8 ADVANTAGES OF PLYWOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Discover the advantages of plywood in construction projects, from strength to minimal waste and different plywood designs for various applications.
The humble sheet of plywood could arguably be the construction industry’s most trusted material. We use it structurally, for beams, walls and in hoardings around the building site. Our kitchens, floors and furniture owe their shape and durability to plywood. It may not be sexy, but its enduring appeal lies in its strength, flexibility and affordability. And there are a few more reasons why plywood is the industry’s go-to material…
- It’s strong
The reason we use plywood instead of ordinary timber in construction is its strength. Layers of hardwood and softwood, called veneers, are glued together, placing the grain of each piece at right angles to each other, giving greater strength and to prevent splitting and resist cracking, shrinkage, expansion and warping. Cross laminating the veneers provides further strength.
Hardwoods are maple, ash, mahogany and oak; softwoods are pine and cedar. Often, extra materials are added to the external veneers for even more strength and reliability, improving resistance to moisture and external elements.
- It’s lightweight
Although plywood is made of multiple layers to give it strength, it is much lighter than solid wood. Which makes plywood so much easier to use, no matter what you’re using it for: furniture, kitchen cabinets, walls or floors.
- There’s minimal waste
Plywood panels come in larger dimensions (our plywood is 2440mm x 1220mm with a range of depths), which is perfect for large construction projects. With fewer gaps and uneven ends, cutting and waste will be minimal.
- It’s affordable
Plywood costs less than solid wood. And because there is minimal or no wastage, you’ll save time and money there too. Plus, its lightweight design means transportation costs will be lower.
- It’s flexible
Plywood is also available in many thicknesses and sizes. By selecting thinner options, it can be shaped to your needs, for example in panelling and ceilings and making curved surfaces.
- It insulates
Plywood is excellent for providing thermal and sound insulation to floors, walls and ceilings. It can also be treated to make it fire-resistant and waterproof.
- It’s resistant to moisture
The glues used to bond the veneers together give the plywood additional properties, such as moisture resistance, which makes this mind of plywood perfect for outdoor buildings and marine construction, plus internal walls and floors.
- Different plywood designs suit different jobs:
Hardwood plywood is a high quality ply that can be bent to shape complex designs such as in furniture making, cabinets and joinery.
Sheathing Shuttering plywood is a dense ply made of many layers of tightly packed veneers. Its strength makes it ideal for concrete formwork, site fencing, boarding up, ceilings, walls and general renovation.
Marine plywood is made from highly durable timber and exterior WBP glue – perfect for high moisture environments. Ideal for boat building, it can also be used to make strong outdoor furniture.
WBP (Water and Boil Proof) is a high quality hardwood plywood ideal for roofing, flooring,
soffits, dog kennels and skateboard ramps!
OSB (Oriented Strand Board) or Sterling Board is a tough, waterproof building board created by bonding together cross-oriented layers of wood strands, with an ECO resin. Perfect for flat and pitched roof systems.
Take a look at our wide range of plywood sheets and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) sheets.
If you need help in deciding the right plywood for your job, call us on 01274 602367 or email us at sales@buildershoponline.co.uk
