Natural Maple Plywood Vs. White Maple Plywood

Natural Maple Plywood

• The term 'natural maple plywood' can apply to any type of natural maple wood used in the construction of plywood. Maple woods feature an easily recognizable grain. The sapwood, or younger wood, of maple trees features a creamy white color that can have red, yellow or brown undertones. The older wood, also known as heartwood, can vary in color from a light to a dark red-brown color.

White Maple Plywood

• White maple plywood refers specifically to plywood made only from white maple trees. White maple gets its name from the creamy white color but may feature undertones of yellow or pale tan coloring. White maple trees go by many different names including sugar maple, hard maple and rock maple. These trees also play a role in the production of maple syrup.

Similarities

• Since natural maple can also refer to white maple, there are many similarities. The Middle Atlantic and Great Lakes areas produce approximately two-thirds of maple lumber. Maple sapwoods all feature a creamy white base color. Maple wood is strong and hard. They are resistant against shrinkage and can be used for a variety of purposes including cutting boards, pianos, gymnasium floors and billiard cues.

Differences

• Though all maple trees feature a creamy white color, different species may feature undertones in varying shades of brown, red or yellow. White maple is a medium-weight wood, though other species of maple may be slightly heavier or lighter. In terms of hardness, white maple tends to be harder than most wood species, though other species of maple may either be softer or harder.

Additional Information

• Note that some companies may produce a maple veneer plywood. This plywood can have any type of wood as the base of the plywood. Only the outer layers of the plywood consist of maple veneer. These products can be marketed simply as maple plywood or maple veneer plywood. Though they contain some maple wood, they are not solid maple.