Plywood is made of cross- bonded core veneers and panel veneers, glued together under high heat and pressure to make a consolidated sheet that can be fashioned into different plywood elements, depending on the need. The choice of raw materials, such as the source of wood and adhesive used, and the number of piles defines the fineness of plywood. It has now become indispensable, especially in the building and furnishing solutions industry. 

Keep reading to know all the important information about the different types of plywood in the Indian market and their possible applications, to make a wise choice:

TYPES OF PLYWOOD IN INDIA:

What are the 4 types of plywood

The furniture industry is blooming and so are the various types of design needs. However, plywood plays the most important role in the making of quality furniture. It is evident that sofa sets, dining tables and cabinets are the prominent furniture items in your living room. Therefore, choosing the most suitable type of plywood in India is very important due to our changing weather conditions.

Let’s go over some basic types of plywoods available in india:

Hardwood Plywood-

The manufacturing of these plywoods involve gluing the plies perpendicular to one another. This process makes the plywood very strong and sturdy. Since hardwood such as birch, oak and maple are used for this product, hence, It is comparatively heavier than other types of plywood. It has a front and back veneer of hardwood.

Softwood Plywood-

The manufacturing of these plywoods involve gluing the plies vertically with a strong synthetic adhesive. This makes the plywood stay put and intact. These plywood are not too heavy as they are made up of softwoods like pine, spruce and cedar etc.These are used for structural applications.

Sanded Plywood-

These plywood are used for areas that are visible such as shelves, panels, bookshelves and more. Therefore, the top and bottom plies of sanded plywood are finely sanded and the surface is made smooth during the manufacturing process. They usually consist of three or more panels that have cross-laminated layers of wood veneer.

Structural Plywood-

These plywood are manufactured for permanent structures. These are very strong but still have an unfinished surface. Thus, they are unsuitable for places where it will show visibly and are preferably used for framing, beams, flooring, panels etc.

Plywood Grades:

What are the 4 types of plywood

There are four grades of plywood: A, B, C and D. The grade refers to the quality and appearance of the plywood’s face and back veneers. A has the highest quality and is the most expensive, and D is the least expensive. 

A-grade plywood features a smooth, sanded surface without knots. Any wood defects have been repaired with synthetic filler, so the veneer can be painted. A-grade plywood is ideal for furniture or cabinet doors.  

B-grade plywood also features a smooth, sanded surface, but may have more repaired defects up to 1-inch across.

C-grade is unsanded and may have several minor defects that will need to be repaired with knots up to 1 1/2 inches across, discoloration and sanding defects. C-grade plywood should be used when appearance is not important, such as for subfloors or garages.  

D-grade is also unsanded with defects that have not been repaired and knot holes up to 2 1/2 inches across, discoloration and sanding defects.