actually i used it both ways- some white out some darkside out, mostly for the accent effect. the applications above doors and windows saw little weather under the eaves so no real issues that way. very interesting to hear about the use of the bark to protect timbers. if you find a birch tree on the forest floor all the bark is still solid long after the wood inside is rotted.
in retrospect i think the custom in canoe building of putting the winter bark out makes sense, if only because it is smoother and doesn't peel off. the white side bark is above a door behind a light fixture (i thought it would reflect the light, and it does...) but the spiders like it too and have little bits to start their webs from and so it needs to be swept regularly. but it does look pretty.
the sheets start to roll straightaway, regardless of size when they're peeled from the tree (cut straight down and around the circumference and peel back with a dull axe). the sheets i harvested were about 1/4 inch thick, 3 feet long, and about 2 feet wide. if they're pushed down flat to dry they behave a bit better, but still like to roll as they were. i found it easiest to deal with the bark straight off the tree while its most pliable, nailed down in a fairly tight pattern (3inches -pretty effect too). it's pleasant to work with and smells good- minty. the sap is drinkable (the finns tap it and freeze it to drink straight- if you cut the top off a sapling in the spring when it's flowing you can suck it straight from the tree). this is the spiritual, lightening smell of the birch switch (koivu vihta) on the sauna stones.
i'm going to start experimenting with other barks now. wainscoting... door panels... ice house as mentioned... ???
