Have been searching this site for a few months now and learning a lot about hardwood floors. Looking to replace about 1400 sf of carpet w/ red birch but can't find much about this species. Is red birch the same as cherry birch? Does it have the same hardness and stability as yellow birch? We have no dogs but a couple kids. Want a wood that will not look too beat up in a few years. Also considering hard maple but understand you need to go to natural if refinished if future. Any infi / advice / pics greatly appreciated.

I believe it is the heartwood from yellow birch, and is just a bit softer and less stable than RO. My scout leader just layed a houseful and it had alot of figured wood and it is beautiful.

My question is: Why are so many looking at unusual woods for their homes? Why not go with the tried and true? Methinks some salesman somewhere has a boatload of this stuff and is trying to move it.

Maybe its that it is a designers paradise these days and folks have the money. Granite quartz countertops, colored plaster walls and faux finishes and a multitude of cabinet woods and designs begs for individuality.

I am happy to see this gent using American forests for an exotic like looking floor and leaving the rainforests to the monkeys. As I mentioned the floor also looks fantastic.