Achieve The Perfect Maple Wood Floor Finish Without Yellow Tones

As a hardwood floor type that you'll see everywhere in 2025, maple wood offers a lighter color that can immediately brighten any room. However, it is also easily scratched and can be discolored yellow if not properly stained. Plus, maple floors don't refinish as easily as other wood options meaning it is a task best left for the experts. With that in mind, you can say goodbye to fading — and achieve the perfect maple wood floor finish without yellow tones — by using a water-based or UV inhibitor finish instead of the more usual oil-based ones.

While oil-based stains are the oldest and most cost-efficient option on the market, they simply aren't doing your maple floors any favors. This is because oil-based polyurethanes ultimately yellow over time, especially when exposed to sunlight. While there are many tips for refinishing your hardwood floors, applying a water-based finish to maple can be the most important thing to remember when it comes to preventing yellowing and discoloration. Since water-based stains are clear, the natural beauty of maple's overall grain can shine through. Plus, water-based finishes have significantly fewer VOCs compared to oil-based polyurethanes, making them a safer choice. Safety and color consistency aren't the only benefits that water-based finishing comes with. The drying time is also significantly faster than oil-based counterparts, only taking a few hours compared to days. In less than a week, you can even move your furniture back onto the floors.

One of the main reasons your floors turn yellow or fade, besides the type of finish you use, is sunlight. UV rays are strong enough to penetrate your floors — changing their color. Adding a UV inhibitor finish is an easy solution to help prevent your hardwood floors from fading over time. Stains with UV protection have a chemical that prevents sun radiation from sinking into your maple floors. Look for a water-based finish labeled UV-resistant or UV-stabilized. However, it is important to remember that a professional will need to reapply this protective finish every few years to maintain the look of your maple wood floors.

UV inhibitors can come in many different formats — including within the finish itself or as an additive that you mix in yourself. For example, Loba WS UV-Protect is an additive that can be mixed into a compatible Loba water-based stain. Before mixing with other brands, remember to read the instructions and/or consult with a professional. Another solution — although it still being researched — are proteins from plant-based UV inhibitors that pair with water-based finishes, binding to the wood. While results show that it doesn't turn floors yellow, scientists are still researching this on a larger scale.