Maple is favored for its aesthetic appeal, durability, and variety. It has a fine, even texture and a creamy white to light brown color, giving it a clean and elegant appearance. As a hard and dense wood, maple ranks high on the Janka hardness scale,
making it resistant to scratches, dents, and wear. This durability makes it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas, such as sports floors.
With proper care and maintenance, maple flooring can last for many years, even decades, making it a cost-effective flooring option. Additionally, maple is widely available in various formats, including solid hardwood planks and engineered wood. While
often left in its natural light color, it can also be stained in a variety of colors to achieve different looks.
What causes a blotchy stain?
All wood has some kind of grain pattern and density differences due to its growth, which is natural but can be highlighted by the stain. Maple does not take stain as evenly as red or white oak, resulting in a blotchy color. Other factors include inconsistent
sanding procedures, water-popping, or stain application. Inadequate preparatory procedures can result in previous coatings being left in the wood, also preventing uniform color.
Why is maple challenging to stain?
Maple is known for its tight, close-grained structure and high density. Unlike porous woods such as oak, maple's surface does not readily absorb stain. The tight grain results in fewer open pores for the stain to penetrate, leading to uneven absorption.
This can cause a blotchy appearance, with some areas absorbing more stain than others, creating an inconsistent color.
Maple wood also has a light, creamy color and a uniform texture, which can make inconsistencies in stain absorption more noticeable. Unlike woods with a more pronounced grain pattern, the uniformity of maple emphasizes color variations, making it
challenging to achieve an even finish.
Additionally, maple wood can contain natural mineral streaks that react differently to stain compared to the surrounding wood. These streaks are dense and resist stain, resulting in lighter areas. The natural variations in maple can cause a mottled
appearance when stained, further complicating the staining process.
Why is HyperTone™ Stains ideal for staining maple?
HyperTone Stains are specifically designed for hardwood floors, including maple. They provide excellent penetration, uniform color distribution, and a consistent finish, addressing the common challenges associated with staining maple. With a water/oil
hybrid formula, the water opens the pores in maple, allowing the oil to penetrate more deeply into the wood. HyperTone Stains also feature a high-quality formula and automotive-grade pigments, which yield a more consistent color appearance, especially
on these denser wood species.
How do you prepare a maple floor for HyperTone Stains application?
Proper preparation is crucial for achieving the best results, which includes:
- Sanding the maple floor to remove any previous finishes and create a smooth surface.
- Cleaning the floor thoroughly to remove dust and debris.
- Using water as a pre-stain conditioner if necessary to enhance stain absorption, also known as water-popping.
What is water-popping?
As with most hardwood flooring stains, water-popping is recommended to open the grain and allow for more uniform, deeper, and richer color penetration. To do this, spray the final sanded floor with water using a pump sprayer. As the water dries, the
wood fibers 'stand up,' allowing the stain to penetrate deeply into the wood rather than sitting on the surface, which could otherwise be wiped away. Depending on the wood species, the stain may appear 30%–35% richer with water-popping compared
to without it.
Since HyperTone Stains are water-based, there is no need to wait for the floor to completely dry before beginning the application of the stain. However, avoid applying the stain to flooring with standing water or puddles.
How do you apply HyperTone Stains on maple?
Using the same process for staining on other wood floor species:
- Mix the stain by shaking the container thoroughly. After shaking, pour from the original container into a single, larger container. Stir from time to time to prevent settling, which helps ensure a uniform color.
- Apply the stain using a brush, roller, or pad applicator. Always apply with the grain.
- Allow the stain to penetrate for the recommended time.
- Wipe off any excess stain to ensure an even finish. With a light touch, use one rag to immediately wipe off excess stain. Use a second rag to remove any heavy areas missed and to blend the stain to a uniform appearance.
- Allow the stain to dry completely before applying a sealer or finish. It is recommended to not apply the initial coats of sealer or finish until 24 hours after stain application.
- As the first excess rag becomes loaded with stain, discard it and make the blending rag the new excess rag. Grab a new rag for blending and repeat this process as necessary.
What is StainGlide?
Since HyperTone Stains are an oil/water hybrid, they tend to dry more quickly than traditional oil-based stains. To increase workability and prevent lap marks, add StainGlide, a dry-time extender recommended for use in warmer conditions or when applying
more heavily pigmented colors. Click here to learn more.
How long does it take for HyperTone Stains to dry?
HyperTone Stains typically take 2–4 hours to dry under ideal conditions, which are 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% relative humidity (RH). The stain is considered dry when the moisture readings return to the original baseline readings from before
the stain application, with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Dry times may be affected by:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Air flow
Can I use a buffer for application?
To use a buffer for applying stain, start by applying an initial row of stain along the starting wall, then wipe it off as previously described. Next, use a 3/8” microfiber roller to apply the stain, followed by a thick white pad on a standard
175 rpm buffer to work the stain into the wood. Then, put some thick terry cloth rags under the white pad and buff off any excess stain. Buff the stain into the wood until a uniform color is achieved.
As you progress across the room, apply stain to the edges and thoroughly hand wipe, blending it into the main area. Continue adding more stain as needed, working in rows across the room. Avoid leaving excess stain or puddles on the floor. When not
in use, tip the buffer back to prevent the pad from causing burn-in. Flip the buffing pad over as it becomes saturated with stain and replace it when both sides are loaded. Each pad typically covers 300 to 400 sq. ft. Do not use heavy weights
or a high-speed buffer.
What should be applied on top of HyperTone Stains?
HyperTone Stains is compatible with all Basic Coatings sealers and finishes. A sealer locks in the color and provides a protective base for the finish. Basic Coatings has an assortment of finishes to apply over the sealer:
- StreetShoe® NXT: Unmatched in durability and cure speed, it offers
superior protection from frequent traffic on sport floors.
- Emulsion® PRO+: An oil and water wood floor sealer and finish for sport
floors that offers a traditional OMU look.
- GymShoe®: An advanced, 2 component, water-based sport finish that leaves
floors glossy and resistance to heel marks.
- Player’s Choice™ One: A high-end water-based sport
floor finish that provides a completely colorless finish with exceptional durability and chemical resistance.
- MainStreet™: Formulated with super self-leveling technology, this finish
allows for improved leveling and flow.
- EasyStreet™: A clear, water-based finish that offers exceptional durability
and clarity.
Learn more about HyperTone Stains or fill out the form below to speak with an expert today.