Hard Maple LumberHard maple lumber comes from the North American sugar maple, a tree that is popular for both its sap-making qualities and its wood. The sugar maple grows in the eastern part of North America: it's a common sight in any of the hardwood forests in the region. Since the 1700s, it has been favored for its very hard wood, which is used for furniture, cutting boards, flooring, cabinets and millwork.
The sugar maple is the hardest American maple tree. The heartwood of this tree is light to reddish-brown in color, while the sapwood is a creamy white. The hard maple lumber that is forested from the sugar maple is highly resistant to wear and is extremely hard. Floors made of this lumber could last for a century or more if well maintained.
On rare occasions, a deformity in the wood's grain will cause figures in the wood. Some typical kinds of figures are called curly and birdseye. These figured woods are popular and are often used for decorative purposes.
The online lumber supplier, Internet Lumber, has approximately a dozen domestic hardwoods in their inventory, including hard maple lumber. It can be purchased as lumber or as hardwood flooring. To learn more about Internet Lumber and their large selections of domestic and exotic woods, call them toll-free at (877) 769-5747 or fax them at (336) 217-7981. You can also browse their site, which has information on each wood species along with photographs and shipping information.