Hard Maple is a close-grained wood with tight defined grain patterns. It has excellent working properties and is very hard. Flat cut can give a pleasing cathedral appearance.
| Industry Standard | Architectural Lumber Specification Beyond the Grade | |
| Grade | NHLA Select & Better | NHLA Select & Better |
| Color | NHLA - #1&2 White: 100% sapwood face and up to 50% heartwood on reverse face | NHLA #1 White: 100% sapwood on both faces |
| Widths | 4" minimum | 4" minimum |
| Lengths | 6' and longer | 6' and longer |
| Clarity | No current NHLA specifications | Lumber is dried at a rate to ensure brightness of sapwood |
| Grade & Manufacturing |
Product of allowable defects per NHLA grade | Lumber is sorted to minmize short lengths and maximize average width |
Pictures are for illustration purposes to show the variation of the species and cut and will not be an exact representation. Lumber is a product of nature where every board is unique in grain, color and defects.