Maple Greatly appreciated for its warm color and classic look, Maple is one of the most well-known wood species, especially because of its widely spread use in flooring. As a hardwood it is often used in high foot traffic areas such as basketball courts, bowling alleys, or dancefloors. It is a dense and durable wood with a straight grain and fine even texture, which is easy to turn. It can be used to make any commonly used objects ranging from butcher blocks to baseball bats.