MFMA Maple Flooring
The Logical Choice for Your Home
More than 100 years of research, application and unmatched product performance have made MFMA northern hard maple solid strip flooring the most widely specified and installed sports surface in North America. With such a reputation, it's no wonder that MFMA Maple is quickly becoming the preferred flooring material for residential applications as well.
Wood flooring is quickly regaining a strong market share in the floor covering industry. More and more homeowners and commercial tenants are turning to the natural beauty of wood for aesthetic and health benefits. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently working to regulate indoor air quality. According to their list of poor air quality sources, carpeting, among many other sources inside the home and office, contributes to poor air quality due to its makeup of alcohols, formaldehyde, 4-methylethyl-benzene, 4-phenylcyclohexene, and styrene.
Within the selection of wood floors, consumer preferences are shifting toward lighter colored woods. MFMA northern hard maple is regarded as the premium specie among hardwoods. MFMA maple is dense, strong, remarkably hard and extremely durable. Its unique character offers a wide range of uses and a natural lighter color that complements all home furnishings from ultra contemporary to country decor. The quality of this premium hardwood begins in the northern forests above the 35th parallel where shorter growing seasons and longer winters produce a densely-grained maple with rich, consistent color and fewer imperfections.
MFMA Maple is subject to stringent grading rules which create three grade choices: First, Second & Better, and Third Grade. First Grade is the most commonly used in the residential market. For more detailed information, you may contact MFMA headquarters for a copy of their booklet, Grading Rules for Hard Maple, or ask your installer for a copy. The MFMA Certification Mark embossed on the underside of every strip certifies that the flooring is guaranteed by the manufacturer to conform to the MFMA-established standards covering species, quality and grade. Each piece is also marked with the MFMA mill identification number. Without these markings, the flooring is not certified by MFMA for grade, quality or specie.
The following is a resource guide provided by the MFMA for those who may be considering installing maple flooring in their home or business. We recommend these items be discussed with the MFMA flooring installer BEFORE installation begins.
Typical Widths & Thicknesses
MFMA maple flooring is manufactured in the following widths: 1-1/2", 2-1/4" and 3-1/4".
MFMA solid strip flooring is available in two thicknesses; 25/32" (most commonly selected) and 33/32".
Bleaching & Staining
Due to the extremely tight cellular structure and the variable grain patterns inherent in northern hard maple, the MFMA does not recommend bleaching or staining. Northern hard maple does not stain and/or bleach uniformly and attempts to bleach or stain may result in a mottled, blotchy appearance.
Moisture Control
Wood is a hygroscopic material. When exposed to varying temperatures and humidities, it will release or absorb moisture until it is at equilibrium with the home's surrounding atmosphere. Moisture absorption causes wood to swell; moisture loss causes wood to shrink. The MFMA recommends that the environment (where the maple will be installed) be stable when the flooring materials arrive -- air temperature between 55 and 75 degrees and relative humidity between 35 and 50 percent. To properly acclimate, the maple should be stored in the room where it will be installed. After installation, maple flooring, as is the case with all wood flooring products, typically requires a year or two to further stabilize through a complete cycle of seasonal changes. The floor will continue to respond to environmental changes throughout its life span.
As a homeowner, it is very important for you to understand how dry or humid conditions will affect your wood flooring. All wood will react to changing environmental conditions.
Separations - The appearance of shrinkage cracks during dry winter months is common and expected. These separations will normally close in the spring and early summer, as the floor picks up moisture from the air. We recommend the use of a humidification/ dehumidification system in your home to maintain proper humidity levels. Remember, maple is a very light colored wood. Shrinkage separations in the range of 1/64" to 1/32"
will be noticeable due to the break in color between the strips. Noticeable shrinkage and/or expansion may occur with indoor relative humidity variations in excess of 15 percent. If cracks persist, and the indoor atmosphere has been maintained properly, contact your flooring installer.
Squeaks - Squeaks in the floor can also be caused by the expansion/contraction cycles and can be minimized by maintaining a constant indoor environment (see above).
Cupping - A "washboard" appearance across the width of one piece of flooring has only one cause: moisture imbalance through the thickness where the moisture content is higher on the bottom of the board than the top. The moisture source, be it excessive relative humidity or water leakage, must be eliminated before any remedial work is performed.
Acclimation
MFMA Maple should be delivered to the job site at least 72 hours before installation and placed in the room to begin its acclimation. The geographic location and time of year must be taken into account by the installer for proper acclimation. All "wet" trades (i.e., drywalling, painting) should be completed before the flooring is delivered. Heating or air conditioning should be in full operation during the acclimation period. MFMA maple should be installed on or above grade only. Below grade installations are not recommended.
Expansion Spacing
The amount of expansion that is required in a nail-down maple floor system will depend upon the season of installation, the humidity conditions and size of flooring area. As a rule, however, at least 3/4" expansion space must
be left at the perimeters and all vertical obstructions in the floor. In some situations, expansion joints ("washer rows") will be required within the floor itself. Consult your MFMA flooring installer for additional information.
Radiant Heat
MFMA maple flooring may be installed over concrete slabs in which radiant heating pipes are embedded. Slightly higher water temperatures may be required, however, and boiler temperature should be controlled to limit the temperature of the slab surface to about 85 degrees. There are a number of important precautions to follow in this situation. Please discuss these with your MFMA flooring installer.
Sealers & Finishes
There are many different types of penetrating sealers and surface finishes available for your solid hardwood floor. While sealers can be used alone on the floor, generally, they are applied as an undercoat for a finish. In the finish category, polyurethanes, moisture-cured urethanes, Swedish finish, and water-based urethanes are the typical products applied. Advantages and disadvantages are inherent in each product. We recommend that you discuss these options with your MFMA flooring contractor.
Maintenance
Never use water on wood. Soaps, detergents, "oil soaps," wax removers, polishers and so on, will damage the wood and finish and leave a discoloring residue, making refinishing difficult. It is very important to keep the floor surface free from dust grit, sand and abrasive particles. Dust mopping and vacuuming at least once a week is recommended. Cleaning agents are also available for use on the finished floor. Ask your installer or finish manufacturer for
more information.
We are confident that you will enjoy your MFMA maple flooring for many years to come. In fact, with proper care and maintenance, most MFMA maple floors will last for generations. That's a product well worth investing in!
Established in 1897, the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association is a trade association representing the maple flooring industry. We hope this booklet has been helpful to you. Should you have any additional questions or if you would like to receive a list of our members, please call us at 847/480-9138, or write: MFMA, 111 Deer Lake Road, Suite 100, Deerfield, IL 60015. E-mail: mfma@maplefloor.org
Disclaimer: The MFMA Residential Flooring Brochure has been designed to provide general information to specifiers, distributors and consumers. The MFMA, its members, officers and agents disclaim any responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy or applicability of these guidelines under all circumstances and conditions.
Copyright ©1995-2005 Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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