Hardwood · Canadian and American hard maple
Maple wood
Hard maple wood (Acer saccharum), or sugar maple, is a hardwood from **northern Canada and the northern United States**. With a cream-white colour, Janka hardness of 6,450 N, and density of 700–760 kg/m³, it is the first choice for sports flooring, parquet, and fine furniture. Stocked at 25, 38, and 50 mm thicknesses in NHLA FAS grade.
What is hard maple wood?
Hard maple (Acer saccharum), or sugar maple, is a North American hardwood from the forests of Canada (Quebec, Ontario) and the northern United States. It features a cream-white to pale pink colour, fine even grain, density of 700–760 kg/m³, and Janka hardness of 6,450 N — among the hardest commercial hardwoods.
There are two main maple categories: **hard maple (sugar maple)** for flooring and premium furniture, and **soft maple** which is cheaper and used for mid-range furniture and veneers. Hard maple has higher global demand and is the species Riyadh Timber imports in NHLA FAS grade.
Hard maple sometimes presents a visual phenomenon called **curly maple or bird's eye maple**, where wave patterns or circular bird-eye spots appear on certain boards. These patterns make individual boards unique and prized for art-grade furniture, selling at a 20–40% premium over plain maple.
Why is maple wood used in sports halls and parquet flooring?
Hard maple is specified because 6,450 N hardness withstands sports balls and athletic shoes, uniform density (700–760 kg/m³) prevents cracking under dynamic load, and the cream-white colour reflects light in halls. This combination made it the global standard for NBA, FIBA, and squash courts.
Premium parquet flooring in villas and palaces also uses maple because the cream-white colour visually expands the space and suits Scandinavian and modern designs. The newest decor trends in Al Yasmin and Al Malqa adopt maple over oak to achieve an elegant Nordic look.
Per the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), **Canada and the US produce 95% of global hard maple**. Gulf demand for maple rose 30% between 2020 and 2024, driven by Vision 2030 sports-hall projects and private school construction.
What are the technical specifications of hard maple?
Hard maple is stocked at 25, 38, and 50 mm thicknesses, lengths 2.4–4 m, widths 15–25 cm. Density 700–760 kg/m³, Janka hardness 6,450 N, moisture 6–8% for sports flooring and 8–12% for furniture, NHLA FAS grade with FSC certification.
| Product name | Hard maple wood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Acer saccharum (sugar maple) |
| Origin countries | Canada, United States |
| Commercial types | Hard maple, curly maple, bird's eye maple |
| Density (kg/m³) | 700 – 760 |
| Janka hardness | 6,450 N |
| Moisture content | 6 – 8% (sports) · 8 – 12% (furniture) |
| Thicknesses (mm) | 25 · 38 · 50 |
| Lengths (m) | 2.4 – 4 |
| Widths (cm) | 15 – 25 |
| Colour | Cream-white to pale pink |
| Grade | NHLA FAS |
| Indicative price | SAR 4,800 – 8,500 / m³ |
What are the applications of maple wood?
Maple wood serves sports hall flooring (25 mm), premium parquet flooring (18–20 mm), Scandinavian and fine furniture (25–38 mm), pale desktops (25–38 mm), cutting boards and kitchenware (25 mm), and baseball bats and sports equipment (50 mm). The white colour is a defining feature.
- 01
Sports hall flooring (25 mm)
Basketball and volleyball courts in sports halls. Hard maple is the global NBA standard, lasting 20–30 years in service with refinishing every 5 years.
- 02
Premium parquet flooring (18–20 mm)
Floors of Scandinavian-design and modern villas. The cream-white colour reflects light, suiting smaller spaces and visually expanding them.
- 03
Scandinavian and fine furniture (25–38 mm)
Bookcases, shelves, beds, tables in Scandinavian style. The fine even grain delivers a clean, elegant appearance suited to modern design.
- 04
Cutting boards and kitchenware (25 mm)
Premium cutting boards, wooden forks, knife handles. Maple imparts no taste or odour and resists knife scoring better than softer woods.
- 05
Pale desktops (25–38 mm)
Tech-company office desktops and studio surfaces. Maple delivers a contemporary, bright atmosphere — favoured in startup and design-firm offices.
What is the difference between maple and oak for flooring?
Maple is harder than oak (6,450 vs 5,990 N) and lighter in tone, but oak is denser, accepts stain better, and is 15–20% cheaper. Maple is for sports flooring and bright parquet; oak is for traditional flooring and executive doors. Maple suits small spaces visually; oak suits large open areas.
Choose maple when the design is Scandinavian or modern with a preference for light tones, and when the space is small and benefits from visual expansion. Choose oak for classical or rustic design and for large open areas that accept the golden hue. Smart homes in the Diplomatic Quarter use maple; traditional Hittin villas use oak.
| Attribute | Maple | Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Acer saccharum | Quercus alba |
| Janka hardness | 6,450 N | 5,990 N |
| Density | 700–760 kg/m³ | 720–770 kg/m³ |
| Colour | Cream-white | Golden brown |
| Stain acceptance | Limited — uneven absorption | Excellent — open grain |
| Price | SAR 4,800–8,500/m³ | SAR 4,200–8,500/m³ |
| Best application | Sports halls & bright parquet | Traditional floors & doors |
How do I choose the right maple grade?
Maple comes in two main grades: First Grade (FAS) for sports flooring and visible parquet, and Second Grade for hidden parts. For sports flooring choose uniform white FAS at 25 mm. For furniture, Second Grade suffices and saves 20% of cost.
For sports halls certified by international federations (FIBA, Volleyball), choose **Canadian First Grade hard maple** at 22–25 mm thickness over a shock-absorbent system. The system is mandatory to prevent athlete injury and consists of foam underlay with a wood lattice support.
For residential floors, maple at 18–20 mm in FAS grade is sufficient. For statement appearance, request **curly maple or bird's eye maple** for selected zones (entry, hall) at a 20–40% premium. The remainder is plain maple to control cost.
How is hard maple stored and installed?
Maple stores in a conditioned space at 20–22 °C with 35–45% RH for sports use and 45–55% RH for furniture, with a 14–21 day acclimatisation period. Sports flooring is fixed on a floating system over shock foam; residential parquet is tongue-and-groove on 3 mm acoustic foam. Finishing uses water-based polyurethane lacquer or white oil.
Maple expands 0.9% per 4% RH change — slightly more than oak. Therefore seasonal humidity control is critical. Sports halls use the certified Sportsfloor system with a three-layer wood lattice and 30 kg/m³ shock foam underlay.
Maple finishing uses clear products to preserve the original white colour. **Water-based polyurethane lacquer** does not yellow the wood, while oil-based lacquer tends to yellow maple over time. For sports flooring, certified commercial coatings are applied in 4–6 layers to resist intense abrasion.
Does maple wood meet NHLA and sports federation standards?
Riyadh Timber's hard maple carries NHLA FAS American certification and FSC sustainability certification, and meets FIBA Class A standards for sports flooring. Each batch ships with a Canadian or American origin certificate and lot number for Chain of Custody traceability.
FIBA Class A defines requirements for sports floors: hardness, shock absorption (23–70%), ball rebound (95%+), and surface friction (0.4–0.6). Canadian hard maple at 22–25 mm on a Sportsfloor system meets these requirements. Saudi-certified sports halls require this certification.
For school and university projects we provide maple with FSC sustainability and SBC 1001 indoor-air-quality certification. Hard maple earns points under Mostadam as a renewable material from sustainably managed North American forests.
Which Saudi projects use maple wood?
Maple wood appears in sports halls at King Saud University and elite schools, premium fitness club floors, Scandinavian villa parquet in Al Yasmin and Al Malqa, tech-company office furniture, and new private school projects. It is the preferred species for sports flooring in the Kingdom.
- Sports halls at King Saud, Princess Nourah, and King Abdulaziz universities — FIBA-certified basketball and volleyball courts.
- Premium fitness clubs (Fitness Time, NuYu) — fitness floors and yoga halls.
- Private schools (Al Faisaliah, American, British) — certified school sports halls.
- Luxury villas in Al Yasmin, Al Malqa, and Al Nakheel — Scandinavian parquet and fine modern-style furniture.
- Tech-company offices in the Riyadh Smart Valley — pale desktops in modern open-office layouts.
What are common questions about maple wood?
Minimum is **3 cubic metres** for site delivery. For sports-hall projects above 10 m³ we offer 8–12% project pricing with full floor and accessory supply. Smaller quantities are picked up from the main Riyadh yard.
Hard maple is **6,450 N hardness with 700–760 kg/m³ density**; soft maple is 4,230 N hardness with 540–600 kg/m³. Hard is for sports flooring and parquet; soft is for mid-range furniture only. Price difference is 25–35%.
**Yes, maple tends to yellow** by 5–10% over 5–10 years from light exposure. To minimise yellowing, use water-based polyurethane lacquer (not oil-based) and UV protection on windows facing direct sun.
Canadian hard maple in FAS grade is stocked and ships within **7–14 days**. For thick stock (50 mm) and curly or bird's eye maple, lead time extends to 4–6 weeks from Vancouver or Montreal ports.
Yes, we supply the **complete Sportsfloor system** including hard maple FAS at 25 mm, three-layer wood lattice, 30 kg/m³ shock foam, and 4–6 layers of FIBA-certified sports coating. Pricing is SAR 750–1,100/m² installed.
Maple is **stain-sensitive** because of its dense closed grain — it does not absorb stain evenly and may show patches. For dark colour, apply pre-stain conditioner first. For premium furniture, leaving maple in its natural white tone with clear lacquer is preferred.
Yes, we supply **curly maple and bird's eye maple** on special order with a 1 m³ minimum and 4–6 week lead time. The premium is 20–40% over plain maple. Preferred for art-grade pieces and statement furniture.
What products relate to Maple wood?
Selections that complement the work in Saudi construction projects.
Need a maple wood quote for your project?
Send the cubic-metre quantities, thicknesses, and use case (sports or residential). We respond with a formal quote within 4 working hours — unit price, total, lead time, and NHLA FAS, FSC, and FIBA Class A (sports) certificates included.