Maple is a domestic hardwood that comes from forests in the northern United States and Canada.
Since it is a fast-growing domestic wood, maple is considered to besustainableand eco-friendly.
Tip
Consider purchasingreclaimed maple flooring.
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Oldgymsand bowling alleys are often good sources for reclaimed maple flooring.
Because of maple’s hardness and close grain, it is difficult to sand well.
The sander should be kept on its lowest setting for new flooring.
When staining maple flooring on-site, it can be difficult to achieve a uniform color.
So, it’s generally recommended that maple be left natural and only clear-coated.
Some factory-stained maple floors have fairly consistent color, but most maple is natural and unstained.
Factory-stained maple flooring costs $8 to $12 per square foot.
Oak flooringboth white oak and red oakis prevalent and easy to find at most floor retailers.
The hardness of flooring types varies between different species of wood.
Maple vs. Ash Flooring
Ash flooring is the closest to maple flooring in terms of looks.
Like maple, it is light-colored and clear.
Ash looks good whether it is left natural and clear-coated or stained and coated.
While ash is a strong, durable wood, it’s still not as hard and dense as maple.
If you like maple but want more visible grain, ash might be your best choice.
Ash has a light grain, and stain will further accentuate the grain.
Since maple is light-colored, dirt and other debris will show up.
Do not use a wet mop on maple flooring.
Hiziroglu, Salim and Hitch, Kenny.Practicalities in Air-Drying Lumber.Oklahoma State University Extension.
