Choosing A Plywood for Your Home
There are several factors to look for when choosing the type of wood to be used in your home. But for purposes of this article and simplicity as well, I will only focus on plywood.
In choosing plywood for the interiors of your home, one might think that the only difference is the type of wood used in producing them. However, this is only one element to consider.
Some of us might not be aware that there are primary considerations we have to take note of when we’re talking about plywood for either the exterior or interior designs.
Let’s take a look at each of them, and hopefully, it will help you find the perfect one for your home.
Without further delays, let’s find out what is the best option of plywood for your home…
What is plywood?
Before I begin discussing the factors to consider and look for, let’s know more about plywood.
In layman’s terms, plywood is made from a specific type of wood produced by flattening and gluing them with resin under high pressure.
The result is a thick, durable, and flexible flat-surfaced wood sheet, which is usually used to build walls or divisions inside or outside of your home, floorings, etc. (1)
Types of Plywood
The following are some of the determinants for the best option of plywood for your home—
Moisture Resistant Plywood
This type of plywood is commonly used in your living room area, study room, and bedrooms. It is for this reason that they are also referred to as commercial plywood.
Also, you might notice that they are put up in areas of your home that are usually dry.
This may be the case—this plywood is resistant to moisture, making them ideal in humid and tropical environments.
However, please take note that they are not waterproof.
If you’re planning to place plywood where it would usually be dry, then using Moisture Resistant plywood would suffice your needs.
In addition, they are affordable and economical, which is perfect for people under a tight budget.
Boiling Water Proof and Boiling Water Resistant Plywood
These are two different elements, but I put them in a single category because both of them talk about being continuously exposed to water.
The only dissimilarity among them is the level or amount of water exposure to the wood.
With this being said, it is essential to remember that choosing commercial plywood in places that are often damp and moist, like the bathroom, kitchen, or patio, may cause them to rot quickly.
Therefore, choosing much durable and tougher plywood is ideal for preventing them from wasting that quickly.
Both Boiling Water Proof and Boling Water Resistant Plywood are recommended for either an interior and exterior design. Because of the strength of the wood, they are often referred to as Marine Ply.
Plywood Grade and Ply Levels
Another vital factor to bear in mind is the grade of the plywood and its thickness.
Ply Levels
When you hear the term ply levels, what it means is how thick the plywood is. Usually, the use of plywood determines its thickness level.
Refer to the following for guidance:
Three-level plywood
The sheets could approximately measure anywhere from 2 to 3 mm thick. And these measurements are usually used for interior design purposes.
Five-level plywood
It could reach an approximate measurement of 4 mm thick or even higher. And going up to this level makes them excellent for both outdoor and indoor purposes.
Multi-level plywood
This type of plywood is strong and durable, making it suitable for roofing and other exterior designs like outside walls and patio floors. The measurement of the sheets is anywhere from 7 mm or higher.
Plywood Grades
When we’re talking about the grade of plywood, it implies its overall qualities. And as you might have guessed—less quality means affordability.
But if you’re building your permanent home, it’s highly recommended to opt for high-grade plywood.
Using lower grade plywood is reasonable if it’s only a temporary structure such as a workers’ station.
Below is a summary of what you have to know about their different grades—
- A Grade Ply’s – it is the highest quality of ply you can find in the market. It is ideal for putting up wall divisions, roofs, and furniture. It is sanded that emits a smooth appearance. In case that it has defects, it is minor and hardly noticeable.
- B Grade Ply’s – almost similar to A Grade Ply’s, but with more apparent defects.
- C Grade Ply’s – if you are not meticulous about the appearance and overall aesthetics of the interior design, then C Grade Ply’s could suffice your needs. It is so because they are easily discolored with noticeable defects if continuously exposed to elements.
- D Grade Ply’s – it is the cheapest but the lowest quality, among others. D Grade Ply’s are not sanded with apparent defects.
If you’re looking for curtains or fabrics that can match your walls or furniture, then may I also share with you my go-to online merchant—Yorkshire Fabric Shop.
What drew me to them is their wide selection of fabrics—it’s a one-stop shop for anything you need to improve the interior aesthetics of your home.
Anyway, let’s continue in the next section, and I’ll show you some essential tips before you purchase plywood.
Determining what is the best option of plywood for your home
With the above factors in mind, you can consider some tips when purchasing suitable plywood for your home.
Some of the suggestions I can give is as follows—
- Double-check the flatness – one of the main characteristics of plywood is its flatness. But don’t be too complacent about this apparent factor because plywood could have bumps or not be entirely flat.
- Check the edges as well – the edges of the plywood should be flattened and straightened also. You may overlook these imperfections until you start working on them. Double the edges to prevent buying ply’s with flaws.
- Buy them personally – instead of purchasing them online, it would be much better to go to your local home depot and check the plywood yourself. It is in this way that you closely investigate the quality of the plywood.
- Bring a friend – as for me. It is beneficial to bring a friend who also knows interior design. It is because they help me realize any factor that I oversee.
These are based on personal experience and what has worked for me. You may have your process, and if you do, we would like to hear from you in the comment section.
Final thought
I hope my content about the best plywood option for your home has provided you with sufficient information about the topic and may help you in future purchases.
I guess we’ve discussed just enough!
Thank you for the time!
I hope to see you in the following content!
Read More: How to style your home with wooden Cabinet?
