How to Choose the Right Plywood for Various Projects

Plywood is a popular building material because it is relatively affordable, yet very sturdy and durable.

There are however a number of different varieties of plywood, so knowing which type to use for various applications is essential to prevent problems occurring later on.

In this article, we explore the various types of plywood available and how best to use them.

Read on to find out more, or use the jump menu below to skip to your desired chapter:

Chapters

1. How is Plywood Made?
2. Grades of Plywood
3. Plywood for Furniture
4. Plywood for Exterior Use
5. Plywood for Water Exposure
6. Plywood for Walls
7. Plywood for Flooring
8. Cutting Plywood
9. Key Takeaways
10. Conclusion

1. How is Plywood Made?

Plywood is made out of thin sheets of wood veneers.

With many of these pieces pressed together using high temperatures, plywood is manufactured.

There are different types of plywood, as well as thicknesses.

Their uses vary depending on this, and a type of plywood may be more suitable for a project rather than another.

It is important to consider the type of project you will be using plywood for, especially in terms of the strength requirements, where the finished product will be placed and used, and more importantly, exposure to the elements.

2. Grades of Plywood

Plywood is classified according to its thickness, appearance and condition.

These factors determine the grade of the plywood, such as:

A Grade

This refers to plywood that is smooth, and with few imperfections. This grade of plywood does not have small knots either. Thus this is high quality plywood. This type of plywood is thus ideal if you intend to paint it.

B Grade

This is plywood that is still of a relatively good quality. Typically such plywood will have small knots and possibly some nicks.

C & D Grade

When plywood is graded C or D, it means that it is of a relatively low quality.

There will be several knotholes and defects in it, as well as void areas.

This type of plywood can still be used if your main objective is to save money, and when it will be used in a project where it will be used in interior parts, or when it will be covered up, and so imperfections will not be visible.

Softwood vs Hardwood Grades

It is important to consider the difference between softwood and hardwood grades of plywood.

Softwood plywood refers to plywood in which the face and back veneers are composed of soft types of wood. These include cedar, pine and Douglas fir.

These are then graded as noted above, from A to D.

Hardwood plywood on the other hand is of a higher quality and it is the most ideal choice if aesthetics are important for your project.

Birch and oak are most commonly used for the hardwood veneer faces.

3. Plywood for Furniture

Plywood is often used for manufacturing furniture, especially furniture fronts like the drawer fronts and the cabinet tops.

The lower grade plywood is used for the interior parts of the furniture, and the higher grade is used for the outer parts where a more attractive veneer is desired.

This helps to save a bit on money, as well as reduce the weight of the furniture.

Plywood is very popular when building shelving units, wall units and cabinets.

4. Plywood for Exterior Use

If you intend to use plywood to build something that will be used outdoors, it is important to choose high grade plywood which is suitable for exterior use.

You need to bear in mind that since plywood is made from several layers of veneer glued together, it is not ideal to have it exposed to moisture.

Exterior plywood will have been manufactured using water-resistant glue, and it is thus more resistant.

This type of plywood is not graded from A to D, but instead a letter X is used to show that it was made with exterior glue.

5. Plywood for Water Exposure

Plywood is graded so as to allow you to make a well-informed choice, depending on how and where it will be used.

Apart from the grading ranging from A to D, plywood is also classified by the following categorisations, which reflect its resistance to water:

Exterior

This is plywood where fully waterproof bond glue has been utilised to glue the layers to each other, making it the best and most sturdy type of plywood in case of high levels of moisture.

Exposure 1

Still sturdy and able to withstand water exposure but it is not to be used for permanent exposure to weather as it is not as resistant as the former.

Exposure 2

Features an intermediate bond, making it ideal for interior use where the plywood will be protected, and only low levels of water exposure are expected.

6. Plywood for Walls

If you will be using plywood for walls, it is best to go for construction plywood.

This is exterior grade plywood, which is able to withstand weather exposure.

You want peace of mind when you use plywood for walls, and you do not want exposure to weather to affects the integrity and safety of the walls.

7. Plywood for Flooring

Plywood is often used for flooring projects.

You need to ensure that your floors are both durable and safe, and so you should opt for plywood that is of a high quality.

Floors typically consist of a number of layers.

Floor underlayment it typically made from 5/8” plywood sheets, whereas the subfloor which sits below it is made from thicker plywood of at least ¾”.

8. Cutting Plywood

When using plywood it is important to make sure that you cut it correctly. You will need to use the most adequate type of blade.

Here are some tips to bear in mind:

• Always cut plywood with the good side down
• Cut along the scrap side
• You may wish to invest in a plywood cutting blade
• Always set the depth right, and ideally make use of some extruded foam as backing

Key Takeaways

If you want to save money and still have an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture, or sturdy walls and floors, there is no need to look any further.

Plywood is a very popular choice for these and various other projects too.

It is widely used in woodwork and construction, and it is a favourite among DIY lovers.

The fact that it comes in different thicknesses, and that you can choose from various classifications, allows you to make the right choice as you will be using plywood that is most ideal for your needs, and according to the weather exposure and moisture resistance expected.

Conclusion

Plywood is a versatile and affordable material that can be used for interior, as well as exterior and structural applications.

Thanks to plywood quality grading and classifications, you can choose wisely and increase your chances of having plywood that is ideal for your intended project.

You can thus save money as well as increase the longevity of the project.