Plywood is a versatile product made of resin-coated veneer pieces pressed together. It can be tailored to suit an extensive range of structural, interior and exterior applications.
In order to choose the right plywood for a job, you have to know the features and strengths of the different types of plywood.
Plywood Quality Grading
Plywood panels are given two alphabetical ratings that range from A to D. The first letter rates the quality of the front facing side of the panel. The second letter rates the quality of the back side of the panel. A single panel can have an “A” face and a “D” back.
A Grade Plywood
Plywood with an A grading is considered high-quality plywood.
A-grade plywood has few imperfections and is free of small knots and defects.
B Grade Plywood
B-grade plywood is the second highest grade given to plywood material.
This type of plywood has small knots or nicks.
C and D Graded Plywood
The more economical types of plywood are those with the C and D grading.
Plywood sheets with this grade contain many knotholes, voids, and repairs, and are usually left as is.
C and D grade plywood is an excellent choice for projects where a cover like an MDF wood sheet that goes over it.
What type of plywood to use for home furniture?
For projects that never see the light of day like cabinets and furniture, there’s a wide range of high-grade plywoods to choose from.
Most cabinets use ¼ inch plywood, which is usually less expensive and makes the finished piece somewhat lighter. The longer the unit, the thicker the plywood requirement to prevent mid-shelf sagging.
