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Birch
Wood Flooring Species
Scientific Name:
Betula spp.
Other Names and Species:
The type of birch most commonly used for wood flooring is yellow birch (betula alleghaniensis). However, sweet birch (betula lenta) and paper birch (betula papyrifera) are also frequently used for this purpose.
Sweet birch is sometimes called “black birch” or “cherry birch.” Paper birch also goes by the names “white birch,” “canoe birch,” and “silver birch.”
Origin:
North America
Appearance:
The sapwood of yellow birch ranges from pale white to creamy yellow, while the heartwood tends to be a light-reddish brown with a red tinge. By contrast, the sapwood of sweet birch is light-colored, whereas the heartwood is dark brown with a red tinge. Birch wood has an even texture with a straight, closed grain. Occasionally, boards may show curliness in the grain as well as some wavy figuring. It is among the most featureless of all North American hardwoods; but with its natural, pleasing figure, it makes for very attractive furniture and flooring. Birch has a small degree of luster, making it seem almost dull in appearance.
Properties:
Birch is a very heavy, strong, durable wood. It is hard and stiff, with excellent shock-resistance.
Janka Hardness: Various
Birch species range from the upper-lower to the upper-middle end of the Janka hardness scale. Paper birch is 910 (nine percent softer than teak). Yellow birch is 1260, comparable to white oak (seven percent softer). Sweet birch is ranked at 1470, which is just one percent harder than hard maple.
Workability:
With its good machining qualities, birch wood sands satisfactorily and has excellent holding ability when nailed.
Principal Uses:
In addition to wood flooring, birch is commonly used in furniture, veneers, interior finishing, windowsills, cutting surfaces, drumsticks, violin bows, and wooden novelties.
Learn more about available grades of Birch hardwood flooring:
