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Plyboard Vs. Plywood
Many people often get confused with the terms “Plyboard” and “Plywood”. Though both are engineered wood products and have a similar external appearance, they possess distinctive properties and are very diverse from one another.
What is Plyboard?
Plyboard is a material which is made of wooden strips at its core and thin veneer panels at its top and bottom sides.
What is Plywood?
Plywood is a material which is made by stacking and glueing several layers of wood veneers into one sheet.
The differences between Plyboard & Plywood
| Plyboard | Plywood |
| Weight | |
| Plyboard is light in weight when compared to Plywood. | Plywood is heavier than plyboard because the former is made of dense hardwood veneer at its core. |
| Water Resistance | |
| Plyboard is prone to water damage as it is known to hold dampness. | Plywood exhibits good resistance to water. |
| Sagging | |
| If plywood finds its application as long pieces, it tends to bend and sag. | Plyboard is stiffer than plywood and therefore it is less inclined to bending and sagging. Hence when there is a need for a longer piece of wood, plyboard is preferred over Plywood. |
| Warping and Cracking | |
| Due to its dimensional stability, plyboard is highly resistant to warping and cracking. | Compared to plyboard, plywood shows less resistance towards warping and cracking. |
| Splitting | |
| Plyboard can withstand splitting. | Plywood is impervious to splitting when working with it. |
| Cutting | |
| Plyboard doesn’t part on cutting. | Compared to plyboard, plywood is difficult to cut as it chips gravely. |
| Uniformity | |
| Throughout its length and breadth, the plywood’s structure is uniform. | Plyboard tends to hold minor gaps which are invisible from outside. |
| Strength and Durability | |
| If hardwood strips are used at its core, the strength of plyboard can be increased. | Because of its uniform thickness, plywood is stronger than plyboard and hence more durable. |
| Application | |
| Plyboard is used for making long bookshelves, lengthy wall panels, tables, etc. | On the other hand, Plywood is used for custom-built furniture (expect long ones), floors, walls, roofs, etc. |