White Hard Maple
The sapwood is creamy white with a slight reddish brown tinge and the heartwood varies from light to dark reddish brown. The amount of darker brown heartwood can vary significantly. Both sapwood and heartwood can contain pith fleck. The wood has a close fine, uniform texture and is generally straight-grained, but it can also occur as “curly,” “fiddleback,” and “birds-eye” figure.
White Hard Maple dries slowly with high shrinkage. Staircases made from this material can be susceptible to cracking.
The Maple machines, laminates and takes stain well. It is hard and heavy with good strength properties. It resists wear exceptionally well.
