Hard maple is exactly what its name implies: hard and heavy with good strength properties, in particular its high resistance to abrasion and wear.  Hard maple can be used residentially but its durability and strength also make it a popular choice for ballroom and gymnasium floors and even bowling alleys.  It has excellent resistance to abrasion and indentation.

The sapwood tends to be a creamy white color and the heartwood is typically a light reddish brown, often showing black mineral lines.  It is usually straight grained but sometimes has bird’s eye or burl grain (small circular or elliptical figures). 

The close grain and uniform texture give hard maple an outstanding sanded finish and under normal conditions it will take stains satisfactorily.  In certain circumstances, the use of a combined top coat plus stain will help to avoid any inconsistencies while staining.