OSB PLYWOOD
OSB, is a fairly recent addition to the plywood family, and is rapidly gaining ground in home construction. OSB, or Oriented Striated Board, looks like a series of wood chips that have been glued together into a panel. Because of the amount of glue, and the fact that the wood fibers are artificially aligned, OSB is considered to be as strong, if not stronger than the regular plywoods in some applications.
OSB as begun to be very popular as a lower cost option for sheathing on walls and roofs. Because the wood used does not need to be ground directly from a timber, the process allows more of the lumber to be used, leaving less waste and more product. There are still differences between OSB and plywoods, and which you choose is up to you.
It is worth noting that OSB is often referred to as waferboard, but that in reality waferboard is a different sort of product. Waferboard is not rated as a structural material, but OSB is tested and rated by the American Plywood Association. The difference between the two lies in the size of the pieces of wood and in the process of orienting the fibers in OSB. Waferboard tends to use wood chips that are approximately 2" square, while OSB uses 4" pieces. OSB is also made by compressing layers of board, so that each layer has its grain perpendicular to its neighbors.
For more about OSB versus Plywood, click here.
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CDX Plywood
CDX is one of the most economical grades of plywood, due mostly to the fact that it is left rough on both sides. The C and the D are meant to describe the two sides of the sheet. The lower the letter, the rougher the surface. So, A means the surface is a finish grade, while D means the surface is very rough.
We stock CDX in two species: pine and fir. The pine is generally less expensive, and is also a little softer. Both kinds are used as sheathing for homes, as well as other rough projects. Sheathing is the layer of wood that is applied to the studs and framing of a house, usually on the walls and roof.
It is not unusual to see knots or to have "voids" with CDX plywood. (Voids are gaps within the layers of the plywood, usually caused by knots or where edges of plys come together.) This is just another reason why CDX is priced so low.
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Underlayment Plywood
Underlayment plywood is designed to be used as a subfloor. It uses an exterior grade of glue, and is not quite a finish grade of plywood, but it does have a few things that CDX does not.
The top layer of an underlayment plywood is sanded lightly, so that it has an even surface. There are no voids or gaps in the middle layers either, making it a stronger product and well suited for going beneath flooring.
Underlayment is also known by the name "PTS", which stands for Plugged, Touched, and Sanded. This describes the process underlayment goes through. In terms of grading, where CDX is rough on both sides, underlayment can be figured as a BC grading -- one side has been sanded somewhat, and the other remains rough.
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AC Plywood
AC plywood is the top grade of standard pine or fir plywoods. One side has been sanded so that it is left smooth, and the other remains rough. It is not unusual to find what are called "footballs", or plugs in the smooth side. These footballs are inserted where knots used to be.
AC is sometimes used as the layer directly underneath flooring as well. It is also often used for projects that require a smooth outside, but don't need a finished back, as with desktops or bookcase backs.
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Luan Plywood
Luan is essentially a mid grade mahogany veneer plywood. We stock it in several sizes, including 1/4", 5.5mm ( a little thicker than the 1/4" ), 1/2", and 3/4". One side is generally smooth, and as a whole it is a solid feeling plywood.
5.2 vs. 5.5
We stock two smaller sizes of luan to suit different needs. The 5.2mm, or 1/4", is the more common kind, and is the one most often used. The 5.5mm luan is just a little bit thicker, and uses an exterior glue, making it more suitable for projects outdoors, or in areas where the extra strength of its glue are beneficial.
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Knotty Pine Plywood
Knotty pine plywood is another cabinet grade plywood, but using a pine veneer instead. It also has knots purposefully left in, unlike AC plywood or Underlayment, where the knots are carved out. The knots are left in in order to keep the rustic look of the pine. The knots are all "tight", which means that they won't fall out in the future.
We stock Knotty Pine plywood in a 1/4" and a 3/4" 4' x 8' sheet. The 1/4" sheets are ideal for surfacing or refacing cabinets or other wood projects, and the 3/4" is great for building all sorts of things from scratch.
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Knotty Pine Plywood
Knotty pine plywood is another cabinet grade plywood, but using a pine veneer instead. It also has knots purposefully left in, unlike AC plywood or Underlayment, where the knots are carved out. The knots are left in in order to keep the rustic look of the pine. The knots are all "tight", which means that they won't fall out in the future.
We stock Knotty Pine plywood in a 1/4" and a 3/4" 4' x 8' sheet. The 1/4" sheets are ideal for surfacing or refacing cabinets or other wood projects, and the 3/4" is great for building all sorts of things from scratch.
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Birch Plywood
We stock a shop grade birch plywood in both a 1/4" thick and 3/4" thick sheet (4' x 8'), and a Baltic Birch plywood in a 1/2" x 5' x 5' sheet. The birch has a nice, smooth grain and is sanded very smooth, making it perfect for all sorts of finish grade projects, including cabinets.
Because of this extra sanding and milling, birch plywood is usually a more expensive option, and so is not generally used for flooring or siding or such. It is a finish grade of plywood, and can be used as a fine accent for most any building project.
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Hardwood Plywood
Hardwood veneer plywood strongly resembles the birch plywood as far as uses are concerned. They are usually a finish grade of plywood, and are sanded to that they are already fairly smooth. Because of this, they are not inexpensive, but are well worth the expense when you see the finished look you achieve with your projects.
We stock a 3/4" Red Oak plywood, with a veneer of oak on both sides of the 4' x 8' sheet. We can also special order all sorts of other hardwood plywoods, including maple and cherry.
There are a few different grades of hardwood plywoods, just like regular grades of plywoods, and each tends to be used for different projects. The better grades are often called "cabinet grade", since their grain will most likely be stained and in full view. They also require less sanding in order to reach a superior finish.
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Pressure Treated Plywood
Pressure treated plywood is similar to regular pressure treated timber. The process is essentially the same: the plywood is treated under pressure with chemical compounds that help battle against weathering and insects. These chemicals most commonly include chromium and arsenic, and so precautions should be taken when handling any pressure treated material.
We stock pressure treated plywood in 1/2" and 3/4" thick sheets, 4' x 8'.
Some uses for pressure treated plywood are places where you wish to have a flat deck that is exposed to the weather. This could be a porch or a deck, or a shed floor. Pressure treated plywood can be painted or stained, of course, but you should be sure to let it dry out completely before doing so.
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Marine Plywood
Marine plywood is the next step up in weather resistance from pressure treated plywood. It uses a tougher glue and is treated to withstand regular exposure to water better than the PT. This does not mean that Marine plywood is made to be submerged and not break down. Just like any other wood product, marine plywood needs a certain amount of proper care and maintainance.
We can special order several different thicknesses of marine plywoods.
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Masonite
Masonite is not properly a plywood, as it resembles compressed paper more than plywood. It does still come in a 4' x 8' sheet, just like plywoods. We stock it in a 1/4" and 1/8" thickness. We also stock them as pegboard in the same thicknesses.
Pegboard is simply a masonite that has holes predrilled in it, so that you may use hooks to hang tools or whatever you like almost wherever you like.
One disadvantage to masonite products is that water or moisture will, over time, cause it to break down and sag. Moisture penetrates the paper layers of the masonite and can cause swelling, which eventually weakens the material.
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