Find a Sport Floor Contractor

RESIDENTIAL BUYER'S GUIDE: How to Specify Maple Floors

Welcome to the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association's Residential Buyer's Guide! From specification of the maple surface material to the subfloor system beneath it all, the MFMA is a respected resource for technical information and guidance in today's competitive market for hardwood floors. Armed with the information and insights contained within this guide, architects and homeowners can streamline the process of successfully specifying a northern hard maple floor.

This guide is divided by subject area. Click on the Table of Contents links below to go to the topics of your choice. All sections can be downloaded individually, or you can download (link to brochure) the entire Buyer's Guide.

Table of Contents

Why MFMA Northern Hard Maple Is the Most Popular Choice for Flooring
But Aren't We Running Out of Hardwoods?
Selection Considerations for Your Project
Specifying an MFMA Maple Flooring Surface
Sample Specifications for MFMA Maple Flooring Surfaces

Why MFMA Northern Hard Maple Is the Most Popular Choice for Flooring

MFMA northern hard maple flooring is the predominant surface material for indoor athletic facilities worldwide. Why?

Physical Characteristics - MFMA northern hard maple (Acer saccharum) is dense, strong, supremely durable and remarkably hard. Perhaps surprising to architects and specifiers, MFMA northern hard maple is 12% harder than red oak, and 7% harder than white oak. Due to the shorter growing seasons north of the 35th parallel, MFMA northern hard maple is close-grained, hard fibered, resistant to slivering and splintering, and polishes well under friction. MFMA northern hard maple has an unusual ability to resist pointed pressure without abrasion. It is easily covered with attractive finishes.

Aesthetics - MFMA northern hard maple flooring has a natural beauty. The natural light color is more visually pleasing, compared to darker hardwoods such as red or white oak. MFMA northern hard maple is densely grained with rich, consistent color and fewer imperfections than other hardwood species. The natural light color also provides an excellent contrast.

Environmental Responsibility - Contrary to what you may have heard, we are not running out of hardwoods. U.S. government forest statistics show that there were 70% more hardwoods in 1997 than in 1952. Each year, nearly twice as many cubic feet of timber is added to the U.S. hardwood forest inventory than is harvested. Further, wood is the only natural resource on Earth that is at once renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and re-useable. The energy required to grow our timber supply is free - it comes from the sun. And, although wood accounts for almost half of the total annual industrial raw material tonnage consumed in the U.S., lumber and wood product manufacturing processes account for only about 4% of energy consumed by U.S. industrial raw material manufacturers.

Quality Assurance - Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association member mills are subject to periodic unannounced third party inspections to assure strict adherence to MFMA rules governing continuity of specie, millage and grading of MFMA maple flooring products. For 107 years, architects have relied on MFMA's quality assurance when determining what surfaces to specify for their flooring installations. The MFMA grading stamp is every architect's assurance of consistent quality - make sure you specify it.

Research and Resources - MFMA has authorized an independent testing agency, Case Consulting Laboratories, to test floor finish products in accordance with strict standards. This program provides architects with valuable floor finish comparison and selection data. In addition, MFMA Headquarters maintains a complete library of research studies and technical literature. With these and a variety of other reasons, it is not surprising that MFMA northern hard maple has been architects' first choice for more than a century. MFMA beech (Fagus grandifolia) and MFMA yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) flooring also make fine choices and your MFMA Manufacturing Company member can provide you with a variety of surfacing options made from these species as well.

Back To Top

But Aren't We Running Out of Hardwoods?

The short answer is no. MFMA maple flooring is a renewable resource. Here is more detailed information:

There are 730 million acres of forests in the United States -- one-third of the nation.

Hardwoods have increased in every region of the United States. Every day, the forest industry, together with federal and state forest agencies, plants over 6 million more trees.

In 1986, the United States consumed 5 billion cubic feet of hardwoods. In that same year, 9.5 billion cubic feet of timber was added to the U.S. hardwood forest inventory.

Forest Statistics of the United States, 1997, shows that the U.S. grows far more hardwoods than are harvested each year.

There were 70% more hardwoods in 1997 than in 1952.

180 billion cubic feet in 1952

305 billion cubic feet in 1997

Wood is the only natural resource on Earth that is at once renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and re-usable. The energy required to grow our timber supply is free. It comes from the sun.

Although wood accounts for almost half of the total annual industrial raw material tonnage consumed in the United States, lumber and wood products manufacturing processes account for only about 4% of energy consumed by U.S. industrial raw material manufacturers.

More than one million Americans are employed in the forest products industry. Many millions more, employed in the home construction, home furnishing, transportation and heavy equipment industries, owe their jobs to this one basic industry that converts harvested timber to finished products.

*This information is provided by the Evergreen Magazine and the National Hardwood Lumber Association's Forest Resource Fact Book.

Back To Top

Selection Considerations for Your Project

When considering which flooring system is best suited for your installation, it is important to consider different attributes of each system. These system characteristics will help you decide which system is best for the installation and may eliminate some choices. Always consider the following characteristics: Cost, Appearance, Elevation Requirements, End Uses for the Facility, and Performance Characteristics of the Floor. Here are some quick pointers for each:

Cost
Cost should be viewed in two ways: installed cost and life cycle cost. If compared solely by installed cost, wood flooring can be more expensive than synthetic materials. Wood flooring systems are less expensive to maintain and last considerably longer than their synthetic competitors. MFMA has additional information about Life Cycle Costing if you wish to compare various surfaces for your clients.

Appearance (Aesthetics)
Appearance is a subjective specifying consideration. All MFMA maple floors will have different aesthetics based on the type of flooring specified (strip, finger jointed strip, parquet), the MFMA grade of flooring specified (First, Second and Better, Third and Better, Third Grade, or Utility Grade), and the type of finish you specify for the installation. When specifying MFMA maple flooring, be sure to ask your client what they expect the flooring to look like when it is installed. This will help you to recommend the appropriate maple surfacing materials as well as finishes to give your project the desired finished appearance.

Stain a Maple Floor?
Due to the extremely tight cellular structure and variable grain patterns inherent in northern hard maple, the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) does not recommend staining or bleaching maple strip flooring under any circumstances.   While small areas of individual flooring strips may accept stain without difficulty, it has been our experience that much of the maple surface will appear uneven and “blotchy” following the application of most stains or bleaching agents.

MFMA strongly suggests contacting your floor finish manufacturer directly for specific tinting product recommendations and application instructions.

Back To Top

Specifying an MFMA Maple Flooring Surface

There are several types of MFMA maple surfacing products from which to choose. Within each type, a number of different grades of flooring are commonly available. Your specifying decision should be based on a number of factors, including cost, appearance, and suitability over your specified subfloor.

Many facility owners have a "picture" in their minds of what the finished floor should look like. It is important to ask questions of your owner before you specify a particular MFMA surface maple product. Does your owner have certain expectations for the finished appearance of the floor? Does the owner want to match the flooring to her cabinets? Answers to these and other questions will help you to determine the appropriate surface material to specify for your project.

Once you determine the type of MFMA maple flooring that you wish to specify, you must also determine the grade of MFMA maple flooring product that you wish to be installed on your flooring surface.

Again remember, the various grades of each type of MFMA maple flooring products primarily affect aesthetics. For detailed information about standard grading of MFMA maple flooring of all types, contact MFMA Headquarters at 847/480-9138 or see our Web site for detailed grading rules and descriptions of each type and grade of flooring currently available.

MFMA maple flooring comes in three basic configurations: random-length strip (the most popular and most common), finger-jointed strip, and parquet. Each of these surface materials can be installed in a single direction, or can be laid in patterns such as a checkerboard, chevron, etc. Here are basic descriptions of each type of MFMA flooring:

Random-Length Strip: Individual pieces of flooring, typically 1 1/2" or 2 1/4" wide, with lengths between 9" and 8'. The most common thickness specified is 25/32", but 33/32" thick random-length strip flooring is also available. This surface material is installed like a horizontal brick wall, with each piece being overlapped with adjacent pieces and fastened into the subfloor with cleats, staples or steel clips, depending on the subfloor chosen for the project. Most MFMA subfloor configurations are compatible with MFMA random-length strip flooring.

Finger-Jointed Strip: A number of random-length strip segments joined together at the manufacturing plant to form a consistent length board. The most common thickness specified is 25/32", but 33/32" thick finger-jointed strip flooring is also available. This surface material is also installed like a horizontal brick wall, with each consistent-length board being overlapped with adjacent boards and fastened into the subfloor with cleats, staples or steel clips, depending on the subfloor chosen for the project. Most MFMA subfloor configurations are compatible with MFMA finger-jointed strip flooring.

Parquet: MFMA hard maple parquet flooring is manufactured in square and rectangular panels in a variety of dimensions. Individual picket widths range from 7/8" to 1-1/8", and picket lengths range from 5 1/2" to 12". Minimum thickness of MFMA parquet flooring is 5/16". Individual pickets, assembled into panels, are either joined together by wire, mesh, or tape on the back of the panel, or paperface on the front (or surface) of the panel. MFMA parquet flooring is typically installed directly to the concrete substrate using adhesive/mastic, or over subfloor systems that contain continuous subfloors (plywood or similar).

Back To Top

Sample Specifications for MFMA Maple Flooring Surfaces

HOW TO SPECIFY MFMA RANDOM LENGTH STRIP FLOORING

MFMA Random Length Strip flooring is the surface material most frequently specified for sports flooring applications. When writing your specification for MFMA Random Length strip flooring, specify as "MFMA -RL (Random Length) strip flooring," and list the required species, grade, and thickness. A typical specification should appear as follows:

2.1 Materials

A. Flooring shall be MFMA-RL (Random Length) Northern Hard Maple, 25/32" thick x 2 1/4" wide, Second and Better Grade; T & G and EM; grade marked and stamped as produced by an MFMA member manufacturer.

HOW TO SPECIFY MFMA FINGER JOINTED STRIP FLOORING

MFMA Finger Jointed strip flooring is specified in a similar manner as MFMA Random Length strip flooring. For example, when ordering MFMA Finger Jointed strip flooring, specify as "MFMA-FJ (Finger Jointed) strip flooring," and list the required species, grade, and thickness. A typical specification should appear as follows:

2.1 Materials

B. Flooring shall be MFMA-FJ (Finger Jointed) Northern Hard Maple, 25/32" thick x 2 1/4" wide, Second and Better Grade; T & G and EM; grade marked and stamped as produced by an MFMA member manufacturer.

HOW TO SPECIFY MFMA PARQUET FLOORING MFMA

Parquet flooring is specified in a similar manner as MFMA Random Length Strip flooring. For example, when ordering MFMA Parquet flooring, specify as "MFMA-PQ (Parquet) flooring," and list the required species, grade, thickness and picket size. A typical specification should appear as follows:

2.1 Materials

A. Flooring shall be MFMA-PQ (Parquet) Northern Hard Maple, 5/16" thick, Second and Better Grade; fastened together in panels using mesh, tape or wire backing or paper facing; grade marked and stamped as produced by an MFMA member manufacturer.

Back To Top

Contact MFMA Headquarters at 847/480-9138 or consult our Web site for detailed information to pass along to your customer.

Copyright © 2004, Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association, Inc. All rights reserved.

Printable Version