Birch Lumber

Common Names: yellow birch, gold birch, hard birch, curly birch, swamp birch

Scientific Name: Betulla alleghaniensis

Color Range: yellow-bronze bark, nearly white sapwood and light reddish brown heartwood

Availability: Yellow birch is widely available and a valued specie in the North American lumber industry.

Janka Hardness Scale: 1260 lbf

Average Weight per BF: 3.58 lbs/ Bd. Ft.

What Is Birch Lumber?

When you hear birch lumber in North America, it mostly pertains to yellow birch. However, North America houses more than a dozen species of birch trees all over the region. The most common birch varieties are yellow birch, white or paper birch (B. papyrifera) and black birch or sweet birch (B. lenta).

Birch wood has been used in home furnishings and cabinetry. It was popularized in the 1960s up to the 1970s. Today, the uses of birch wood mainly revolve around making boxes, crates and plywood. Birch lumber is also used for shelving, interior trims, turned objects and other specialty items.

Where Is Birch Sourced From?

Yellow birch proliferates in the eastern part of North America. You can easily find them from Quebec all the way south to Georgia. For some reason, they do not grow in the western direction. Thus, you cannot find them in Minnesota and Iowa. You can also find birch trees in Asia and Europe, but not as many as in the states.

Birch has a shallow root system, making them sensitive to drought. Birch trees proliferate best when their roots are kept moist and cool constantly. They can adapt to almost all soil types and grow well when placed in an area where they can receive both sun and shade daily.

Is Birch Hardwood or Softwood?

People often confuse hardwood and softwood with how durable or strong the wood is. However, this is far from the truth. Hardwood refers to dicot trees with broad leaf that falls during autumn and winter. Conversely, softwood refers to trees of the needle variety, such as pine and fir. That said, birch is a dicot tree and is classified as a hardwood.

How Dense/Hard Is Birch?

Not all hardwoods are hard. The hardness of wood is measured by the Janka Scale, which gives a rating of 1260 lbf to yellow birch. This means that the amount of force needed to embed a metal ball halfway through a birch wood is 1260 lbs of force. Birch is a hardwood, but not as hard as black walnut and oak.

What to Look for When Purchasing Birch Lumber

Many lumber yards and sawmills retail birch lumber for affordable prices. But, it is up to you to check for the quality of the lumber being sold to ensure that you get the best product for the price you are paying.

First, you have to ask how the birch lumber has been dried and for how long. Proper drying of wood is essential to prevent warping and cracks from developing.

Secondly, you must ask for the grade of the birch lumber. The grade determines the quality of the wood you are getting. The lower the grade number is, the better the wood is.

Third, you must check for the appearance of knots, cracks and other deformities that may warrant issues when working with it.

FAQs

Is yellow birch toxic?

Yellow birch is generally not toxic. But, it is considered a sensitizer. It means a person may experience sensitive reactions such as skin and respiratory irritations after constant exposure to dust and fine particles.

Is it easy to work with birch?

Birch is generally easy to work with. You can use hand and machine tools without much problem. It also glues, turns and finishes well. However, you must assess the birch lumber you are using prior to working on it. Pieces with wild grain may lead to grain tearout from machine use.

Is birch affordable?

Most birch products are affordable. Birch is an economical choice for lumber and is in the same price range as oak and maple.

Where to Buy Birch Lumber

Alderfer Lumber Company Inc. is a trusted supplier of hardwood lumber, live edge slabs and reclaimed wood pieces. Our company takes pride in our years of experience in the field, which also translates to impressive customer service. Our knowledge and skills with wood and woodworking catapulted us into being one of the best lumber retailers in our locality.

If you are looking for birch lumber – or any other wood variety – you can contact us for inquiries. We offer our ethically-sourced and kiln-dried products for reasonable prices while ensuring top-grade quality.