COMMON NAMES:   Sweet birch (B. lenta) yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis)

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .55 - .60

DENSITY:  

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   9.5%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   7.3%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   16.8%

DURABILITY1:   Poor

SOURCE:  Northeastern and Great Lakes states, Appalachian and Adirondack regions, and Canada

DESCRIPTION:   Birch is an important commercial timber. It is heavy hard, stiff and strong. Close-grained, light reddish brown heartwood; sapwood pale to nearly white. Figure and color similar to maple, but slightly coarser textured. Architect's delight due to fine finishing capabilities. Sweet birch tends to be slightly darker in color, heavier and harder than yellow birch.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.