Plywood Explained: Choosing the Right Plywood for Strength and Durability
Planning to build cabinets or furniture? Are you building a storage shed in your yard? Plywood is an ideal type of wood to use for all kinds of DIY and construction projects. But you might not be sure which type to choose.
Let’s start with the question, what exactly is plywood? And then we'll learn more about the different types of plywood — and what they’re used for — so you can make the right selection for your project!
What Is Plywood?
Is it genuine wood? Sort of. Plywood is a kind of engineered wood, rather than solid-wood boards, such as hardwood and softwood lumber. What is plywood made of? It’s manufactured from thin sheets of wood veneers bound together with resin or glue.
Those sheets of three or more veneer layers--or plies--create a durable panel of engineered wood. These layers include the face veneer, core veneer, and back veneer. You can find plywood in 3-ply, 5-ply, and multi-ply options. Typically the more layers in the plywood, the higher the quality. Some plywood includes a lumber core, while others are all veneer.
Plywood sheets are layered so that the direction of the wood grain alternate. This cross-lamination offers the following benefits:
- Lower risk of expanding
- Reduced risk of shrinkage
- Lower risk of splitting
- Consistent strength
- Less chance of warping
Plywood Grades
Despite being a manufactured product, plywood panels have a lot of variation. In fact, there’s a grading system used to let you know the quality and appearance of the front and back veneers or sides. Examples of these grades include the following:
- A: Sanded, mostly free of defects on the front and back sides, and can be painted
- A/B: Front side is mostly free of defects, but back side has small knots and/or a few discolorations
- B: Both sides have a few knots and/or discolorations
- C: Unsanded with several small defects
- D: Unsanded with bigger defects
Plywood grades with few to no defects are a good choice when visual appearance matters, such as cabinet doors. Those with a few or more defects are suitable for projects where appearance doesn’t matter as much, such as for subfloors, and wall and roof sheathing.
Different Types of Plywood
Plywood comes in several types — depending on the type of wood it’s made from and what it’s used for. We’ll explore the various kinds of plywood that are available for DIY and building projects.
Softwood Plywood
You might be familiar with softwoods used for furniture or other products, such as cedar, fir or pine. These kinds of wood can also be used to make plywood veneers. They’re usually made for use in constructing for roofs, floors, and other structures.
Different sources of softwood plywood include:
- Douglas fir
- Pine
- Redwood
- Spruce
- Cedar
Hardwood Plywood
What differentiates hardwood plywood from softwood plywood, is that its face and back veneers are cut from hardwood. That creates plywood with a slightly denser surface, but more importantly allows you to build projects with the look of hardwood, but more economically. Hardwood plywood is used to build cabinets, furniture and musical instruments.
Some sources of hardwood plywood include the following:
- Mahogany
- Birch
- Oak
- Beech
- Maple
Sanded Plywood
Looking for plywood to use for projects that need aesthetic appeal? Go with sanded plywood! This type has both sides sanded during manufacturing, creating a smoother surface that’s easier to paint or finish.
Sanded plywood is a top option for DIY projects like cabinetry or shelving, where the surfaces are highly visible.
Marine Plywood
Building a boat or dock? You’ll want to choose marine plywood for these kinds of projects. This is a water-resistant plywood that can handle exposure to moisture and water without developing rot or other problems.
Marine plywood uses a waterproof glue to hold veneers together — but note that this plywood isn’t entirely waterproof. It also offers a high amount of strength, making it suitable for decks, docks, boats, and similar structures.
Structural Plywood
As the name implies, this type is mainly designed for structural purposes. You can use it for beams or framing when building a room, shed, or other structure. Since it’s unfinished, it’s not a suitable kind of plywood for visible places.
This type of plywood typically has a different kind of glue used to hold layers together. Overall, structural plywood offers more durability and strength compared to other types.
Insulated Plywood
Using plywood for ceilings, walls, or similar areas of your home? Consider using insulated plywood for these kinds of projects. This type of plywood has an insulated rigid-foam core between layers — giving you a convenient way to keep these areas well-insulated from hot or cold outdoor air.
Flexible Plywood
Making furniture with intricate designs? Flexible plywood is a great option for any DIY project that involves curved shapes. This kind of plywood can bend with ease, allowing you to make or build curved items with visual appeal.
Flexible plywood comes in a couple of varieties, including:
- Cross-grain: The longer edge bends
- Long-grain: The shorter edge bends
Project Plywood Panels
Planning to do multiple DIY projects that don’t require a lot of wood or complexity? That’s what project plywood panels are made for. These panels are pre-cut and ready to use right away for simple DIY projects. They’re a good choice if you’re a DIY beginner!
Best Uses for Plywood
You can use plywood for many DIY projects. Its durability and strength make it a suitable option for all types of uses, including:
- Subfloors
- Exterior wall sheathing and interior walls
- Roofing sheathing
- Marine applications, such as docks and boats
- Furniture
- Crates and boxes
- Cabinets and shelves
These are just some of the uses for plywood. Consider choosing it when you need a wood material that’s affordable, durable, strong — and easy to work with!
Using Plywood for DIY Projects
You don’t have to be a construction worker to work with plywood. It’s suitable for a wide range of DIY projects, from small and simple to more complex in scope. When using plywood for furniture, cabinets, structures, or other DIY projects, keep these tips in mind:
- Choose the right type: Go with marine plywood for external uses involving water exposure. Choose flexible plywood for curved objects. Use project plywood panels for simple DIY projects. The right type helps ensure that you get the results you want.
- Choose a suitable grade: A grade gives you the best quality plywood — but it also costs more. Consider whether or not a lower grade would work fine for your project, especially if the wood won’t be visible or doesn’t need to be painted.
- Consider plywood ratings: These ratings let you know how and where plywood can be used. Exterior is suitable for outdoor use and is waterproof. Interior is designed for indoor use only. Exposure 1 means plywood can handle the elements during construction, but not long-term. Exposure 2 means plywood is mainly for interior use, but can handle some moisture.
- Use the right tools: Some tools work better than others for cutting or sawing plywood, such as circular saws, handsaws, table saws, and jigsaws. And position the plywood with its best veneer surface facing down when cutting with a circular saw or jigsaw. That way, any splintering will occur on the back side.
What Are the Advantages of Plywood?
Why do so many DIYers turn to plywood for various projects? They do so thanks to the many advantages it offers, such as:
- Strength from its layers of wood fiber
- Flexibility that makes some types possible to bend for curved objects
- Affordability compared to timber and other wood products
- Variety of types to choose from to suit any project
- Different sizes and thicknesses available
- Lighter weight compared to other kinds of wood for easier handling
- Less likely to split when nails or screws are used
- Comes in large sheets for quickly covering large areas
What Are the Disadvantages of Plywood?
Plywood has several benefits — but it also has a few potential drawbacks to consider. These include the following:
- Vulnerable to moisture if you don’t use a moisture-resistant type, resulting in damage over time
- Splintering, rough edges, and other problems when sawing or cutting through plywood with traditional saws or other tools
- Rough surface that can make it hard to paint evenly for a smooth appearance
- Resin or glue used to hold wood fiber sheets together can emit harmful gases when you cut or saw through it — always wear safety gear and only saw or cut plywood in a well-ventilated area
With tons of options — from various sizes and grades to different types — you can find plywood that perfectly fits your project. Just make sure you protect yourself when working with this material. Plywood can generate a lot of sawdust and splinters, so wear gloves and a dust mask to keep yourself safe!