Safety First: Choosing the Right Plywood for Your Project

Plywood is made up of heat-pressed resin-coated veneer pieces. That sounds simple enough, but things get a little more complicated when it comes to selecting the correct type and thickness of plywood for a work. Knowing the safety and strength requirements of any finished product allows you to select the appropriate type of plywood. Rating and grading of plywood Aside from thickness, plywood is classified based on its look and condition. The front side is usually of higher quality and consequently more appealing than the back. In general, A grade plywood has few flaws and is acceptable for painting, but D grade board has numerous knotholes and repairs.

Choosing the Right Plywood Used in Furniture

Many furniture fronts, such as drawer fronts and cabinet tops, feature high-grade plywood with attractive veneer. Most cabinet construction uses ¾” plywood, or else ½” plywood, which is usually less expensive, and makes the finished piece somewhat lighter. Lower grade veneers are fine for interior areas, where appearance is not so important. Drawer sides only require ½” thick plywood, and drawer bottoms need only ¼” thick plywood.

Although heavier, thicker plywood is stronger and more durable. For example, constructing a huge tables from 12″ plywood and supporting it just with legs at the corners will end in a dinnertime disaster. Many table-building plans specify thicknesses based on tabletop dimensions:

¾” plywood for smaller table tops, up to about 18” x 24”
1” plywood for tops up to 24” x 36
At least 1”, and, even better, 1 ½” for larger tables
Plywood is a popular choice for building entertainment units and shelving. However, while ¾” plywood may work fine for shelves less than 30” or so in length, the likelihood of mid-shelf sagging increases with shelf length.

Using thicker plywood reduces sag, especially over longer spans, avoiding potentially dangerous situations involving falling objects and collapsing furniture. Another option to avoid this issue is to reinforce the shelves with wood edging or by inserting mid-span supports.

Choosing the Right Plywood Options for Safe Flooring

Plywood is a vital component in providing safe and long-lasting flooring. Floors are made up of numerous layers. The final flooring is placed on top. The underlayment comes next, which provides the flat surface required for putting the top. Underlayment for varied surfaces is required, but all underlayment must be a thin but robust layer upon which the finished flooring surface sits. 5/8″ plywood is commonly used for floor underlayment. The subfloor lies beneath the underlayment and requires a thicker product, at least 34″ thick, and possibly more if the gap between floor joists is great.

Choosing the Right Plywood for Walls

Use only external quality plywood when weather exposure is a problem. Interior plywood is not waterproof, and its use in outdoor applications may cause major structural issues. Furthermore, weathering weakens the material’s integrity, resulting in collapses and weak places that can cause catastrophic injury.

The plywood used to wrap house frames does more than just offer a surface for installing siding. It also strengthens the framework by linking all of the studs. Furthermore, houses with siding that is merely attached to the plywood sheathing require thicker plywood. Thickness is less of a concern when the siding is fastened to the studs. Although 12″ thick plywood is customary for walls, the International Residential Code requires only 3/8″ wall sheathing when studs are placed 16″ apart and siding is connected to the studs rather than the plywood. The IRC mandates 12″ plywood for buildings with siding attached simply to the sheathing.

Choosing the Right Plywood for Roofing

For roofing, many municipal building requirements only demand 3/8″ plywood. Spending a little more money and utilising 12″ or even 5/8″ plywood results in a more durable and secure roof. Plywood that is only 3/8″ thick will frequently not support someone working on a roof, especially if the trusses and rafters are large and/or there is a lot of space between them. In high snow areas, the ability to handle higher weights is particularly essential. Furthermore, utilising thinner plywood for roofing provides less material for shingles to attach to, making the shingles more likely to fly off in strong wind circumstances.

When selecting plywood thicknesses, keep the finished product in mind. It is not worth the time and effort to create a piece of furniture that will droop in a reasonably short period of time. The same is true for building. Consider the meteorological conditions at the construction site, particularly severe winds. It only takes one major storm to demonstrate the value of spending a little more money on sturdier plywood.