Specifying the Flooring Surface

Maple Surface Products

There are several types of MFMA maple surfacing products from which to choose. Within each type, a number of different grades of flooring are commonly available. Your specifying decision should be based on several factors, including cost, appearance, and performance characteristics.

Many facility owners have a picture in their minds of what the finished floor should look like. It is important to ask questions of your owner before you specify a particular MFMA maple surface product.

• Will multiple sports and games be held on the floor?
• Will the facility be used year-round?
• Will the facility be used for special events, as a cafeteria, or as a community-gathering place?
• Does your owner have certain expectations for the finished appearance of the floor?

Answers to these and other questions will help you to determine the appropriate surface material to specify for your project.

Once you determine the type of floor system to specify, you must also determine the grade of MFMA maple to be installed. Remember, the various grades of MFMA maple flooring products primarily affect aesthetics, not performance. For detailed information about standard grading of MFMA maple flooring, contact MFMA Headquarters at 888-480-9138 or see the MFMA GRADING RULES for detailed grading rules and descriptions of each grade of flooring. 

MFMA maple flooring comes in three basic configurations: random-length strip (the most popular and most common), finger-jointed strip, and parquet. Each of these surface materials can be installed in a single direction, or can be laid in patterns such as a checkerboard, chevron, etc. Here are basic descriptions of each type of MFMA flooring: 

Random-Length Strip

Individual pieces of flooring, typically 1 ½", 2 ¼", 2 ½", or 3 ¼" wide, with lengths between 9" and 8'. The most common thickness specified is 25/32", but 33/32" and ½" thick random-length strip flooring is also available. This surface material is installed like a horizontal brick wall, with each piece being overlapped with adjacent pieces and fastened to the subfloor with cleats, staples or steel clips, depending on the subfloor. Most MFMA subfloor configurations are compatible with MFMA random-length strip flooring. 

Finger-Jointed Strip

A number of random-length strip segments joined together at the manufacturing plant to form a consistent length board, typically 1 ½", 2 ¼", 2 ½" or 3 ¼" wide. The most common thickness specified is 25/32", but 33/32" and ½" thick finger-jointed strip flooring is also available. This surface material is also installed like a horizontal brick wall, with each consistent-length board being overlapped with adjacent boards and fastened to the subfloor with cleats, staples or steel clips, depending on the subfloor. Most MFMA subfloor configurations are compatible with MFMA finger-jointed strip flooring.

Parquet

MFMA hard maple parquet flooring is manufactured in square and rectangular panels in a variety of dimensions. Individual picket widths range from ⅞" to 1 ⅛", and picket lengths range from 5 ½" to 12". Minimum thickness of MFMA parquet flooring is 5/16". Individual pickets, assembled into panels, are either joined together by wire, mesh, or tape on the back of the panel, or paperface on the front (or surface) of the panel. MFMA parquet flooring is typically installed directly to the concrete substrate using adhesive/mastic, or over subfloor systems that contain continuous subfloors (plywood or similar).