The Pros And Cons Of Using Maple Hardwood Flooring

Posted by Justin Kemp
5
May 22, 2013
731 Views

There are a lot of wooden flooring options available for your home. One of the most popular though, is Maple hardwood flooring. But before you go ahead and finally decide to use it, listed below are some of the pros, as well as the cons.

 

Pros


·   Strength. The reason why a lot of homeowners decide to use Maple is because of its strength. Since this type of wood boasts of its dense and close-grained features, you would never have to worry about it getting dents, scratches or splinters as much as other types of wood would.


·   Low maintenance. Maple is very low maintenance which means that taking care of it and maintaining its look is very easy. You simply have to sweep regularly to remove the dust which can be abrasive and you will have to mop the floor every now and then, but it is important that you dry it immediately. Doing these on a routine basis will help keep the floor stay in prime condition and last for years.


·   Allergens. There are some people who are very sensitive to allergens. If you are one of them, Maple would serve to be the best choice because it doesn’t harbor allergens as much as ceramic tiles or carpeting.


·   Look. Maple hardwood flooring gives off a classy and sophisticated appeal to any home. It will look very beautiful and can be used for decors which can range from traditional to contemporary. Moreover, because it is wood, it increases the overall value of your home once it has been installed.

 

Cons


·   Temperature and humidity.  The Maple’s sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity is its biggest disadvantage. Since it reacts easily, you will need to make sure that you control both of these factors if you wish to install this type of flooring in your home. If the temperature increases or when the humidity gets too high, the wood might swell. On the other hand, if the temperature drops or when the humidity gets too low, the wood will start to shrink. If these changes happen too often, the wood will start to have gaps and will squeak every time you walk over it.


·   Unequal stain. Maple doesn’t stain uniformly. Some people are okay with it because it adds character to the wood and gives off a unique appearance to their flooring. However, if you are stringent with stains and you wish to have equal patterns, then you will find it hard to appreciate Maple.


·   Expensive.  This type of wood can be very expensive especially if you plan to use it in large areas in your home.

 

Listed above are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of maple hardwood flooring. It is good to use reclaimed antique maple hardwood flooring in your home because not only is it very easy to maintain, but because it is very dense and durable, you are assured that it will last for years and you will also have to worry less about dents or scratches. However, if you do plan to use it, you have to make sure that you have all the means to monitor and regulate the humidity and temperature levels inside your home so that the floor wouldn’t start having gaps and squeaking. What do you think about this? Would you use this type of wooden flooring in your home? Do you think the pros outweigh its cons? Make sure to let me know what you think in the comments below!

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