Maple has the distinction of being one of the most popularly used woods in cabinetry. Despite having a price that is among the highest for woods, maple is commonly used for its various properties.

How Maple differs from Other Types of Wood

Maple is one of the hardest types of woods available in nature. This is one of the reasons for its high acceptability among homeowners, especially those who are building cabinets that are expected to have a long life. This wood can take extreme high levels of finish, making it appear almost smooth and shiny. It can also take up almost any kind of paint quite easily. Maple wood is often used with oil paint of any preferred color, which makes it perfect for blending with any kind of décor.

The wood is water resistant to an extent that's higher than other woods. Other woods can absorb water and become puffy, but not so with maple wood. In fact, when maple is given an oil paint, it becomes almost completely impervious to water. This is one of the reasons for its durability.

Maple is also widely known for the various kinds of grains that it has. One of the most talked-about maple grains is birds' eye, which contains small dots interspersed with a slight grain pattern. This is a characteristic of very few woods and maple is the most famous of those. There is another popular grain pattern preferred by wood enthusiasts which is the quilt pattern. Yet another grain pattern popular in making maple cabinets is flame grain; the truth is that this is not a real grain pattern, but rather a distortion of an existing grain pattern.

Pros and Cons of Maple Cabinets

The high versatility and the extreme hardness of maple cabinets are among its biggest advantages. It is quite common to have maple cabinets in old-style homes that date into decades, without showing any appreciable wear and tear. Since maple can be finished easily, it can be made to look completely new just by giving it a coat of polish or paint. A lot of artistry is possible with maple wood, which makes it a perfect candidate for having molded doors for the cabinets.

Among the cons, maple is the most expensive variety of wood. Its various properties make furniture manufacturers hike its price. Also, it is important to take care of maple from trauma, because it can splinter badly.

Applications of Maple

Maple is used in a large number of applications, ranging from making the celebrated maple syrup to constructing durable furniture such as the maple cabinets. Maple is a popular material for manufacturing sports equipment, too.

How to Select the Best Installation Pro

Merely ordering maple cabinets is not enough; it is also important to make sure that they are fitted well. The Internet is definitely the best place to find a professional expert to handle the installation of maple cabinets in your kitchen, but you have to make sure that the credentials of the professional are in order. Check up for references and if possible, call or pay a visit to some of their past clients. Also verify with the Better Business Bureau if there have been any complaints lodged in their name in the past.

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