Types of Plywood You Must Buy for Furniture

Plywood is one of the most commonly used materials in furniture making, and you have plenty of options when it comes to plywood types. Whether you’re building cabinets, bookshelves, tables or chairs, there are some important factors to consider when choosing the right type of plywood to use in your project. Here are the basic types of plywood and the pros and cons of each.

Plywood Vs Solid Wood

Plywood may be a more cost-effective alternative to solid wood, but that doesn’t mean it’s always going to look just as good. To know what kind of plywood is right for your needs, it’s important to know your end goal. Different thicknesses are better suited for different projects. If you're making a piece of furniture where strength and durability are key, choose a thicker type such as birch or oak veneer over less durable types like fiberboard or MDF board. While thinner boards may not be strong enough to hold together a finished piece if there's too much force applied to it, they are ideal when trying to achieve lighter wood tones with minimal knots in the surface (think flooring).

Plywood Options

There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing your preferred plywood type, and price is definitely one factor you’ll want to consider. While all types are considered equal in terms of structural stability, some wood varieties might be more expensive than others. Additionally, look at whether your desired type is available in larger dimensions if you plan on making large projects or if your project requires thick layers. While there are many different types of plywood suitable for furniture, generally speaking, there are two main categories: solid and engineered veneer. Choosing between these two can be difficult because their manufacturing processes differ dramatically.

Solid Wood Considerations

With solid wood, there are two things to consider: how it’s put together and what it’s made from. For example, a bookcase made from three layers of solid oak boards glued together is more structurally sound than one made with only one layer. Plywood may be less expensive, but if your piece will be carrying heavy items such as books or televisions over time, it might not hold up as well as a quality board in terms of durability. It also pays to ask what kind of wood is used. While some plywoods are made with clear veneers (the most expensive), others can have cheaper colored layers which affect their appearance and quality down the line.

Why It’s Important To Choose Wisely

Plywood is used as a material in many furniture pieces. Before buying furniture made from plywood, it’s important to know about different types of wood and which one best fits your needs. In general, hardwoods are considered high-quality and long-lasting because they resist warping over time. This makes them suitable for those who want furniture that lasts through generations or requires frequent touch-ups. However, hardwoods can be pricier than other types of plywood and require regular refinishing over time. As a result, some people may find soft woods to be more cost effective in the long run. Soft woods tend to warp less often but may still need periodic refinishing work throughout their lifetime.

Types Of Plywood And Their Uses

Plywood’s versatility allows it to be used in the construction of everything from wall and door frames to furniture to interior walls and ceilings. It’s also easy to work with since it can be cut, glued, sanded, and painted. Plywood comes in many different varieties, so let’s take a look at the different types of plywood and how they can be used in your next project.

Medium Density Fiberboard

MDF is one of the most commonly used types of plywood. It’s primarily used as a structural core for furniture, but can also be veneered to produce decorative finishes in furniture applications. When this is not being used as a structural core, it’s often joined with other types of plywood to create finished surfaces that are more durable than those produced by solid wood products. Medium density fiberboard can be further classified based on its particle density, which ranges from 40 lb/ft3 to 90 lb/ft3. The higher-density boards have increased dimensional stability while maintaining resistance to nicks and dents, while lower-density boards have greater flexibility.

Birch Veneer Core Plywood

Generally referred to as V-CORE or V-SHEET, it’s a board made from thin sheets of veneer that have been glued together. These boards can be 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 or 1/2 thick. Birch is known for its strength, durability and resistance to impact; it is more expensive than fir but less costly than oak.

Exterior Plywood

These plywoods have exterior grade veneers for protection against weather elements. They are used for constructing exteriors, roofs, subfloors, walls etc. It is an ideal choice for both residential as well as commercial applications like furniture, partitions etc. These types of plywoods can be further categorized into: Exposure 1, 2 and 3. Exposure 1 refers to such products which are used in direct sunlight or beneath decks or patios where they are exposed to maximum amount of sunlight. While Exterior 2 has a medium exposure to sun and exposure 3 means that it has a minimal exposure to sunlight without any direct sunlight falling on it. Exterior plywood can also be used for roofing applications providing long-lasting results with high durability.

Regular Pine Plywood

The most common type of plywood. It’s made from softwoods, typically spruce or pine. It’s widely available for diyers but it doesn’t hold nails as well as construction-grade wood plywood, which makes it better suited for light jobs like cabinetry. Pine is also prone to warping when exposed to heat and moisture, so avoid using regular pine plywood in wet environments like bathrooms. To maximize nail strength, use three-eighths-inch instead of one-half inch thick sheets if you have them available.

Specialty Laminated Veneer Lumber

LVL is a more expensive version of standard dimensional lumber that’s manufactured by bonding together thin layers of veneer with resin. This process makes it much harder than conventional lumber, giving it added strength, stability and rigidity. Because it’s so dense, LVL is usually used for structural purposes like I-beams or columns in a building or bridge. It's also water resistant because extra resin has been used to coat each layer before they're pressed together. This means you can use LVL in wet environments without worrying about it swelling up or rotting, which makes it ideal for docks, piers and retaining walls.