The Use of Plywood in Construction

Question

Plywood has become one of the most popular building materials, thanks to its useful properties such as ability to withstand moisture and high strength. Despite being robust and versatile, plywood remains affordable and durable for small businesses. A quick glance at the different types of plywood will reveal their importance.

From kitchen cabinets, floorings, and walls to furniture: the entire construction industry revolves around plywood. The use of plywood will only continue to increase as the global market grows because of lack of affordable and reliable alternatives.

Use of Plywood in Construction Engineering

The most prominent use of plywood is in structural applications. Plywood can naturally withstand a lot of stress and full weather exposure. Structural plywood is best used for beams and hoardings, but it is commonly used in crates, bins, internal structures, outdoor furniture, and boxes. Structural plywood is used for wall and roof bracing.

There are several plywood grades in the market, the most common and popular being A-grade which can take some serious beating. It is not uncommon for highly durable boards to withstand continuous boiling without delaminating. However, there is marine plywood which is made with glues that are completely weatherproof and boilproof.

It is also common to use B-bond grade structural plywood. This obviously comes at the cost of durability, but the material is sturdy enough for use in exterior door skins and concrete formwork.

There’s also C-grade plywood, which is un-sanded and likely to have several minor defects that will need to be repaired. C-plywood is used in cases where appearance and durability aren’t that important, such as subfloors and garages. At the very low-end of the spectrum is D-grade plywood, which is un-sanded and guaranteed to have defects that haven’t been repaired. D-grade plywood is identifiable by obvious discoloration and sanding defects.

It is common for manufacturers to pair up different grades of plywood to save on costs. The most popular example is BC-grade, which is a mix of B-grade plywood on one side and C-grade on the other side.

i) Exterior Plywood

As the name suggests, exterior plywood is used outside the house in items that require some serious durability. This type of plywood is bound together using water-resistant glue that doesn’t wear off easily. Some of the most suitable applications for exterior plywood are walls, roof linings, stables, and even outdoor floorings.

ii) Interior Plywood

In this type of construction, aesthetics and appearance take priority. This is because the foundation of the walls and roofs are already laid out, requiring minor aesthetic touch-ups. Interior plywood is not very resistant against outdoor elements and tends to degrade quickly when exposed to moisture and heat.

Some of the popular applications for interior plywood include indoor furniture, interior cladding, and ceilings.

What are Commercial Plywood – It's Types and Sizes

Plywood is considered to be the cheapest and the best alternative to wood for making furniture, cabinets, paneling and even in industrial applications. It is because plywood is strong and impact resistant to a certain extent and it is available in easily workable sheet form when compared to wood.

Enquire Now for Plywood

What is commercial plywood?

There are different grades of plywood. The commercial plywood is the standard plywood that you can access in any hardware store when you ask for plywood. The commercial plywood is usually a grade of plywood that is quite cheap because it is manufacturer out of veneers or slices of woods called the ply which is glued or bonded together under high pressure. The commercial plywood is also termed MR plywood where MR denotes moisture resistant. This means that the plywood can withstand a fair amount of dampness, humidity, and moisture. The commercial plywoods are made with different types of veneers that are popular in a particular geographical location. You have commercial plywood made of Rubber veneers in the south whereas, you have veneers made of eucalyptus in some other place.

Locate: Plywood Suppliers and Manufacturers in India

On the basis of manufacturing of commercial plywood, you do have a commercial plywood type called the Alternate commercial plywood. This refers to the type of plywood that is manufactured using two different species of veneer. For example, Fir and Eucalyptus veneers or any other such combination can be used to make commercial plywoods.

Answer 1

i) High Panel Shears It is common to use an odd number of layers to make plywood to increase resistance to bending. The angle at which the veneer grains are arranged might be varied from 90 degrees. Common angles include 45 and 30 degrees to each other. The changes in angle strengthen the plywood. This allows the plywood to be used in bracing panels and fabricated beams. ii) High Strength The strength of plywood is only as high as the tree it is extracted from. But it can be strengthened later on during its manufacturing cycle. It is common to add grains of each veneer at 90 degrees to each other to prevent splitting, especially when hammered at the edges. This gives the veneer additional strength and increased stability. This makes it ideal for webbed beams, flooring, and shear walls. iii) Flexibility Plywood has the added advantage of being shaped into the manufacturer’s choice. Its thickness can be varied from just a few millimetres to several inches. Manufacturers use additional veneers to increase the plywood’s strength. Each additional layer of veneer increases the strength of the plywood proportionally. It is common to use thin veneers for increased flexibility for use in panelling and ceilings. iv) Moisture Resistance There are several types of glues used to bind the pieces of veneer together. The right choice of adhesive gives the plywood special properties such as resistance to moisture and humidity. Adding a layer of varnish and paint also increases resistance to water damage. This allows the veneer to be used in sheds, marine construction, and cladding. Moisture resistance plays an important role in interior applications as well, including floors and walls. If the plywood is cross-laminated, it ensures the veneers won’t shrink, or expand when exposed to high temperatures and water. v) Resistance to Chemicals While plywood is naturally vulnerable to chemical substances, this can be avoided by treating the veneers with preservatives. The result is so effective that it can be used in chemical works such as cooling towers. vi) Fire Resistance Although plywood and veneer are well-known fire hazards, manufacturers have been able to increase fire resistance by the use of a chemical coating. This is done by combining non-combustible chemicals such as fibrous cement and plasterboard. It can then be used in structures to make them compliant with local regulations vii) Insulation Plywood has naturally high sound and thermal insulation. It is commonly used to insulate floorings, roofs, wall claddings, and ceilings. The high insulation properties of plywood reduce heating and cooling costs over the years. viii) Resistance to Shock While plywood is naturally resistant to impact and shock due to high tensile strength, it can be further strengthened via cross lamination of veneers. This is because of the distribution of force over a large surface area, reducing the tensile strength over an isolated area. The result is plywood that can withstand excessive overloading by up to three times or more before crumbling. This is especially useful during high winds and seismic activity. Plywood with high tensile strength is used in heavy-duty applications such as concrete framework and flooring. The Manufacturing Process of Plywood – A Brief Overview The first step is to fell the trees. A high powered