Baltic Birch Plywood Types — How to Choose the Right One

Core Features Shared Across All Baltic Birch Panels

All Baltic birch panels below share the same core advantages:

• 100% solid birch veneer
• Void-free, multi-ply construction
• Cross-bonded for stability
• WBP (Weather & Boil Proof) glue
• Excellent strength at 3/4" (18mm) thickness

The difference is surface quality, finish level, and use case — not structural performance.

BB/BB Baltic Birch — Unfinished, Consistent Both Sides

What It Is

BB/BB Baltic Birch plywood is unfinished on both sides, sanded smooth (S2S), and ready for paint, stain, or clear finish.

Both faces are BB grade, meaning small, sound patches are allowed but the surface remains uniform and structurally sound on both sides.

Key Characteristics

• Natural birch appearance
• Same quality on front and back
• Long grain runs along the 8-foot length for clean visual flow

Choose BB/BB When

• Both sides may be visible
• You want full control over finishing
• You’re building cabinets, furniture, or shelving with exposed interiors

Avoid If

• You want a factory-finished surface with no finishing work

B/BB Baltic Birch — Cleaner Face on One Side

What It Is

B/BB Baltic Birch plywood is also unfinished and sanded smooth, but with a cleaner B-grade face on the front and a BB-grade back that may contain sound patches or repairs.

Key Characteristics

• One premium visible face
• Back side suitable for hidden or interior use
• Same solid birch, void-free core

Choose B/BB When

• Only one side will be visible
• You want a cleaner appearance on the exposed face
• You’re building cabinets, doors, or panels where the back is concealed

Avoid If

• Both sides will be exposed and appearance matters equally

Film-Faced Baltic Birch — Premium, Clear-Protected Surface

This is the premium option.

What It Is

Film-faced Baltic Birch is finished with a transparent, near-invisible protective film (120 g/m²) that preserves the natural birch grain instead of covering it.

It looks like raw birch — but behaves like a sealed surface.

Key Characteristics

• Clear, eco-style appearance
• Scratch, moisture, and UV protection
• Ready to use — no finishing required
• Easy to clean
• B/B face grade with NN void-free core

The film functions like a durable varnish applied at the factory.

Choose Film-Faced When

• You want a natural wood look without finishing work
• The surface will be touched, cleaned, or used daily
• You’re building furniture, wall panels, or modern interiors

Avoid If

• You plan to paint or stain the surface

White Overlay Baltic Birch — Factory White, Ready to Install

What It Is

This Baltic Birch plywood is finished on both sides with a white resin-impregnated overlay paper, applied under pressure in a factory environment.

This is not primer and not melamine.

Key Characteristics

• Smooth, durable white surface
• Consistent professional finish
• Ready for use or additional coating
• Easy to clean and maintain

Choose White Overlay When

• You want a clean, modern white interior
• You’re building kitchens, closets, or built-ins
• You want to skip painting or priming

Avoid If

• You want visible natural wood grain

Quick Selection Guide

Type	Finish	Best Use	Finishing Needed
BB/BB	Raw birch, both sides	Furniture, cabinets (both sides visible)	Yes
B/BB	Raw birch, one clean face	Cabinets, panels (one side visible)	Yes
Film-Faced	Clear protective film	Premium furniture, wall panels	No
White Overlay	Factory white surface	Kitchens, closets, interiors	No

Which Baltic Birch Plywood Should You Choose?

• Want full finishing control? → BB/BB or B/BB
• Want natural wood with zero finishing? → Film-faced (premium)
• Want a clean white interior look? → White overlay

All options deliver the same structural strength — the decision is about appearance, labor, and final use, not durability.