How to Buy Maple Lumber

If you are an expert carpenter or woodworker, you likely know about the many uses of maple. Some uses include: lumber in construction, furniture making, cabinet construction and crafts.  If you are not an expert and have a project you would like to tackle yourself, you might wonder how to buy maple lumber.  You might also want to know what price range you should consider. 

• Maple is a hardwood lumber that has many uses, both inside and outside the home.  Baseball bats are made out of maple, as well as bowling pins.  Maple is also a popular choice in hardwood flooring, cabinets and furniture. 


• Maple is a mainstay in hardwoods because it typically has a consistent grain and takes stain evenly throughout.  Soft maple is popular in making wood veneer products, where the grain of maple is desired on the surface.  Veneer can be stained and finished, to give the appearance of solid maple.  Hard maple is very durable.  Hard maple can truly stand the test of time, which is one of the reasons it is so popular as a flooring option. 


• When buying maple lumber, check with national chains, like Lumber Liquidators or Home Depot, to see what they are charging.  You should be able to do this on their websites to get a price range you can work with.


• When buying your maple lumber, you should inspect the wood for knots and imperfections.   Turn the wood over so you can look at all sides. Check to make sure the piece is straight as well.  If the lumber has been wet or milled incorrectly, you might find curved pieces that might require additional work to become usable in projects.  Run your hands over the wood to find any imperfections that the eye might have missed.