What Is White Maple Lumber?

White maple lumber is a hard white maple, also known as Acer saccharum. Other common names include hard maple, rock maple and sugar maple. It is strong and durable, making it ideal for flooring and large furniture.

White Maple lumber is ideal for flooring, like for bowling lanes.

Physical Properties

Descriptions of white maple include hard, stiff, strong and heavy. It is three to five inches wide, has a straight grain and has a "fine, uniform texture."

Where It's Found

Most maple lumber (about two-thirds) is manufactured in the Middle Atlantic and Great Lake states. Hard white maples also grow in Canada.

The Tree

The tree that white maple lumber comes from is large, reaching heights of 90-120 feet and with a diameter of two to three feet. Its sap is used to make maple syrup.

Ease of Use

Because of the hardness of the wood, White maple lumber is not the easiest to work with, but it is extremely durable. Also, its uniform texture makes it easy to paint and finish.

Typical Uses

White maple lumber is mostly used for flooring, such as dance floors, bowling alleys and hardwood floors in homes. It is also used for heavy furniture and equipment like butcher blocks, pianos and other instruments.

References

• Maple Info
• Woodworkers Source