Architecture Adrenaline
Promoting Freedom for Creative Architecture
Plywood is often used for products that require long pieces of wood, such as shuttering panels for concrete walls, kitchen cabinets, fences and external sheathing. Plywood is less susceptible to bending than solid wood and can even be veneered, painted or laminated for additional finishes.
Plywood achieves its strength through layers, eliminating knots that would otherwise obstruct its strength. These composite boards are bound together under pressure using resin glue for consistency and strength.
Plywood offers tremendous strength and durability, making it suitable for many purposes such as doors, shelves, cabinets, paneling, water damage resistance and lacquering, painting veneering or laminating. Some popular types include commercial ply, marine ply and blockboard.
Plyboard typically ranges in thickness between 3mm and 25mm and comes in standard eight foot by four foot sheets or can be customized according to individual requirements. Plywood comes in various grades such as birch, mixed or conifer plywoods for you to choose from.
Plywood is an ideal solution for structural projects, especially those using it as an alternative to solid wood. Plywood can withstand both bending and shear stresses as well as temperature and humidity changes that would cause natural wood to warp or split; however, selecting the appropriate type is critical; high density gradient and compact core plywood offers better routing characteristics than low grade alternatives.
Plywood features a smooth surface that makes it easy to paint, veneer and laminate it for interior design applications. As a strong material it also stands up well to wear and tear from its use as a floorboard alternative in office buildings and other environments. Ordinary tools can be used to cut and shape plywood quickly while its grain pattern seals tighter against moisture penetration than fiberboard does.
However, plywood does have its drawbacks: excessive exposure to moisture may cause it to swell up, while long pieces made of it tend to bend at their centers when assembled. Furthermore, improper sanding or sealing could make it susceptible to mold growth.
For durable exterior construction projects, weatherproof or boil-proof plywood may be a suitable material. Plywood also makes an excellent material choice for long bookshelves and wall panels as it can bear heavy loads without warping under pressure. When working on extended projects it may be beneficial to select softwood-cored plywood to help avoid warping due to its more resilient nature against warping and bending.
Plywood may be strong, but its use in long bookcases or tables often causes it to sag and twist in the center, and can become damaged from water, making it unsuitable for longer wood structures or walls. Plywood on the other hand is hard and water resistant making it better suited for shorter furniture pieces and structures as it can be painted, veneered or laminated easier than large pieces of solid wood.
Plywood is typically constructed of hardwood core material surrounded by strips made of softwood, giving it greater strength than plyboard with only softwood reinforcement. Other wood types, such as alternative core plywood or marine-grade plywood can also be used. Furthermore, all edges can be sanded smooth before sealing with powerful sealants to make cutting and moving sheets easy and straightforward. Most sheets measure eight feet by four feet for convenient transporting and working purposes.
Plywood is an ideal material for many applications that require high-quality, strong sheet material. It resists warping, twisting, shrinkage and cracking while being flexible enough to bend with the grain to fit curved surfaces. However, its strength decreases with moisture levels - so use indoors or outdoors only if humidity levels remain below 50%.
Plywood is an eco-friendly construction material, and uses less wood than particleboard for your project - both factors can help save you money! Plus it gives a beautiful finished product!
Plywood comes in various thicknesses and finishes. It can be painted or stained, while being cut easily using standard woodworking tools. Furthermore, its edges are smooth for seamless furniture projects.
