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What are the Benefits of Birch Flooring?
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
There are a number of aesthetic and practical benefits to birch flooring, which is considered by many to be a good alternative to maple and oak. Much like other hardwood flooring options, birch flooring is very durable. As long as it is kept in good condition and refinished as needed, this kind of flooring stands up well to the normal wear and tear that the floors in most homes endure. Prices fluctuate over time and vary depending on the variety of birch that is being used, but birch flooring is usually comparable in price to oak and maple. One of the aesthetic benefits of birth flooring is that the wood comes in many colors and can even display a range of colors in a single piece of lumber.
Birch flooring ranges in color from warm blond colors to deep reddish hues. The tones can also range between light tones and warm tones. With such range, this kind of flooring can be used in a number of types of rooms and can work within a variety of color palettes. Some people even choose birch lumber that displays a range of colors. This color variation is usually attributed to the fact that the heartwood is much darker than the sapwood. This kind of lumber can be used to create a hardwood floor that has a lovely texture or pattern.
The most common kinds of birch used for flooring are sweet birch, yellow birch, and paper birch. These three woods vary in hardness, but can all offer a good quality of lumber for hardwood flooring. No matter what kind of birch is used, birch flooring can make a room feel warm and inviting. People who are building or remodeling a home in hopes of selling often use hardwood for their floors as this feature adds value to the house.
Another reason to use birth flooring is for health purposes. Carpeting, even when it is vacuumed and shampooed on a regular basis, can collect dust, bugs, and germs. Unlike hardwood floors, it is nearly impossible to completely disinfect a patch of carpeting, not to mention the fact that birch flooring is almost entirely stain-proof. People who suffer from allergies often find that they benefit from living in a space that is outfitted with hardwood floors instead of carpeted floors.
Diane Goettel
In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.
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Diane Goettel
In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.
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![Birch flooring is available in many shades, from warm blond colors to deep reds.]()
By: Wollwerth ImageryBirch flooring is available in many shades, from warm blond colors to deep reds. -
![Birch flooring can come in a variety of hues, included deep red.]()
By: Iriana ShiyanBirch flooring can come in a variety of hues, included deep red. -
![Birch flooring can be easily disinfected with a variety of household cleaners.]()
By: Lisa F. YoungBirch flooring can be easily disinfected with a variety of household cleaners.
Discussion Comments
@Sporkasia - Good hardwoods are usually pretty close to one another when it comes to pricing, so you might as well choose the one that you like more. Personally, I prefer maple flooring over oak and birch flooring, but that's because I like the way the maple looks, not because it will necessarily last longer.
If you want to find a less expensive wood for wood flooring then consider some of the softwoods. These are not as durable as the birch, but you will notice a difference in price. Some of the softwoods look really good, but you will need to make more of an effort to protect them.
You could use rugs or runners in high-traffic areas and keep the floors oiled. However, if you have kids and pets then the softwood is probably not going to work well. On the other hand, if you live alone and you remove your shoes when you enter the house then the softwoods will probably last you a lifetime.
I think old hardwood floors look great in houses, and many of the old houses I renovate have sturdy old oak floors that have been around for ever. I currently am working on a house in which one of the oak floors was exposed to water over the years and it has rotted.
I have been looking for other less expensive hardwoods to replace the oak. I like the look of birch and I thought it might be a good option, but after reading this article I think the birch will be about the same price as the oak and maple flooring. Does anyone know of a wood comparable to the birch, but less expensive?
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