Birch Wood Facts

Characteristics

• A birch tree can be easily distinguished by the white peeling properties of the bark that are marked with horizontal lenticels. Birch wood is extremely pale and may appear to have sheen look to it. It is characteristically fine-grained.

Uses

• Birch wood is often used in decorative furniture and veneer. It is considered to be a strong form of plywood and is often used for making toothpicks. One of the most valuable uses of birch wood, in former years, was making canoes, according to The United States National Arboretum. A popular use of birch wood is in the construction of skateboards, since it offers a flexible property.

Availability

• Birch trees grow rapidly, but can be susceptible to disease, according to the Cass County Government. If the tree is not planted under the proper conditions, it can succumb to weakness and infection from bronze birch borers, which feed on birch wood. This can destroy the birch wood and make unusable for everyday purposes. As of 2010, birch wood ranges in the moderate price range, currently around $7.00 for a 4 by 4 feet board.