Plywood 101: Know the Different Types of Plywood & Their Uses
Plywood stands as a cornerstone in the construction and manufacturing industries, renowned for its exceptional strength, durability, and versatility. This composite material, crafted through the adhesion of multiple thin wood layers, has revolutionized construction practices, enabling a broad spectrum of applications from structural frameworks to intricate furniture designs.
What is Plywood?
Plywood is a highly versatile engineered wood product, known for its remarkable strength and stability due to its unique construction. Composed of several thin layers of wood veneers bonded together under heat and pressure, the grains of adjacent layers are oriented perpendicular to each other. This cross-graining technique reduces the plywood’s susceptibility to expansion and shrinkage, enhancing its dimensional stability and making it an excellent choice for a wide range of applications.
Common Applications of Plywood:
- Construction: Plywood is extensively used in the construction industry for framing, sheathing, roofing, and flooring due to its strength and resilience. Its ability to withstand heavy loads and resistance to moisture (when specifically treated) makes it ideal for both interior and exterior structural applications.
- Furniture Making: Owing to its smooth surface and aesthetic appeal, plywood is a popular choice for furniture. It provides a durable and cost-effective base for desks, chairs, tables, and cabinets.
- Cabinetry: The uniform strength and appearance of plywood make it perfect for cabinetry work, especially for the construction of kitchen cabinets and wardrobes.
- Flooring Underlayment: Plywood serves as an excellent underlayment for various flooring materials, offering a stable and flat surface that supports the finish flooring, enhancing its longevity.
- Marine Use: Specially treated marine plywood is used in boat construction and docks, thanks to its ability to resist moisture and decay.
- Packaging: For shipping and transportation of heavy goods, plywood crates and boxes are preferred for their strength and durability.
How is Plywood Made?
Plywood production is an intricate process that converts logs into multifunctional panels. Initially, logs are debarked, cut, and then softened by steaming or hot water immersion for easier peeling into thin veneers. These veneers are dried to the optimal moisture level to enhance their strength and prevent warping. After drying, the veneers are sorted, graded, and glued together in layers, with their grain orientation alternating to boost the panel’s strength and reduce the risk of splitting. High heat and pressure are applied to bond these layers into a solid plywood panel.
Different types of wood, including softwoods for less demanding applications and hardwoods for tougher uses, are selected based on the desired properties of the final product.
Different Types of Plywood
The diversity of plywood types available today is a testament to the material’s adaptability and broad range of applications.
Softwood Plywood
Softwood plywood is crafted from trees like pine, cedar, and spruce, which contribute to its lightweight and easy-to-handle characteristics. This type of plywood is widely utilized in the construction industry, particularly for interior applications such as wall sheathing, roofing, and subflooring. Its affordability, coupled with a good strength-to-weight ratio, makes it a preferred choice for projects requiring large quantities of plywood.
The price range of $20 to $30 per sheet makes it accessible for bulk purchases, facilitating cost-effective construction projects.
Hardwood Plywood
Hardwood plywood, made from denser woods such as birch, maple, and oak, is renowned for its exceptional strength and aesthetic appeal. The tightly packed fibers of these hardwood species grant the plywood enhanced durability and resistance to wear, making it ideal for high-end applications such as furniture making, cabinetry, and decorative paneling. Hardwood plywood offers a splendid finish that can be stained or varnished to highlight the natural beauty of the wood.
Its price range of $40 to $70 per sheet reflects its superior quality, appealing to those seeking a premium finish and long-lasting performance.
Exterior Plywood
Exterior plywood is engineered to endure outdoor conditions thanks to its waterproof adhesives. This type of plywood is suitable for external structures such as sheds, outdoor furniture, and signage, where exposure to moisture is a concern. Its robust construction ensures that it can withstand variations in temperature and humidity, preserving its integrity over time.
The price range of $30 to $50 per sheet offers a balance between durability and cost, making it a viable option for outdoor projects that demand weather-resistant materials.
Structural Plywood
Structural plywood is designed with high strength and stiffness in mind, essential qualities for load-bearing applications in construction such as for floors, roofs, and wall bracing. Its enhanced structural integrity is achieved through the careful selection of veneers and the use of strong adhesives, ensuring that the plywood can support significant loads without bending or breaking.
The cost of $35 to $55 per sheet is a reflection of its robustness and reliability in structural applications, where the safety and stability of the construction are paramount.
Marine Plywood
Marine plywood is distinguished by its exceptional resistance to water and humidity, making it the preferred choice for marine applications like boat building, docks, and waterfront structures. Crafted with high-quality hardwood veneers and waterproof glue, marine plywood is designed to endure the harsh marine environment, resisting delamination and fungal decay.
The premium price range of $75 to $100 per sheet is indicative of its specialized properties and the rigorous standards it meets for marine use.
Fire-Retardant Plywood
Fire-retardant plywood is treated with chemicals that inhibit flame spread and smoke development, making it an essential component in building construction where fire safety is a concern. This plywood is commonly used in commercial and residential settings, including in walls, ceilings, and floors that require additional protection against fire hazards.
The price range of $45 to $65 per sheet represents an investment in safety, providing peace of mind through enhanced fire resistance.
Decorative Plywood
Decorative plywood combines the practical benefits of plywood with the aesthetic appeal of high-quality veneers. Available in a variety of finishes, including oak, maple, and cherry, decorative plywood is used to create visually striking furniture, cabinetry, and interior design elements. Its ability to mimic the look of solid wood at a fraction of the cost, along with the ease of installation, makes it a popular choice for both commercial and residential projects.
The price range of $50 to $80 per sheet varies with the type of veneer, allowing for customization according to design preferences and budget constraints.
Table Summary
| Type of Plywood | Applications | Price Range |
| Softwood | Construction, Sheathing, Roofing | $20 – $30 |
| Hardwood | Furniture, Cabinetry | $40 – $70 |
| Exterior | Outdoor Construction, Furniture | $30 – $50 |
| Structural | Floors, Roofs, Load-Bearing | $35 – $55 |
| Marine | Boats, Marine Environments | $75 – $100 |
| Fire-Retardant | Commercial/Residential Safety | $45 – $65 |
| Decorative | High-End Furniture, Interior Design | $50 – $80 |
Plywood Grades
Plywood grades are essential in determining the material’s quality, appearance, and suitable applications. Here’s a breakdown of common plywood grades:
- Grade A: The top-quality grade with a smooth, sanded, and defect-free surface. Ideal for visible applications in furniture and decorative projects.
- Grade B: Good quality with minor imperfections like small knots or discoloration. Fits uses where minor flaws are acceptable or covered, offering flexibility for aesthetic and structural needs.
- Grade C: Allows noticeable defects like larger knots and splits, typically filled and repaired. Used where plywood won’t be visible, such as subflooring or interior sheathing.
- Grade D: The lowest grade, marked by significant defects. Used in structural areas where appearance isn’t a concern, such as support frames.
- CDX: Designed for construction, featuring a C-grade face and a D-grade back. The “X” indicates exterior-grade adhesive, making it suitable for covered outdoor use, like sheathing.
- Marine-Grade: Specialized for moisture resistance in marine environments, using high-quality hardwood veneers and waterproof adhesives. Ideal for boat building and docks, focusing on durability and resistance to moisture rather than surface appearance.
Standard Plywood Sizes & Plywood Thickness
Plywood comes in standard sizes, most commonly 4 feet by 8 feet, accommodating a wide range of applications from construction to furniture making. Thickness varies, typically ranging from 1/8 inch to 1 inch, influencing the plywood’s structural integrity and suitability for different projects.
Thickness selection is crucial. Thicker plywood offers more strength and stability, ideal for flooring and roofing, while thinner sheets are suited for decorative purposes.
Dimension Common Uses
| Dimension | Common Uses |
| 4×8 ft, 1/4 in | Paneling, ceiling linings |
| 4×8 ft, 1/2 in | Furniture, interior decorating |
| 4×8 ft, 3/4 in | Structural applications, subflooring |
Conclusion: Advancing Construction Quality with Forming America
Plywood’s diversity, combined with its structural and aesthetic versatility, makes it an indispensable resource in construction and design projects. Whether you’re constructing a building, crafting furniture, or undertaking a renovation, understanding the types of plywood and their respective grades is essential for achieving desired outcomes.
Forming America is your trusted partner, offering a wide range of used plywood for sale that meets various project requirements, from structural integrity to aesthetic appeal.