Structural Plywood

Structural plywood is for use in all permanent structural and engineered applications. A Bond is durable and permanent under conditions of full weather exposure and long term stress. Structural plywood should be preservative treated to ensure it lasts its full service life as it is manufactured from a range of hardwood and softwood timber species.

Exterior Plywood

Exterior plywood is where the wood is bound together using water-resistant glues. Glue is the differentiating factor in exterior plywood. When the plywood is manufactured for exterior use, waterproof glue is used. It is a resin-based glue similar to the glue used in wooden ships. It dries to a hard, crystal substance that will never yield to moisture of any kind. This glue is applied between every layer of the plywood. Even though the plywood will hold up to almost any weather conditions, it's recommended that some type of paint or finish be used on exterior plywood if it is exposed directly to sun or water.

Interior Plywood

Interior Plywood is intended for use in interior applications where a high quality aesthetic finish is required. It must not be used in exposed, damp or wet conditions as the bonds are not durable under full exposure to weather conditions, or wet or damp environments. D bonded interior plywood is suitable for normal humidity conditions. C bonded plywood should be used in higher humidity areas.

Marine Plywood

Marine plywood is a completely waterproof plywood, that has been specifically manufactured for marine applications. Undiluted phenolic resin is used for bonding the plies together. Phenolic resin is a synthetic plastic resin made from phenol formaldehyde and it makes Marine plywood completely waterproof. Marine plywood is manufactured from durable face and core veneers, with few defects so it performs longer in both humid and wet conditions and resists delaminating and fungal attack. Its construction is such that it can be used in environments where it is exposed to moisture for long periods. Each wood veneer will be from tropical hardwoods, have negligible core gap, limiting the chance of trapping water in the plywood and hence providing a solid and stable glue bond.

Marine plywood is used for building boats and ships, and any other applications in which the plywood is sure to get a large amount of exposure to water. A boat travelling through water is subject to plate action from waves and floating debris. Marine Plywood is designed to absorb these forces due to the fact that this plywood is the closest to solid wood. In fact it is better than solid wood with defects having been graded out.