Plywood is a timber product that is engineered from thin sheets of wood veneers that are glued together to form a flat sheet. Plywood sheets and boards have a wide range of benefits, including increased stability, high resistance to impact, and resistance to changes in temperature and moisture. Plywood is also cost-effective, doesn’t corrode, and has a high strength to weight ratio. This means it has a broad range of applications. In this article, we’ll look at 4 uses for plywood.
1. Interior & Exterior Walls
Plywood can be used to add strength to exterior walls as thanks to its flexibility, it performs well in high winds and even during earthquakes. Plywood can also be used for wood panelling and interior walls.
2. Flooring & Roofing
Plywood is commonly used for both roofing and flooring as it’s durable and can carry heavy loads. It can also act as a skin underneath other materials, such as metal, tile, or a membrane.
3. Furniture & Cabinets
Plywood is practical and cost-effective and can be found in all types of furniture including bookcases, TV units, dressing tables, wardrobes, and chests of drawers. Plywood can also be used to make cabinets for kitchens and is a more durable alternative to chipboard for cabinet backs and sides.
4. General DIY Projects
When it comes to using plywood for general projects, the possibilities are endless! It can be used for many home improvements from practical DIY workbenches to beautiful custom bookshelves and is a popular choice for dog houses and rabbit hutches.
About Plywood Grades
Plywood comes in different grades and there are a few different classifications, however the most widely used is the A-D grading system, in which ‘A’ grade is the best or highest quality. You may also see plywood with two grades, for example, ‘A/C’, this means that one side (designed to face outward) is a grade A plywood and the back, which won’t be seen, is a grade C.
Plywood is also divided into different exposure grades and which one you need will depend on where it will be used and how much exposure it will get to the elements.
No matter what plywood you choose, be sure that it fits your project and is the right plywood for the job.
What to Be Wary of When Using Plywood
Obviously, plywood does have its disadvantages too.
- You may not always know what type of wood veneers have been used to manufacture plywood.
- It can be more expensive than Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF.)
- It can be more difficult to cut than MDF.
- It’s possible to damage plywood during transport or through incorrect storage.
As with any other material, it’s important to properly secure plywood during transportation when moving it to a site or client location, as unsecured sheets of plywood can cause accidents, which can be incredibly dangerous or even fatal.