Hardwood is never considered an eco-friendly choice, but birch is a variant which can be justly called so. It is considered a pioneer species which can rapidly grow in open grounds. Even in areas which have undergone major calamities like forest fires, birch can thrive. Its rapid growth rate makes it an ideal choice for preventing erosion as well. However, its growth can be problematic for other species with slower growth rates. Birch seedlings must be thinned from time to time to ensure they don’t overwhelm other species growing nearby.
Birch is a domestic hardwood variant which is noted for the unique bicolor texture and the variety of benefits it offers. If you want a break from the common oak and maple flooring, birch is a good alternative that you can invest in. Birch has good mechanical strength, good elasticity and obvious growth rings, the floors made of birch has the advantages of lubrication, wear resistance and clear stripe. Birch wood processing performance is good. Its cut surface is particularly smooth, and its paint and adhesive property is strong. So, birch as a raw material made from the birch furniture paint surface has the advantage of being smooth and flat.
Advantages
Birch has densely packed tight grains which impart a unique look to the floorboards even when the floor is unfinished. Some floorboards exhibit the contrasting color of the sapwood and heartwood together which is unique and creates a striking contrast in the overall flooring which is a very desirable style among homeowners.
In the case of birch wood, its hardness index (1200 to 4000 on the Janka scale) is higher than that of oak. Therefore, this species is classified as a hardwood and is ideal for outdoor flooring installations or with more rustic finishes (compared to the elegance of oak).
If you are using only hand tools, birch is rather difficult to work with, but it does respond well to machining. Birch can be sanded easily but too much can roughen the surface which will look unsightly. Moreover, the tightly packed grains of birch create a uniformity which reacts well to paints, stains and other lacquers. Sweet birch, for example, reacts especially well to dark stains. The tight graining of the wood and its dense texture make it ideal for nailing as it grips the nail well. This is an important factor to consider if you prefer nailing down for flooring installation. Other than that, gluing down or screwing the floorboards also works well for birch.
Disadvantages
The hygroscopicity of birch furniture is especially big, When it is dry, the birch furniture will always crack and warp. In view of these disadvantages, if you want to buy birch furniture to decorate your home, then your home should not be too dry. The shear resistance of birch fiber is relatively poor, and it is easy to break. So, the furniture and floors made of birch wood is not wear-resistant, of course, its tensile resistance is not very good also.
The color of a birch floor ranges from yellow or white to a light, reddish brown but darkens over time. The Janka hardness rating for maple is above average, making it a better option for higher traffic areas since it’s a bit more durable than birch. Yellow birch, which is the most widely used species for flooring is harder than hard maple but slightly softer compared to red oak.
Cleaning
There are no specific maintenance requirements for birch hardwood. Any preventive and maintenance necessary for hardwood flooring, in general, is applicable to birch as well. Take preventive measures to ensure the floor does not get scratched or scuffed using floor mats at entryways and area rugs. A regular routine of sweeping and vacuuming the floor should be maintained and depending on the finish of the flooring, the contractor can best advise you about any specific cleaning routine that you must follow.
Contact us
VCH Flooring stands by the promise to do the job right. Our professional installers will perform services consistent with the industry standards to your satisfaction. If you have concerns after the installation, contact us within 60 days and the services with be re-done at no additional cost. Product warranties vary by manufacturer. Because we are a services company and do not manufacture products, we only warranty our services with the DONE RIGHT GUARANTEE. We will disclose the warranties before the work begins as part of our transparency policy to be good neighbors who serve the community with excellence. Email vchflooring@gmail.com
VCH Flooring 1812 Underwood Blvd, Delran, NJ 08075. https://vchflooring.com/contact-us/ 856- 393- 1310