Cut to Follow the Grain
Each piece is cut with the grain direction in mind, which limits cupping in a wide tread.
ESSENCES · BIRCH
Staircase in birch custom
The birch is the warmest hardwood in Quebec, with a rosy to reddish hue, soft veins and fine grain.
Measurement, Manufacturing, Installation and Finishing — Everything Is Included
« The team took the measurements themselves, delivered exactly on schedule and the installation was flawless. No surprises. »
1010
DURETÉ JANKA
15+
10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
100%
BIRCH QUÉBÉCOIS
6–8 weeks
TYPICAL LEAD TIME
A fine grain and a tint that darkens by itself
birch is a very fine and regular grained hardwood with almost no marked figures, with a natural shade ranging from pink to warm brown. It is the opposite of oak. Where oak displays its pores in long visible lines, birch offers a smooth, uniform surface that is not very eye-catching.
Its hardness is below that of white oak and maple, but it is still suitable for residential use. It is easy to work and sand, and the finish is very uniform, precisely because its grain is tight and there is no alternation of soft and hard areas. It is also very resistant to corrosion.
- Fine and regular grain, without marked figure on the step
- Natural shade from pink to warm brown, without stain added
- Very uniform finish thanks to the absence of open pores
- Sufficient hardness for a common residential fly
An essence that continues to change after the installation
This is the special feature of birch, and it is important to know this before choosing: it darkens under the effect of light. A staircase laid in a light shade darkens significantly during the first months, then more slowly for years, the movement is towards reddish brown, and it is irreversible.
This has two concrete consequences: areas protected by carpet, furniture or walls change less quickly than the rest, and the gap becomes visible. And if the staircase has to match existing birch woodwork, it is not the current shade that should be targeted, but the shade that the new wood will have in a year.
We take this into account when we make the stain, deliberately aiming brighter than the target, and we always leave a sample to the customer so that he can follow the evolution.
WHY CHOOSE ESCALIERS MESSIER
Hardwood Moves. Good Craftsmanship Anticipates It.
A wood species is selected for its hardness, grain and response to stain, not only for the colour of a sample. Wood expands in summer and contracts in winter.
Sealed on Every Face
A tread sealed on the top, bottom and edges exchanges less moisture and moves evenly.
Hardwood Can Be Refinished
A hardwood staircase can be sanded and refinished. That is what sets it apart from a covered staircase.
Installed After Acclimatization
The wood remains in the home before installation so it can acclimatize to the ambient humidity.
Each wood species performs differently under foot traffic: explore our custom staircases et nos projects.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What we are asked about the birch.
Is the birch hard enough for a staircase?
For a residential flight, yes. It is less dense than the white oak or maple, so it marks a little more easily on the stair nosing, where the passage is concentrated. On a main staircase frequently used by a whole family, the oak offers a higher margin. stairs in oak.
Why does the birch run faster with time?
Under the influence of light, especially ultraviolet rays, which gradually alter the wood’s surface compounds, the change is rapid in the first months, then slows down without ever stopping completely. No finish can completely block it, even if a UV-filtering product significantly slows its progression.
birch or oak, how to cut?
The oak affirms a visible grain and accepts the dark stains while keeping its texture; the birch gives a smooth and uniform surface, more discreet. On hardness, the advantage goes to the oak. On evolution over time, the birch moves more. stairs in hardwood.
Can we lighten a birch that has darkened?
Sanding removes the most altered surface layer and restores a lighter wood, but the process then resumes from this new starting point. This is not a definitive correction, but it is a good opportunity to review the hue at the time of a renovation. renovation of stairs.
Is the birch suitable for a contemporary interior?
Its plain and figureless surface lends itself well to this, provided that the hue warms up over the years. On a very clean design, this evolution is sometimes sought after. On a project where the staircase must remain in tune with other light woods that have remained stable, it complicates things significantly, and it is better to know this from the start. classic staircases.
Discover also our stairs in oak, but stairs in hardwood and nos Projects, or request a quote.
REALIZATIONS IN BIRCH
The birch in all its states
01
winder staircase birch
Longueuil
02
treads birch oiled
Boucherville
03
handrail birch
Brossard
04
Open staircase birch
Chambly