(Betula spp.)
Appearance
Color: In yellow birch, sapwood is creamy yellow pale while heartwood is light reddish brown tinged with red.
Grain: Medium figuring, straight, closed grain, even texture. Occasional curly grain or wavy figure in some boards.
Variations Within Species and Grades: Yellow and red birch are most commonly used for flooring. Boards can vary greatly in grain and color in common grades.
Properties
Hardness/Janka: 1260; 2% softer than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Average (change coefficient .00338; 8% more stable than red oak).
Durability: Hard and stiff; Very strong, with excellent shock resistance.
