Maple Flooring Pros and Cons

Maple flooring is an exotic variety of hardwood flooring that a lot of home owners are choosing to apply in their home. While a lot of people are taken in by the looks and beauty of this flooring, it is important to understand whether this flooring type is really suited for your home. Installing maple flooring depends on a lot of factors such as the climate, the area where it is used, and its maintenance. Once you consider these factors, it will be easier for you to be able to decide whether or not it is a good choice for your house. So that you can make an easier decision, here's a look into the pros and cons of maple flooring.

The Pros of Maple Flooring

As has already been mentioned, a lot of people are taken in by the beauty of maple flooring, which makes it one of the many prominent pros. It looks rich, elegant, and classy, making it a top choice to use within a home. It can be stained to a darker color to look richer, which makes it versatile. The biggest advantage of maple flooring is that, after installation, it is very easy to maintain. All you require is to sweep off its dust regularly, which you can do with a vacuum cleaner. Follow this up by cleaning the floor with a solution of mild soap, meant for various types of hardwood flooring, and water. Your floor will look as good as new, long after it has been installed. Ensure that it is buffed at least once in two years, so that it can shine and look fresh again. Finally, if you are prone to developing dust allergies from allergens, that are commonly harbored by ceramic tiles or carpets, maple flooring is a good choice as it does not pose any such problems.

The Cons of Maple Flooring

As is the case with everything, only outer beauty is not enough to make any product last. There are some disadvantages of maple flooring that need to be considered before going ahead and installing it. One such disadvantage is the climate the area you live in is prone to. Maple flooring is not very resistant to humidity or heat. Erratic changes in humidity levels cause maple flooring boards to move and split. Further, if the air is too damp, these flooring boards can crack and split. Even if you live in very cold climates and turn on the furnace to keep your house warm, the maple flooring boards can move because of the excess heat. For the high cost of maple flooring, this is perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages. If you live in very humid climates, installing a dehumidifier is a good choice to maintain this flooring and keep it in its original state. In a very hot/cold and dry climate, a humidifier may be necessary.

Apart from this con of maple flooring, it gets scratched very easily. If the flooring is of a lighter shade, these scratches can show up very prominently. While maple flooring can be stained to a darker color, it is close to impossible to make the flooring look lighter. In any case, the staining process should be carried out by a professional so that it looks even and tidy. After staining, maple flooring requires to be sealed so that the stain does not fade. It is important that the sealing process be carried out once after the flooring has been installed because sometimes the manufacturers sealant may not be very strong.

Maple flooring is an expensive flooring variety, though it can be an investment, if it is maintained well. It would be a good idea to use this flooring in an area in your house with less traffic, so that it is less prone to developing scratches and can be cleaned easily. Further, it is easier to humidify or dehumidify a smaller area in the house. If you think you can handle the pros and cons of maple flooring, it can be a great choice as it looks absolutely stunning, and will definitely increase the value of your home.