There are many different types of wood that you can use for construction purposes, particularly in North America. The continent has many huge forests that are rich with dozens of varieties of trees. Two very popular types include cedar and birch.
Now, although both are popular, there are some big differences between the two. Today, we’re going to determine exactly what makes cedar and birch different, so you can then choose which one to use for your next big project.
What Is Birch?
Let’s take a look at the birch tree first, specifically the yellow birch. We are talking about the yellow birch tree here because it is one of the most commonly found types in North America, as well as one of the most popular for construction.
This tree can be found from the eastern edge of Manitoba over to the eastern edge of Canada, and in the northeastern part of the USA. Keep in mind that this is a deciduous hardwood tree.
The wood features a tight and straight grain, although it may have some waves or irregularities at times. It also has a fine and even texture, along with a good deal of gaps, voids, and knots.
The wood of the birch tree is generally brownish-reddish-yellowish in nature, with white sapwood. The yellow birch tree is fairly heavy, hard, and durable. It is resistant to denting, scratching, and physical damage, and also has decent weight-bearing capabilities.
As far as North American hardwoods go, it is one of the harder and stronger ones out there, although it is not very resistant to pests or moisture. It might be slightly more moisture-resistant than pest-resistant, but the difference here is negligible.
Birch wood should only be used indoors, such as for cabinets, flooring, decorative pieces, low-end furniture, and a few utilitarian purposes. People do like yellow birch because it is fairly cost-effective.
What Is Cedar?
We then have the cedar tree, which is an evergreen tree that is coniferous in nature. It can be found in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in the USA and Canada, as well as in the Himalayas and in the Mediterranean. Here we are talking specifically about the western red cedar, although there are also the eastern red cedar and other types. This is also one of the largest trees in the world, as it can grow up to 200’ in height.
Cedar is known for producing very fragrant wood that many people enjoy the smell of. It features a reddish-brown color that is usually a bit browner than red, combined with a smooth and straight grain, although it can contain some waves or irregularities at times. Cedar also has many knots, voids, and inconsistencies.
This wood is known for being very lightweight and soft. It’s just not very durable or resistant to physical damage. However, it is very resistant to insects, pests, moisture, and decay. It is a popular choice for outdoor purposes, as well as for canoes, boxes, canoe paddles, totem poles, tools, and anything else that requires a high level of water resistance.
Birch vs Cedar: What Are the Differences?
Now that we know what both birch and cedar are, let’s figure out what makes the two different from each other.
Hardness
Yellow birch features a Janka hardness rating of 1,260 lbf. On the other hand, western red cedar has a Janka hardness rating of just 350 lbf, with the eastern variety coming in at 900 lbf. Either way, yellow birch is much harder than both types of cedar and is therefore better used for purposes that require dent and scratch resistance.
Density
Yellow birch weighs roughly 43 lbs/ft3. Western red cedar weighs 23 lbs/ft3, with eastern red cedar coming in at 33 lbs/ft3. As you can see, yellow birch is significantly heavier than both main types of cedar. This does in part lead to increased durability, however, it can also make it harder to work with.
Pest and Moisture Resistance
One of the biggest differences here is that yellow birch is not moisture-resistant at all. On the other hand, both eastern and western red cedar are extremely resistant to the elements. We wrote more about that here.
Cedar can be used for outdoor purposes, whereas birch cannot.
Overall Strength
If we compare things like compressive strength, the modulus of rupture, and the modulus of elasticity, with birch and cedar, birch is much stronger on all of these fronts. It can bear more weight and handle more pressure than either western or eastern red cedar. Therefore, for construction and weight-bearing applications, yellow birch is by far the best option.
Workability
In general, cedar is the easier of these two types of wood to work with. It really depends, because both birch and cedar can have a lot of gaps, knots, and voids. Therefore, this really all depends on the exact specimen. That said, the softer types of cedar are so soft that great caution needs to be taken when working with them, or else you might dent and scratch them.
Appearance – Color and Grain
The grain and appearance of these two types of wood are somewhat similar, especially in terms of grain pattern, direction, and smoothness. Both feature relatively straight and smooth appearances. That said, the color is fairly different. Cedar is a darker brownish-red, whereas yellow birch is more of a yellowish-reddish-brown, and is lighter in color. Most people would say that cedar is the better-looking of the two, although this is really just personal preference.
Cost
Both cedar and yellow birch should cost around $10 per board foot.
When to Use Birch?
If you need a type of wood that can bear weight and is structurally sound, then yellow birch is a great option. It is fantastic for indoor purposes, as long as moisture is not a part of the equation. Whether for furniture, low-traffic flooring, decorative pieces, shelving, cabinets, or anything in between, yellow birch is a good choice.
When to Use Cedar?
If you need a type of wood that is moisture-resistant and ideal for outdoor purposes, such as for outdoor furniture, decks, fences, patios, and anything else of the sort, then both eastern and western red cedar make for fantastic options. Just remember that neither of these varieties is overly hard, so birch does make for the better option in terms of structural soundness.
Alternatives to Birch and Cedar
When it comes down to it, there are much harder and more durable types of wood than both birch and cedar. Just some of these include teak, ebony, olive wood, and ironwood.
We detailed some more options in our article about the alternatives to cedar.
Summary
Now that you know what the main difference is between yellow birch, eastern red cedar, and western red cedar, you can make an informed decision between the two. What it really comes down to is that cedar is better for outdoor purposes whereas birch is better for indoor use and structural applications.