OUR COMPANY FAQ
Plywood is a processed wood product which is much stronger than natural wood and also more economical.
It refers to those trees that grow naturally in the forest and are then cut for use.
Any grade of plywood is fine as long as it is compliant with the requirements. Generally, BWP grade with E1 emission rating may be used for Green buildings.
Plywood is eco-friendly as it consumes much less timber as compared to the same natural wood requirement.
Following are the features to consider while buying plywood :Manufacturer reputation, quality claims, borer and termite protection, warranty offered, etc.
Go through the written assurance like a warranty certificate.
For moisture prone areas, BWR or BWP grade is recommended. For dry areas, MR grade may be used.
Plywood has layers of wood pressed together whereas MDF and particle board are made of wood pulp and powder.
Plywood is stronger than blockboard and is suitable for furniture. Blockboard is preferred for vertical applications
Source of timber does not matter. It depends on the quality of wood being used.
It is mentioned on the Plywood and collaterals, other than that it can only be established by testing.
Plywood application should be applied as per the grade. For outdoor use, only external grade plywood should be used.
No, Plywood quality is only to be checked at BIS approved laboratories.
Plywood Industries gives warranties ranging from 5 years to lifetime, depending on the brand purchased.
There is no such difference. Different wood species may have different coloured wood. This does not affect the quality in any way.
Following points must be considered before buying plywood Manufacturer reputation, quality claims, borer and termite protection, warranty offered, etc.
Manufacturers give the most accurate information and allow you to decide for yourself.
Contact the dealer store from where you purchased the plywood.
Plywood Industries gives warranties ranging from 5 years to lifetime, depending on the brand purchased.
IS 303 and IS 710 are referred in plywood.
It Occurs if part of the face veneer gets peeled off.
No, greater weight of plywood does not make it of better quality as Weight is not an indicator of quality. Quality depends on the raw materials and construction process used.
Plywood is stronger than blockboard and is suitable for furniture where as Blockboard is preferred for vertical applications.
How Plywood is different from timber?
Borers are usually present in the wood and then exit the wood by creating pinholes. Termites attack the wood from outside and the wood crumbles due to the attack.
Both are similar to warping.
Warping is a natural tendency of wood, especially during extreme weather conditions
There are no guidelines for warping. However, minor warping can be easily solved at site by stacking under sheets.
As per BIS standards, it refers to IS 710 grade plywood which is a waterproof plywood.
Grades BWP, BWR and MR are different by their ability to face moisture exposure and the durability.
BWR is Boiling Water Resistant plywood. This kind of plywood is highly resistant to water and humidity, as the name says. It is also an exterior grade plywood which is ideal for semi-outdoor and outdoor applications where as BWP - Boiling Water Proof plywood is widely used in the construction of furniture that is likely to get prolonged exposure to water and moisture.
Waterproof plywood uses better quality raw material and can sustain moisture exposure.
Plywood has layers of wood pressed together whereas Blockboard has battens of wood.
No, there is no effect of colour of layers.
Commercial plywood generally refers to the grade of plywood, most often referring to MR Grade plywood (IS 303) which is basically the cheapest grade plywood available in the market. So you could find people asking for commercial Ply or commercial grade ply in the Indian Market which generally means they want cheap MR(Moisture Resistant / IS 303) Grade plywood. These plywood are generally made from a combination of softwood & hardwood timber or just softwood timber species
Wooden Plywood is dispensable since all plywood is already made from wood.
Hardwood Plywood generally refers to the timber which is used in construction the layers of plywood. Hardwood generally is ascribed to hardwood timber species such as Eucalyptus, Gurjan, Birch which is higher in density and are much more long lasting than other timber species such as rubber wood or poplar. Plywood made from hardwood timber are generally heavier in weight, higher in density and have much longer life than softwood plywood. I would suggest opting for hardwood plywood with a Eucalyptus timber make to make sure the plywood is strong, lasting and most importantly sourced from ecologically sustainable cultivations
Absolutely no problem using this thickness in terms of strength. It will save your hard earned money in edge banding i.e 22 mm width is fine for 16mm ply and for 18/19 mm you need to have 25 mm edge banding tape and cost difference is high. 16 mm set up looks very sleek and smart. Any ply either 16m or 18 m may bend for bigger shutters. So here is the thumb rule - Use block boards for wardrobe shutters and ply for small shutters like lofts and kitchen etc. Use Commercial plywood for Wardrobes, TV units, etc except Kitchen counters.
Following are the three main types of plywood:-
Softwood Plywood
1. most common plywood product.2. made from softwood veneer.
3. The layers are stacked at an perfect angle and glued together with glue.
Hardwood Plywood
1. Most commonly used for furniture making.2. manufactured in the same way as softwood plywood except the outer layers are made of hardwood plywood.
3. Common hardwood plywood includes ash, oak, red oak, maple, etc.
Cabinet Grade Plywood
1. same as hardwood plywood but most people prefer cabinet grade plywood.2. the term cabinet grade plywood is used to refer ash and birch hardwood plywood.
Marine grade plywood is manufactured in accordance to IS 710 specifications. It is much stronger than both MR and BWR grade plywood and is completely waterproof. This can be gauged from the fact that this BWP plywood can be submerged in water for 72 hours without incurring any kind of damage. To bind the layers of plies together, phenol formaldehyde resin is used, which has high resistance to moisture, as this plywood grade was designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. You can use it to make any kind of furniture, but it is especially recommended for areas exposed to water such as bathrooms, kitchens, etc. Hope I could answer your question!
Few facts about 710 ply
1. IS 710 is nothing but BWP (Boiling water proof) plywood. mostly used in construction industry.2. It is not necessary to use in home interior product design.
3. It can be used for any home exterior product design.
4. It’s very expensive as compare to IS 303 (MR and BWR plywood)
5. No damage could happen if you submerge up to 72 hrs
Grades of Plywood
01. Moisture Resistant (MR) Grade Plywood
MR grade plywood means moisture resistant plywood. It is also known as commercial plywood. In moisture resistant plywood, urea formaldehyde resin is used for bonding the plies with each other. Remember that ‘moisture resistant’ does not mean ‘waterproof’. It means that the plywood is capable of resisting humidity and moisture, and it is not resistant to water. So, this type of plywood is not used for making furniture that are continuously in contact with water.MR grade plywood is an interior grade of plywood therefore it is suitable for indoor use, not for exterior. It can be used in wall mounted cabinets, kitchen shelves, partition, wardrobes, TV tables, showcases, etc.
The thickness of moisture resistant plywood is 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm, 21mm, 25mm as per IS 303. It is less costly as compared to BWR grade of plywood. The price of such plywood is cheaper than BWR & BWP Plywood.
02. Boiling Water Resistant (BWR) Grade Plywood
BWR grade plywood means Boling Water Resistant Plywood. It is a waterproof plywood. It can resist water better than MR plywood. BWR plywood is glued using phenol formaldehyde adhesive (phenolic resin) or melamine formaldehyde resin. This synthetic plastic resin helps in making plywood waterproof. It is not 100% waterproof as compared to BWP plywood.Boiling water resistant plywood is an exterior grade of plywood. Therefore, it can be used for furniture that likely to get wet, i.e. kitchen cabinet, lawn chairs, garden tables, etc.
As per IS 303, the thickness of BWR plywood is 4mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 16mm, 19mm, 25mm. BWR grade plywood is more expensive than MR plywood.
03. Boiling Water Proof (BWP) Grade Plywood or Marine Grade Plywood
BWP grade plywood means Boiling Water Proof Plywood. It is popularly known as Marine Grade Plywood. BWP plywood is made up single select hardwood species and bonded with boiling water proof synthetic undiluted phenol formaldehyde adhesive. It is superior grade of plywood which is higher in quality and strength as compared to both MR and BWR plywood.Marine plywood or BWP grade plywood is most commonly used in applications where the plywood has prolonged exposure to water. It is the best choice for marine applications such woodwork for building ships and boats. It cannot be used to build stylish furniture.
Dipped Plywood is a common term used in the Indian Plywood industry to refer to plywood which has been treated with preservatives by dipping the sheet into the chemical chamber. Ideally this preservative makes the plywood termite and borer proof and chemicals used renders the plywood sheet a darker brown-greenish colour.
Alternatively, more than 80% of the local manufacturers actually just dip the plywood sheets in a dark brown-greenish color to give it a look of having been treated with preservatives. Helps them save cost on that end while allows the dealers to charge a higher rate for the same from customers.
To avoid this, just aim to get the best grade suitable for your application from decent brand of Plywood. Any honest manufacturer would mostly treat all of their grades with the preservatives regardless of the colour or prices it can fetch.
To check the quality of the plywood, you need to ensure the following 4 things:
1. High Durability:
The furniture made for your space must be stylish but also durable. Plywood that has high durability and can sustain heavy load functions are the one to be preferred. Along with different plywood colours, the plywood needs to be strong so that your furniture excels in both looks and remains strong for a longer duration.2. Water Resistance:
As your house is a place with high moisture levels. It is necessary to make sure that the plywood sheets are resistant to the moisture to a great extent. If the plywood is not resistant then you will have to deal with fungus infestations pretty soon. The plywood cost is very affordable, but replacing them, again and again, would increase the overall budget. Hence it is better to choose the ones with high moisture resistance.3. Fire Resistance:
The plywood must be fire-resistant in-order to prevent fire damage. In order for the plywood price to be cost-effective, it is necessary to research on the fire resistance of the plywood material.4. Price of Plywood:
Branded plywood costs a little more than generic plywood because it is treated with lots of chemicals as it goes through an extended manufacturing process. However, the cost is justified with its reliable strength and modern designs. The different plywood designs increase the visual appeal of your entire house.Following are the major differences between plywood & block board:
Plywood is made from thin layers of wood veneers glued together with quality adhesive whereas Block Boards are made of core wood and placed edge to edge between two layers of plywood, which are later glued together under high pressure.
POINT OF DIFFRENCE
Material
Plywood is a sheet material manufactured from thin layers or ‘plies’ of wood glued together with an adhesive. It has different types, based on the wood used to build it, such as hardwood, softwood, alternate core and poplar ply. Popular types of ply used are commercial ply and marine ply (also called BWP/BWR ply).Blockboard consists of a core made of wooden strips, placed edge to edge between two layers of plywood, which are then glued together under high pressure.
Uses
Different types of plywood are suited for different uses. Commercial ply, also referred to as MR grade plywood is used for most interior design work like TV units, cabinets, wardrobes, sofas, chairs etc. For areas susceptible to moisture, such as the bathroom and the kitchen, Marine ply, or BWP.BWR ply is used.Blockboards are usually preferred when lengthy pieces or wooden boards are required while making furniture. This is because blockboard is stiffer and less prone to bending, unlike plywood. Blockboard is generally used for building long book shelves, tables and benches, single and double beds, settees, and lengthy wall panels. It is light in weight, and is used extensively for building interior and exterior doors.
Properties
Plywood is less susceptible to damage by water, and is resistant to cracking. It is uniform throughout its length and breadth, and can be easily lacquered, painted, veneered and laminated. However, long pieces of plywood tend to bend at the centre. Plywood will also splinter badly when cut.Blockboard is more prone to water damage as it is known to retain moisture. It is stiffer than plywood and less prone to bending. It is dimensionally stable, and can withstand cracking. It does not split on cutting, and is easy to work with, unlike plywood. It is available in various finishes such as plastic laminates, wood veneers, etc. It can also be painted and polished. It is lighter than plywood as its core is made of softwood.