Species Guide
Hard Maple
The Basics
Species Overview
Hard maple is world-renowned for its delicate color, hardness, fine grain and finishing quality.
The sapwood of hard maple is normally creamy white but can show a slight reddish/brown tinge. White sapwood can be selected, but veneer is always white sapwood. The heartwood of hard maple varies in color from light to dark reddish brown and may also vary according to region. The difference between heart and sap color may only be slight. Both may contain pith fleck as a natural characteristic.
Scientific Name
Acer saccharum
Avg. Board Length
6’ – 16’
Common Thicknesses
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4
Also Known As
Hard Maple, Sugar Maple, Rock Maple, Black Maple
Avg. Board Width
5” – 8”
Avg. Dried Weight
3.7 lbs/bdft
Where It Comes From
Growth Distribution
Hard maple is a cold climate species, although trees can grow throughout the USA in mixed hardwood forests, but favor the more northern states. The species is quite different from other maples throughout the world. The trees often grow in dense stands on many types of soil and are also farmed for their famous maple syrup. Harvesting the trees is seasonal (autumn and winter).
FIA data shows U.S. hard maple growing stock is 953.7 million m3, 6.6% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American hard maple is growing 19.1 million m3 per year while the harvest is 10.2 million m3 per year. Net volume (after harvest) is increasing 8.8 million m3 each year. U.S. hard maple growth exceeds harvest in all major supplying states except Maine. In Maine maple harvests have been high relative to growth, mainly due to increased extraction for pulpwood and bioenergy supplies, and because maple-dominated hardwood forests are slowly being replaced by softwood forest types.
Hard maple is readily available as sawn lumber in a range of grades and sizes and as veneer. Lumber is regularly produced in 4/4" through to 8/4" but limited as thicker stock.
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0-4K
4-8K
8-12K
12-16K
16-20K
20-24K
Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m³
Uses
Common Applications
This sustainably managed wood from natural forests of North America, with excellent environmental credentials, is revered worldwide for its hardwearing property, delicate light color and fine finish. It is highly suitable for all types of flooring, including high traffic areas such as public buildings, furniture, cabinet making and high-class joinery. It is widely used for table and work tops, mouldings, and kitchen cabinets.
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Mouldings
