It’s no secret that hardwood floors are popular with homeowners who want to invest in the long-term value of their homes. And, of the many types of hardwood floors available, maple hardwood flooring is an ever-popular choice.

Maple is popular not only because maple hardwoods create beautiful flooring, but also because maple floors come in practically as many varieties as there are trees. Whether your decor is best served by a straight grain, a wavy grain, a red stain, or a blonde stain, there’s a maple hardwood floor option available to meet your needs.

Another reason that maple hardwood flooring is popular is because it is so hard. With a hardness rating of 1450, Hard Maple floors offer an extreme durability that makes them a favorite for athletic courts, gymnasiums, and even bowling alleys. In fact, if you want hardwood flooring that will last for decades in your home with minimal damage, Hard Maple may be one of the best hardwood floor types you could choose.

A Bit About Maples

Ranging throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada, there are 13 species of maple in North America. Some (such as Sugar Maple and Black Maple) are called Hard Maples and some (such as Silver Maple and Red Maple) are considered Soft Maples.

When choosing maple flooring, it is best to know exactly what type of maple will be used, since different maples have different hardness ratings (which can dramatically affect how resilient your floor will be against damage). For instance, a Hard Maple like Rock Maple has a hardness rating of 1450, but a Soft Maple like Red Maple has a hardness rating of 950. Although a hardness rating of 950 is still much higher than other, non-maple floors, it is still considerably softer than Rock Maple, and will therefore be slightly more prone to damage from dents.

So, when you’re considering what type of maple floor to buy, be sure to think about more than just color and grain variations, be sure to think about how hard you need your floor to be too. Since d ifferent manufacturers may not explicitly say which type of maple they are using, be sure to ask. The two hardest maples are Black Maple (which has a hardness rating of 1180) and Hard Maple (which is often also called Sugar Maple or Rock Maple, and which has a hardness rating of 1450).

Call Today for a Free Estimate!

Are you considering investing in new maple hardwood flooring for your home? Call us today at 262-653-1120 for a free, no-obligation estimate, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, in-home visit. We’re eager to show you the many beautiful ways that maple floors can be incorporated into your home or commercial property!