Birch

Botanical Name: Betula

Yellow birch and sweet birch are the two forms frequently used for floorings. These are typically found in the Lake States and throughout the Northeast, although they can also be found along the Appalachian Mountains down through northern Georgia.

Yellow birch’s color ranges from a light yellow to white with heartwood that is a light reddish brown with dark red accents.

Sweet birch has a slightly darker throughout with heartwood that is a dark brown with red accents. The grain of birch is generally straight and even throughout most of any given board, however, the slight wavy curve found periodically gives birch much of its unique charm.

History

Birch has been used in the Americas for a wide variety of purposes. For example, Native Americans used it to covere canoe frames and as the shaft of arrows.

Birch is one of the most popular ornamental trees in America. Some of them were even planted around the White House in honor of the mothers of the various presidents.

A variety of birch flooring can be also seen in many historic New England homes because this flooring was loved for its durability.

This type of wood has been used as building material, agricultural implements, cradles, handles, bobbins, spools, and flooring. The sap can be used to make a wine, the leaves to make medicinal remedies, and the bark for tanning leather.

The birch is the symbol for purification and renewal in Celtic mythology. Birch, or Beithe, is the first tree in the Celtic tree alphabet and was used during the new year celebrations of Samhain.

Durability

Of the easiest ways to determine the durability of a hardwood is by using the Janka rating.

This scale starts with zero, which is very soft and not suitable for flooring, and ends at 4000, which is incredibly strong and too difficult to work into flooring.

The Janka rating for yellow birch is 1260 and for sweet birch 1470. The yellow birch is the most commonly used in flooring and is only a bit less strong than red oak, while the sweet birch is slightly harder than hard maple.

Those numbers indicate that birch flooring is suitable for hardwood floors that will receive moderate to heavy foot traffic.

Workability

Birch can be difficult to work by using only hand tools. This type of wood has excellent machining qualities. Improper sanding can result in a rougher product.

Birch is quite heavy and shock resistant. The smooth finish and dense texture makes birch usable for paints, stains, and polishing while the sweet birch is slightly darker than the yellow birch and takes darker stains very well. It can be glued, nailed, and screwed with ease.

Where to use

Yellow birch is great for hardwood flooring almost everywhere. It is the most common selection and is lighter than other forms.

The sweet birch is preferred For a darker color. In addition to that, it is more moisture resistant than many other hardwoods. It is also perfect for usage in foyers and kitchens.

The good news is that birch can even be used in bathrooms. Keep in mind that birch is not recommended for areas that are repeatedly exposed to standing water or excessive moisture.

It is easily possible to achieve almost any desired look with this hardwood, since some varieties of birch are so easily stained.

Care and Maintenance

Keep in mind that no matter the relative hardness of a hardwood, proper care and maintenance are important.

The first step is preventative maintenance. Entryways should have mats covering the floor to avoid scuff or heel marks. It is important to place runners or rugs in extremely high traffic areas (for example hallways). We recommend you placing pads underneath furniture legs to prevent gouges in the hardwood. Regularly trim the nails of your pet in order to prevent scrapes.

You should also regularly sweep or vacuum the floor. Always remember to promptly wipe spills to prevent stains and discoloration.

Environmental Issues

The birch family can rapidly colonize open ground, especially in areas that have undergone a large disturbance such as fire. This quick growth makes it a great choice for preventing erosion after a natural or manmade removal of ground cover. In the same time, the rapid growth also can be problematic in the establishment of other trees, because the seedlings can quickly overwhelm more slow growing species.