Thanks to its mix of beauty and strength, maple is now an extremely sought-after hardwood flooring alternatives across the United States. It’s a sturdy hardwood that is able to withstand years of wear and tear and its soft, neutral shade is suitable for almost every decor design. It’s also very affordable.
Despite its popularity it has some drawbacks that you’ll need to know about before you make a decision about installing this flooring on your property.
Pros include: A slender, upscale appearance and Longevity
Even the coloring gives maple an elegant, subtle look which allows furniture to stand out. Being one of the strongest and economical species of wood, it’s a suitable choice for any hectic home.
Timeless Appeal
The smooth, sand-colored grain patterns and tones create a neutral foundation for both dark and light furniture. Although it’s great in rustic and traditional houses, it’s also a great choice for modern interiors that lean towards minimalism and lighter palettes of colors like contemporary Scandinavian and mid-century modern and coastal. It can handle whitewashing fairly well and is also more expensive and difficult to accomplish than oak or ash.
The light-colored color assists in optimizing daylight, which makes it an ideal option for small or dark rooms. However there is little variations in color and pattern, maple offers the uniformity required for large areas.
Damage Resistance
While there are many species of maple however, the black and sugar maples are the strongest and are therefore the ones that are used as flooring. In addition, the reality that bowling alleys or gym floor are usually made of these maple species will give you all the information you should be aware of how tough they are. The maple species can be able to withstand dropping skillets at the table as well as roll toys that are in your living area and children’s bedrooms, without causing any damage.
Affordability
The growth rate of maple is quite rapid and often throughout across the U.S., which keeps the cost of this hardwood cheap. It’s similar in price to cherry, oak and Ash, all of which are American hardwoods. Hardwoods that are exotic, like mahogany and teak, will cost more.
If you want to bring the costs of flooring lower, you should consider the second or third grade of maple wood. The lower grades may have minor knots, however they have there are no imperfections that would hinder their strength. If you’re looking for an edgier appearance, the imperfections of lower grades are a better selection.
In addition is the fact that maple is a prolific grower makes it an environmentally sustainable choice than wood from slower-growing trees like walnut, oak or cherry.
Cons of Color Limitations and Visible Scratches
Change the color of a floor made of maple isn’t an easy task and even small damage can be very obvious.
Staining Difficulties
If the natural hue of maple isn’t appealing to you, consider not the use of this hardwood for flooring. The tightly woven grain of maple signifies that it doesn’t take stain effectively in all places. The few areas which do have an open grain, stain soaks into the wood more thoroughly and produce darker hue. This can result in and uneven, messy appearance.
This can be a problem when looking to reduce the look of a floor made of maple. If you’re looking for a lighter flooring rather than staining choose a higher quality maple that is usually white. It is more likely to get an even finish by using darker staining, but dye is an option that is more suitable. Both dying and staining maple are difficult tasks that should be handled by professionals.
Striking Scratches
The toughness of maple can help to ward off scratches, however when scratches do appear it will be noticeable more prominently against the smooth maple grain than on wood with a more intricate noticeable grain. To keep your floors looking great, put an anti-slip seal to areas with heavy foot usage. Then, you can employ a wax rubbing substance to smooth out scratches.
If you’d like to keep your flooring in good condition and beautiful, maple is not a great choice for areas with lots of traffic or where children are dragging the toys. It’s not likely to cause major damage however over time it may cause an accumulation of obvious small scratches and dents.
You might have observed on the gym floor the soles of rubber shoes tend to leave scratches that are dark on maple. Simply rubbing the area with an eraser , or your shoe will get rid of the marks.
Humidity Problems
Although maple is extremely hard but it’s not as durable as other types of wood. This means that it’s more receptive to changes in the surrounding environment. Extreme changes in humidity or temperature for instance, in very dry or humid climates, could cause floor boards to shrink, warp , or split.
You can safeguard your floor with maple by maintaining an approximate temperature and humidity that could mean the use of either a dehumidifier or humidifier. Improper drying and poor storage could leave your the flooring vulnerable to damage. So, when you purchase, select the supplier that will guarantee the wood was properly handled.
Its minimalist, elegant appearance has made it an unquestionable classic , and it is a favorite for modern homes. The price is modest, which has contributed to its popularity as well. It is among the most durable hardwood species for flooring maple is very durable if you aren’t afraid of minor scratches and can keep the humidity of your home in check.
If you are looking for a more dark-colored flooring or like the intricate patterns of wood flooring you may be more comfortable with cherry or walnut instead of maple. If you live in a humid or dry climate the type of wood that is more suited to your climate is a better selection.
