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Curly Birch (Flame Birch)
Grades & Properties of Wood Flooring —
Domestic Species
Scientific Name:
Betula alleghaniensis (more than one species of birch can be included)
Other Common Names and Related Species:
- Black Birch
- Cherry Birch
- Paper Birch
- Red Birch
- Sweet Birch
Popular Grades of Curly Birch Wood Flooring:
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Origin:
The United States and Canada.
Janka Hardness: 1260
Curly Birch is about the same hardness as White Oak.
Grades of Curly Birch Flooring Available:
Curly Birch is a type of wood from the birch tree in which the growth of the wood fibers produces a beautiful wavy grain figure that looks like watered silk. This type of flooring is relatively scarce because only an occasional tree is found to produce this peculiar grain pattern. When Birch lumber is graded, the majority of the red heartwood and the yellow sapwood are separated. The sapwood is referred to as Yellow Birch and the heartwood as Red Birch. Small amounts of Curly Birch are naturally found and separated out for its premium price. This page describes Curly Birch only, as Yellow Birch and Red Birch are treated like separate species. Please refer to the Yellow Birch flooring properties page or the Red Birch flooring properties page for more information on other types of Birch flooring. Curly Birch is the most highly sought-after Birch product.
Flooring is normally made from one grade lower of lumber. Thus, #1 Common lumber will make Select and Better flooring and so on. Lumber is graded worst side, while flooring is graded best side of the board. The lumber is defected to yield a higher grade of flooring, except when Clear grade flooring is made.
Select and Better Curly Birch flooring comprises pink heartwood and yellow sapwood. The Birch is less sorted for color than it is for its curly figure. No knots or mineral streaks are allowed in this grade.
#1 Common Curly Birch flooring contains some character, such as dime-sized knots, as well as mineral streaks.
#2 Common Curly Birch flooring includes all the character found in the wood. Large knots, light yellow sapwood, dark heartwood, worm holes, and other surface defects are included in this grade. Other common names are Rustic Curly Birch, Mill Run Curly Birch, and Tavern and Cabin Grade Curly Birch.
