I was looking for some good birch and couldn't find any. All I had found was not very good, to much grain or too many patches. I did find this at Menards. Half a sheet was $25. I got it on sale for $17. It has a better center filler and much better and cleaner surface. I don't know if Lowes or other stores have it. They didn't have it at the lumber yard I went to. The back side is much darker and not as clean but it may do something for some folks. I talked to an old friend and am going to do ten of these for his retired friends, I did him one quite some time ago. It has a perfect clean face to it. Hope this helps others trying to find some wood.