Do you want to work with sheet material that looks natural and is very strong? Choose plywood boards! In this article you can read all about it. We tell you what the properties are, from which variants you can choose and how you can order it to size!

Plywood panels: extremely strong with a natural appearance

If you want to give large surfaces a beautiful wooden look, you are often dealing with several pieces of solid wood. There are various joinery panels available that are very beautiful, but they are visibly made from several pieces of wood and, like solid wood, can warp. Fortunately, there is plywood! A panel material which, from the surface, looks as if it has been made from one piece of wood and which can hardly warp!

The construction of plywood

Plywood panels consist of several pieces of solid wood, just like joinery panels. However, whereas joinery panel uses wooden slats, plywood uses thin layers of wood veneer. These layers are then glued crosswise to each other and pressed into a board. The result is a panel which, on the surface, looks like it is made of solid wood and, on the edges, is visibly made of different layers of wood veneer.

The properties of plywood

This construction gives plywood a number of unique properties. Plywood panels have a natural appearance, just like solid wood. However, the properties of plywood are different to those of solid wood. Solid wood, for example, works under the influence of moisture and changing temperatures, whereas plywood hardly does. Plywood is also much flatter than solid wood, which makes it easy to finish it off smoothly. Depending on the species of wood used, there are also other properties which the plywood panels may have.

Variants of plywood

The many Variants of plywood often consist of the different types of wood the material can be made of. Because the panels are made of solid wood, the properties of the different variants depend strongly on the type of wood used. This is why we will go through them all and tell you briefly what properties they have and what they can be used for.

Birch plywood

Birch plywood is one of the most widely used varieties of plywood. This is only logical, because not only does it have a beautiful appearance, but birch plywood is also very strong. The veneer layers of Plywood Birch are namely very thin, so many layers are used in one panel. This makes the panel very strong and it will not bend under pressure. This is why it is often used for furniture and other indoor projects that can be relatively heavily loaded. Birch plywood can also be used in damp spaces, provided it is treated properly. This can be done with a transparent varnish, for example, to preserve the natural appearance.

View Birch Plywood in the webshop

Okoumé plywood Waterproof

Okoumé plywood Waterproof is often used for outdoor applications. This is because the material is waterproof glued and because Okoumé wood works less under changing temperatures and humidity than other commonly used wood species. In order to use Okoume plywood Waterproof outside, it is still strongly recommended to finish the material well. This can be done with a transparent varnish or a good primer. If you want to prime the material, you can also choose to order it primed. Then choose Plywood Marine Primed.

View Okoumé Plywood Waterproof in the webshop

Multiplex Interior Poplar

You have probably heard of Plywood Interior Poplar. This material is very popular nowadays for interior projects. The soft and warm natural look of the material is an important reason for this. Another advantage is that the material is very lightweight, making it an ideal material for children's projects such as toys. If you want to paint the material, you can choose the primed version for the material, Plywood Interior Poplar Primed.

View Poplar Interior Plywood in the webshop

Multiplex interior Polar Pine

Pine is a somewhat tougher wood than other wood types. This also makes it easier to work. Multiplex Interior Pine is therefore also easy to work with. Its striking appearance may not be for everyone, but it can of course be painted over. In terms of colour, it matches spruce well, which makes these materials a good combination.

Applications of plywood

Above, you have already seen some specific applications for plywood boards. Below, we will elaborate on them and highlight further applications.

Furniture

Plywood boards are widely used for furniture. The strength and appearance of the material are important reasons why it is used for cabinets, shelves, beds and desks. Variants with better moisture resistant properties are also used in bathroom furniture and kitchens. Sometimes the surface is painted for a smooth result, but the ends are often kept visible and finished with a transparent lacquer.

Interior

Apart from furniture, there are other diverse indoor projects for which plywood can be used. Small decorative projects, for example, are often also made of plywood. Small decorative objects for example, but also wooden toys are often used based on plywood. Birch plywood and poplar plywood are mainly used for this. Sometimes okoumé plywood is also used, particularly because of its beautiful pink-red appearance.

Constructions

The constructive strength of plywood is a reason why the material is also used for constructive applications. Often a variant with a lesser visual quality is used, because it is then still finished. Plywood is also very flat, which is why it is also used for floors and subfloors. Other applications include roofing and partition walls.

Working with plywood

As plywood consists of solid wood, the treatment of this material is largely the same as for solid wood. For example, it is recommended to sand the material well to prevent splinters and to protect the material against moisture you can either prime or paint the material, depending on the desired end result. Screwing and drilling is not a problem, but be careful not to let the material split. Pre-drilling is recommended when using larger screws. Please note that because plywood panels are made of natural materials, they may warp during temperature changes.

Ordering plywood to size

Many of the steps in the processing of plywood can be skipped by ordering the material by size. The material is then cut to size very accurately and any edge finish can also be applied. The only thing left to do at home is to finish the material and install it! At TOSIZE.ie you can order various types of plywood to size and have them delivered to your home. So you can get straight to the fun part of your project, putting it together!

Order your made-to-measure plywood!