What is plywood

Introduction

Plywood is a type of material that’s made by compressing layers of wood together. It’s an excellent choice for building furniture and other structures, as well as for getting the job done on a budget. There are several types of plywood https://sheetmaterialswholesale.co.uk/sheet-materials/plywood/ out there today that can be confusing to navigate. In this article we’ll take you through the different types so that you can choose what works best for your needs 

Marine plywood

In the world of plywood, most people are familiar with marine grade. This type of plywood is often used in boat building and construction, as well as other outdoor projects.

Marine grade plywood has a waterproof coating which helps to protect it from moisture that may occur while outside or in contact with water. This makes it an ideal material for making sheds, decks and other structures that will be exposed to rain or snow regularly.

Another benefit of marine plywood is that it doesn’t warp when exposed to moisture like standard exterior-grade plywood does. The increased stability of this material makes it suitable for use in areas where you know there will be lots of rain or snowfall such as on balconies or patios where you live close enough to the shoreline for saltwater spray from storms (aka hurricanes).

Birch plywood

Some of the most common and popular plywoods are birch. Birch plywood is made from birch, a hardwood that is native to northern Europe and Asia. Birch trees grow quickly and can be harvested at about 20 years old, which makes it one of the fastest growing softwoods.

Birch plywood is strong and durable, making it ideal for use in furniture building or boat building. Because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, birch plywood has become increasingly popular for use in automobiles like cars and motorcycles due to its ability to provide rigidity without adding weight or compromising performance.

Hardwood plywood

Hardwood plywood is made by combining hardwoods, usually oak or birch, with softwoods like pine. It’s a popular choice for furniture and cabinets because it’s more durable than softwood plywood, but still cheaper than solid wood. However, it can be difficult to tell if you’re buying hardwood or softwood ply unless you know what you’re looking for.

Hardwood vs Softwood Ply

Hardwoods are typically harder than most other woods (e.g., maple), while softwoods are generally softer (think pine). Hardwoods tend to age better over time and take on a richer color as they age—making them better suited for flooring and wall paneling than softwoods like pine or fir. But when it comes time to use those floors and walls inside your home they need more care than regular flooring would require; otherwise they will warp due to moisture damage caused by humidity levels inside the house being too high during summer months when there isn’t air conditioning available yet.

Softwood plywood

  • Softwood plywood is made from a variety of softwoods, including pine and fir. It is commonly used for interior walls, furniture and subfloors in commercial buildings.

Softwood plywood is less expensive than hardwood plywood, but the difference in price comes with a few drawbacks: softwood plywood isn’t as strong or durable as hardwoods; it’s not suitable for exterior applications; and it has greater potential to warp than its hardwood counterpart.

There are more fifteen types of plywood

There are more fifteen types of plywood:

  • Marine plywood
  • Birch plywood 
  • Hardwood plywood 
  • Softwood plywood 
  • Plywood Flooring
  • Exterior Plywood
  • Phenolic Plywood
  • Shuttering Plywood
  • Flexible Plywood
  • Poplar Plywood
  • Fire Retardant Plywood
  • Formwork Plywood
  • Interior Plywood
  • Q Mark Plywood
  • Large Plywood
  • Etc…

Conclusion

Plywood is an important part of our everyday lives, and it’s great that there are four different types to choose from. Whether you need it for a DIY project or just want to learn more about this type of wood, we hope we’ve been able to help you out.