Greetings: I am new to the forum and am interested in getting some advice.

I have an 1875 Victorian home here in NE Ohio. The perimeter of the floors are oak while the center of the floors are what I believe to be yellow maple. The woodwork throughout the house in yellow maple. The oak areas of the floor have been stained and treated while the maple areas have been left bare without any type of application. The flooring has been carpeted for at least 50 years. I have pulled up the carpet, gotten all the tacks and staples out of the floor and gave it a good cleaning. I am getting ready for restoring the hardwood floors.
I have read where staining maple is not recommended, however I would like the oak and maple areas to match as close as possible. Would it be advisable to not use any stain on the floors and go natural ? Have any of you had this experience and how did you approach this problem... I am very interested in your suggestions.

Thanks so much.
Buckeye dilemma

Hi Maple is a very complex wood very hard to stain evenly, I would recoment that if you wnat to stain the floor to match with the oak first find out if you have red oak or white oak, this can make the stain change and don't match.

I would tell you that is better not to stain maple because of the final result...but you can stained just like the manufactures do and is apply warm stain in a spray gun then apply the stain into previous water pop maple floor ( this is the part when you apply warm water into the pore of the maple floor to make the stain go more even) apply one thick coating of regular stain for professional use I recommend Bona oil _base_ stain (do not used water _base_ stain...this will dry too fast and the final product will be bad).

Make sure before you apply the stain in the maple floor you have used as your final sanding 120 grit.

Again this will help you and should be fine if you follow the right sanding procedures and the water popping...but I recomend just go with a clear coat and no stain on maple if you want a perfect final product.

Remember test before you start maybe a closet in a room or hallway.

I hope this help

Thanks for the response.
Do you think staining the oak areas and leaving the maple natural would be the best option ? Or do you recommend no stain at all. Do you know where I might find a pic of a floor that is comparible ?
Oak perimeter with maple center ?

Thanks again
Tom

I have hired a professional to do the work. He said he could stain the floors to be a close match, but after my research I am skeptical.