Plywood is a sheet material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. This construction improves strength while reducing shrinking and expansion due to changes in moisture content. Typically, an odd number of veneer sheets are used, which helps engineered wood to be more balanced and less apt to warp. The History and Origins of Plywood Plywood One of the earliest engineered wood -like materials was discovered in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, in which thin wooden strips were carbonized into a rigid panel by the intense heat of Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 CE. However, modern engineered wood as we know it did not emerge until the mid-19th century. In 1838, British inventor Frank Perkins developed the process of gluing together veneers to produce the first recognizable engineered wood material. This offered advantages over solid wood such as increased stiffness, reduced cost, and consistency across panels. By the late 1800s, engineered wood was being produced commercially and gaining popularity for use in boat building. After World War I, standard dimensions and grades were introduced as its applications expanded rapidly. Types of Plywood There are several main types of engineered wood defined primarily by their intended applications and wood veneer configurations. The most common types include: - Construction-grade engineered wood: Made from inexpensive softwoods, it is the basic all-purpose paneling used widely in construction for roof sheathing, floor underlayment, etc. - Marine-grade engineered wood: Designed to resist moisture damage, it incorporates fully waterproof glue and has few voids or knots in the core. It is often the material of choice for boat building and other water-contact uses. - Aircraft-grade engineered wood: The highest strength engineered wood constructed with balance, stability, and stress resistance in mind for aviation, aerospace, and other industrial applications requiring stringent tolerances. - Decoration-grade engineered wood: Containing finer wood veneers for facing surfaces, it is generally divided into panels for furniture, cabinetry, crafts, and other applications with aesthetic demands. - Compliant-grade engineered wood: Manufactured with compliant face veneers designed to maintain uniform thickness, seamless appearance and dimensional stability after finishing. Advantages of Using Plywood Despite the rising popularity of man-made panel products, engineered wood possesses attributes that keep it a primary building material option: - Strength and Stiffness: Engineered wood's cross-laminated construction makes it much stronger for its weight than solid lumber. It is extremely stable and resistant to warping. - Versatility: Depending on species, engineered wood can be used in demanding conditions from below-grade to exposed outdoor situations. It accepts fasteners, finishes, and can be shaped or customized. - Affordability: Being an engineered wood product, engineered wood has a lower overall materials cost than solid wood in most applications and thickness options. - Dimensional consistency: Modern manufacturing ensures a high degree of consistency across panels in thickness, straightness, and squareness. - Reduced waste: With little to no unusable pieces from a log, engineered wood offers environmental and economic advantages over solid lumber. Choosing the Right Plywood for Your Project Outside of intended applications, key factors to consider when selecting engineered wood include species, grade/rating, panel thickness, surface texture/finish, adhesive type, and panel dimensions. Understanding these specifications helps ensure the proper engineered wood is chosen that will perform as desired. For example, exterior sheathing requires a waterproof glue while faced engineered wood calls for a smoother surface. Consultation with suppliers is recommended for specialty or load-bearing applications. With the right material matched to needs, engineered wood gives superior strength and performance for its moderate cost.
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