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Windsor Plywood has been a trusted source for specialty lumber and hardwoods across western Canada for decades. Our specialty lumber selection goes well beyond standard framing grades, offering premium domestic and imported hardwood species suited for fine furniture making, custom cabinetry, architectural millwork, and decorative woodworking projects of all scales. Species available include hard maple, red oak, white oak, walnut, cherry, birch, alder, poplar, and a rotating selection of exotic and figured hardwoods depending on current inventory. In addition to solid hardwood lumber, we carry live edge slabs, figured wood for tabletops and accent pieces, and hardwood plywood in species to match. Windsor Plywood staff are knowledgeable about the properties and working characteristics of each species and can help you select the right material for your specific application. Visit your local Windsor Plywood to browse current specialty lumber stock and discuss your project with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What birch products does Windsor Plywood carry?
Windsor Plywood carries birch hardwood lumber, birch plywood in standard North American sheets, and Baltic birch in metric thicknesses. Birch lumber is available in select and common grades for furniture, cabinetry, and interior millwork. Birch plywood is a popular choice for cabinetry boxes, shelving, and painted panel applications.
What are the main characteristics of birch wood?
Birch is a hard, fine-grained domestic hardwood with a pale, creamy colour and consistent texture. Yellow birch has a Janka hardness of approximately 1260, making it harder than alder and comparable to ash. The smooth, consistent grain of birch makes it an excellent paint-grade wood, and it also takes stain with reasonable consistency though it can be mildly blotchy.
How does birch plywood compare to other cabinet-grade plywood options?
Birch plywood is cost-effective for cabinetry box construction. Standard North American birch plywood uses birch face veneers over a mixed-species core that may contain voids. Baltic birch uses all-birch veneer layers with no voids, producing a superior panel for drawer boxes, CNC work, and applications where edge quality matters. For painted cabinetry boxes, standard birch plywood is practical; for premium work, Baltic birch is preferred.
Is birch prone to blotching when stained?
Birch can stain somewhat unevenly, particularly with darker stain colours. Applying a pre-stain wood conditioner before staining improves colour consistency. Testing the stain on a scrap piece of the same birch material is always recommended before committing to the final workpiece. For painted applications, birch performs without the blotching concern.
What dimensions of birch lumber does Windsor Plywood carry?
Windsor Plywood carries birch lumber in common dimensional thicknesses including 4/4 and 8/4, with widths varying by available stock. Sheet goods in birch plywood are stocked in standard 4x8 panels in common thicknesses. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm current dimensions and grades in stock.