Is maple a hardwood?

Maple trees are one of the most common species of hardwoods in North American forests. Many common products like furniture, cabinets, and musical instruments are made using both Hard and Soft Maple. For hardwood flooring however, Hard Maple is used much more often since it has a 25% higher density than Soft Maple.

Is maple timber a hardwood or softwood?

Maple. Available in two varieties — hard and soft. Hard maple, commonly referred to as Rock Maple in Australia, is an extremely hard and pale-coloured timber, making it the wood of choice for gymnasium floors.

Which is stronger wood Oak or maple?

Maple is harder than oak. Harder woods can be susceptible to decay, while softer wood resists it. Where you use the hardwood is more important than its density and hardness.

Is maple a hardwood for burning?

Maple is good firewood because it is readily available and it provides good heat. It has a lower density than other hardwoods like Oak, but it is overall a very user friendly firewood to use because it burns clean, splits well and has a great aroma!

What wood is poisonous burning?

Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with “poison” in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke.

What can you use hard maple wood for?

Hard Maple is currently used for furniture, cabinets, decorative woodwork, flooring, veneers, cutting surfaces, bowling pins, utensils, and bowls.. Ideal for ballroom and gymnasium floors as well as cutting boards and countertops. We think of fiddleback maple as the wood of choice for violin makers.

Why does maple wood change color over time?

Why Does Maple Wood Change Colors Over Time? Virtually all hardwoods change color as the years go by. Light-colored wood, such as maple, will naturally darken due to exposure to UV light and oxygen. As the years pass, even a white maple piece will develop a honey-gold patina.

What are the main characteristics of maple wood?

Maple wood is incredibly strong, looks great, and stains nicely. Woodworkers and furniture aficionados gravitate towards maple for its light, creamy color, smooth grain pattern, and impressive durability.

What kind of shrinkage does hard maple have?

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.8%, Tangential: 9.9%, Volumetric: 14.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.9 Color/Appearance: Unlike most other hardwoods, the sapwood of hard maple lumber is most commonly used rather than its heartwood. Sapwood color ranges from nearly white, to an off-white cream color, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue.

Which is harder, oak or maple flooring?

Hard maple is a premier flooring material. Its durable and glassy surface finishes to a high gloss that can take punishment. Maple is commonly used for bowling alleys, dance floors and high-end homes. Red oak flooring is also durable, but with its more prominent grain lines, it’s more time-consuming to maintain.

Is it OK to use maple flooring for furniture?

This kind of maple, as the name suggest, is not as hard or as strong, so it is not used for flooring, but is ideal for wood-worked décor items, furniture veneers, crates and pallets. As with most other hardwood flooring, there are different maple floor options available on the market: