rusty red shades, and it will darken and prosper as it ages. Like good wine, age will improve the condition of the wood. When used in any room, wood is considered warm and attractive.
The wood is not water-resistant and must be handled accordingly when building furniture from it. It is also important to understand that direct sunshine will degrade the wood and speed its aging, which is something to keep in mind when choosing for outdoor furniture.
Cherry wood is particularly easy to work with and has a glossy appearance after treatment.
Is Maple Wood Suitable for Flooring?
Maple wood is often regarded as one of the most significant flooring materials. Because of the wood’s toughness, it can withstand extremely heavy underfoot operations. This is an excellent wood to use for kitchen floors.
Maple wood is a smooth wood with a uniform smoother surface, and it is effortlessly stained, so it can have the strength of Maple wood but the appearance of another wood.
It is simple to maintain clean, requiring only an occasional sweep and wash. The wood’s strength will also ensure that it lasts a long time when used as flooring, eliminating the need for regular replacements. In the longer term, it is considered a flooring investment that will last for decades.
Is Cherry Wood Suitable for Flooring?
Cherry wood is well-known for flooring, mainly to its attractive color. The distinct color that deepens with time and provides the area a warm and friendly atmosphere that will make everyone feel at home.
Aside from the color, Cherry wood has a natural capacity to remove water from the air due to its hardness. The floor will last for a long time and should be maintained on a regular basis.
Is Maple Wood Suitable for Cabinets?
Maple wood is a good choice for cabinets due to its unique ability to tolerate and adapt to damp and heat. This feature makes it ideal for kitchen and bathroom cabinets where the humidity and temperature can vary regularly.
The wood’s toughness ensures that it will survive longer than other woods, as well as being resistant to hits and scratches, which is important to consider when designing cabinets for frequently used rooms.
The cabinets can also be stained darkly to give them a warmer appearance, or they can be left unfinished for a lighter and more serene appearance.
Whatever style you choose, keep in mind that Maple wood can survive for up to 30 years if used frequently, and even longer if not.
Is Cherry Wood Suitable for Cabinets?
Cherry wood has regained popularity in the kitchen due to its warmth. Although the wood is as durable as oak, it lacks the inherent capacity to endure the environment and should be treated when used in the bathroom or kitchen.
There are two methods for treating the wood to help preserve the cabinets, giving them increased durability and a beautiful appearance. Both treatments will work well, but the choice is based on the kitchen’s design.
Glazed Wood: To give the wood a lovely polish while also preserving it from water damage, glazing is a treatment that may be performed. The glazing will protect the wood’s original and natural color while also complementing the wood as it ages.
Tung or linseed oil: Finishing the wood with Linseed or Tung oil can darken it while keeping its natural color. The treatment will highlight the wood’s uniqueness while preserving its original appearance.
Cherry Wood
Pros
- Darkens with age
- Easy to shape and polish
- Exquisite color
- Durable
- Makes exquisite formal and traditional style furniture
Cons
- Darkens with aging.
- Softer than other hardwoods, more susceptible to dings and dents with frequent usage.
- It is costly.
Brown Maple wood
Pros
- The smooth grain makes wood perfect for staining or painting, offering up new options.
- Durable
- Attractive in dark stains.
- One of the least expensive hardwood alternatives; costs less than cherry.
- Mineral streaking generates a unique pattern when stained, with some regions darker than others.
Cons
- Softer hardwood is more prone to scratches and denting under heavy use.
- Mineral streaks in the wood enhances the appearance in dark stains.
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