Maple is an absolutely stunning choice for flooring. It’s worth noting that this species is the oldest one used for hardwood flooring. Maple flooring is a classic that has stood the test of time. However, it’s important to know that there are two main distinct categories of maple wood: hard maple and soft maple. The most commonly installed maple flooring in homes is hard maple, also known as rock maple and sugar maple.
There are many species that fall into the soft maple category. Soft maple is also commonly called silver maple. However, a distinct species is known as hard maple of the Americas – Acer saccharum. It’s primarily native to North America, but especially Canada and the northeastern United States.
With a Janka rating of 1450, sugar maple flooring is harder than red oak flooring, which has a Janka rating of 1290, and white oak flooring, which has a Janka rating of 1360. However, silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is a softer wood with a Janka hardness of 950.
What is Hard Maple Flooring?
Hard maple flooring (commonly called Sugar Maple) is a popular choice mainly due to its light cream color and fine grain. Hardwood flooring made from maple sapwood is light blonde with a slightly creamy color, while the heartwood has darker reddish-brown tones.
Sugar maple flooring offers a linear grain pattern with minimal waves and swirls, which is not as pronounced as oak grain. The grain of hard maple flooring is finer and more delicate than oak flooring. Maple flooring also has much less color variance than birch flooring.
With a uniform texture and thin, weakly contrasting growth rings, maple parquet floors are preferred by homeowners wanting to combine comfort and beauty. They are also very often used on basketball and gymnastics floors for reasons of hardness, durability, and incredible shock resistance.
Hard maple floors are manufactured in a range of different grades. Although light cream-colored maple flooring is the most common on the market, you can buy sugar maple flooring with more heartwood characteristics if it better suits your style.
Types of Hard Maple Flooring
To help you choose the best flooring that suits your home, here’s an overview of the different types of hard maple flooring shades that vary according to the grade of wood selected:
Select & Better Grade Maple Flooring
This is the highest quality maple flooring you can buy. With a light beige color, this flooring has little color variation, no knots or dark heartwood colors. These maple floors are very light and easy on the eyes, making them the ideal flooring choice for a modern and contemporary design concept due to their minimalist character.
Grade 2 Maple Flooring
Maple floors in this category resemble hickory somewhat and feature beautiful natural color variations ranging from cream to dark brown. This maple flooring has a fine, linear grain with minimal waves and swirls, featuring few knots.
Grade 3 Maple Flooring
Maple floors in this category show the most color variation and natural wood imperfections. With its numerous knots, this flooring will offer you a beautiful country look. They are perfect for a rustic design in your cottage, cabin, or farm.
