If you are planning to build something out of wood, then plywood is always a good option. Sure, solid lumber is always an option, although much costlier than plywood. Birch and eucalyptus plywood are both hardwood plywood, and they do have a number of uses.
That said, they aren’t at all the same, and these differences are what we are here to talk about today.
Eucalyptus and Birch Wood: What You Need to Know
First, we want to take a closer look at both eucalyptus and birch lumber, the solid lumber, not plywood. The fact here is that eucalyptus plywood is not very common or popular. There is very limited information out there about eucalyptus plywood, although plenty of it about actual eucalyptus lumber, so this is what we will start with.
Properties of Eucalyptus Wood
Although still not at the forefront of construction, eucalyptus wood is becoming more popular as the years go on. This is a type of hardwood tree that grows primarily in Australia, as well as throughout Southeast Asia and Africa.
One of the reasons why it is so popular is due to its sustainability. The eucalyptus tree doesn’t require much upkeep, it grows very quickly, and it doesn’t consume many resources either. This quick growth rate and sustainability help make it fairly eco-friendly.
Moreover, eucalyptus is known for being quite hard and durable. It features a Janka hardness rating of 1,125 pounds. In case you don’t know, this is one of the harder types of hardwood out there. Eucalyptus is also known for being quite stiff, yet also somewhat brittle. It’s not the most shock- or impact-resistant wood around.
Eucalyptus has a coarse yet uniform texture that produces a natural look. Although it appears coarse, it’s smooth to the touch. It also features a straight and interlocked grain texture. In terms of color, it ranges from a pale pinkish color to a darker reddish-brown. Many people like it for its appearance.
One of the biggest benefits of eucalyptus is that it naturally produces plenty of oils. These oils allow for great moisture and water resistance, as well as mold, rot, and decay resistance. However, this type of wood is somewhat susceptible to pests, drying it is slow and difficult, and if it does absorb water, it will expand and shrink, sometimes cracking due to this shrinking.
Properties of Birch Wood
There are various birch species out there. This is a popular type of hardwood that grows in the Northern regions of the world, which includes North America, Northern Europe, and the Northern hemisphere in general.
Birch is a very hard type of hardwood, coming in with a Janka hardness rating of 1,470 (give or take depending on the exact type). Although quite hard, birch is also slightly flexible, which makes it ideal for a variety of applications.
Birch does have a fairly coarse texture and often does not feel smooth to the touch. Birch is also known for being fairly difficult to stain. Although birch is a fairly dense type of hardwood, it’s not overly water-resistant, which means that it’s also not overly resistant to rot and decay. It also tends to be susceptible to insect infestations.
In terms of color, it usually has a light yellowish-golden-brown color.
Eucalyptus vs. Birch Plywood: What Are the Differences?
Due to the fact that there is limited info on eucalyptus plywood, the following list of differences consists of educated assumptions and inferences based off of the properties of solid eucalyptus lumber. We have done our best here to be as accurate as possible.
1. Moisture Resistance
One big difference here is in regard to how well they handle moisture, and therefore how ideal these plywood types are for outdoor use. As mentioned, eucalyptus produces a lot of natural oil, which makes it very resilient to the elements. It’s not 100% waterproof, but pretty close. It is good for outdoor use, particularly for something like patio furniture.
On the other hand, birch doesn’t produce much oil, and it also has large pores. This makes it susceptible to moisture, and therefore rot and decay. If birch plywood gets wet, you are in trouble.
2. Pest Resistance
Because eucalyptus is quite dense, and because of those oils, it is fairly resistant to pests. This is especially the case in North America, where there aren’t many pests that prefer Eucalyptus. Things look a bit different in countries where this tree naturally grows, as these countries do have pests that like Eucalyptus. In terms of outdoor use and pest resistance, eucalyptus plywood is decent.
On the other hand, birch is also fairly susceptible to pests, many of which are present in North America. The large pores, lower density, and lack of oil production all make birch plywood more pest susceptible than eucalyptus plywood.
3. Appearance
Eucalyptus plywood has a straight and interlocking grain pattern, which can be seen on the plywood. It may look like straight lines or even like a grid. Although it looks coarse, it’s actually quite smooth. Many people do also like the reddish-brown appearance of it, particularly for furniture.
Birch has a lot less visual grain than eucalyptus, and yes, this can be seen on the plywood. It usually has a light and straight grain pattern, although sometimes a bit wavy. Birch plywood doesn’t look as much like real wood as eucalyptus plywood does. The light-brown appearance of it, while it looks fine, most would agree is not quite as aesthetically pleasing as eucalyptus plywood.
4. Ease of Staining
The reason why eucalyptus is becoming more popular for furniture and cabinets is due to its ease of staining and painting. The most recommended finish is lacquer. This plywood takes on stain and paint very well.
On the other hand, birch is much harder to stain and paint. Some areas of birch plywood may darken significantly, unwantedly so. Painting or staining birch plywood often results in a blotchy and uneven appearance.
5. Sustainability
One of the big benefits of eucalyptus is that it is just much more sustainable than birch, and yes, this of course goes for the plywood too. Eucalyptus grows much faster than birch.
6. Overall Strength, Durability, and Flexibility
It is really hard to say which of these is the more durable. After all, eucalyptus is more water and pest-resistant. However, birch plywood is going to be a bit harder and more flexible. In terms of structural and weight-bearing applications, birch plywood is the better of the two.
When to Use Eucalyptus Plywood?
Due to its limited popularity of it, eucalyptus plywood is generally just used for making furniture and cabinets. It is also popular for outdoor patio furniture (due to its weather resistance). If you want really good looking furniture, eucalyptus plywood is a great way to go.
When to Use Birch Plywood?
Due to the strength and flexibility of birch plywood, it is used for many purposes. It’s a good option for furniture, cabinetry, walling and ceilings, fascia and cladding, formwork, and some structural applications too.
Alternatives to Eucalyptus and Birch Plywood
- If you need a type of plywood that is ideal for outdoor use, then marine plywood is the way to go. This stuff is so water-resistant that boats and docks are often built with it.
- If you want to make fine and high-end furniture, then the super subtle grain pattern, as well as the durability of maple plywood, make it ideal for this purpose.
- If you need super strong and stable plywood, oak plywood is always a good option.
- If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, but still in the realm of engineered wood, then MDF and particle board are always good choices.
Summary
Now that you know the differences between eucalyptus and birch plywood, you can make an informed decision between the two. Eucalyptus is quickly growing in popularity, and we do recommend taking a closer look at it.