Wood is the typical material chosen for home construction, whether it comes to exterior or interior constructions. Generally, plywood looks great everywhere, and it is easy to install and maintain. However, are plywood products stronger than the ones made of solid wood?
Plywood and solid wood are similar in strength, and both can be used in building durable constructions. Solid wood is considered stronger since it is a homogeneous material, meaning it is denser and heavier. However, if you have a large plywood piece, it would be stronger than a tiny solid wood piece.
Choosing a wood type for construction can be a difficult and delicate thing, and you need to be familiar with a lot of wood properties before selecting the one you are going to use. Therefore, I have made a thorough comparison between plywood and solid wood, so you will determine which one would be appropriate for your constructions. This article focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of plywood and solid wood and when each of them is more appropriate.
Is Plywood Stronger Than Solid Wood?
It is considered that plywood and solid wood are similar in strength and that it usually depends on the size and density of the wood. If you build constructions of both, you might not be able to see the difference and thus consider that both are equal when it comes to strength. However, if you take a closer look into the properties of plywood and solid wood, you will see that some significant factors affect the durability and strength of each type.
Solid wood is actually regarded as the stronger type of wood since it is made of homogenous material, meaning that its density and heaviness are not the same as those in plywood. Nonetheless, it also depends on the type of tree from which the wood is produced. For instance, deciduous trees like Sheesham or teak are considered heavier and denser, while trees like pine or mango are softer and weaker.
However, you should not ignore the fact that plywood products are also made of some quality materials. They have undergone a process in which they get some significant properties. For example, plywood is produced by sheets glued together, meaning that this way, it builds up in strength. However, if the type of plywood is soft and of low quality, that means that it would be no good for constructions that need real strength and stability.
Therefore, it is always wise to check the type of wood that has been used in the production of plywood materials. If the products are based on hardwood, you do not have to worry about strength because hardwood is actually the base needed for its stability. On the other hand, if the base of the plywood is some kind of softwood, you should know that those kinds of products would be more appropriate for inside constructions considering they are weaker and they cannot withstand a lot of factors especially weather changes and conditions.
What Is The Main Difference Between Plywood And Solid Wood?
If you want to learn about the main differences between plywood and solid wood, you should consider how they are produced, i.e., brought to the condition in which they are sold and ready for construction. So, plywood is produced by the engineering process, i.e., gluing layers of veneer in different directions. The veneers for plywood are provided by obtaining logs of wood that are peeling into thin sheet layers.
On the other hand, solid wood does not undergo any engineering processes, meaning that it is entirely natural. That is why it is many times considered the more robust type of wood. However, its strength does not always determine all the quality features of a particular type of wood.
Is Plywood Better Than Solid Wood?
Even though solid wood is considered stronger than plywood due to specific properties and ways of production, some factors and characteristics might make you choose plywood regardless of the strength. This is because plywood can include many properties that solid wood does not, and for some constructions, other properties are more necessary than the strength of the wood. To determine whether you need plywood or solid wood, you have to look into some of the advantages of plywood.
Advantages Of Plywood Over Solid Wood
As I already mentioned, even though solid wood might be considered stronger than plywood, sometimes it would be smarter and more convenient to opt for plywood instead. This is because plywood can be more beneficial in some cases, so it would be better for you to choose something that will give you more benefits, not only strength. You might believe that strength is the most important feature, but you would have to know the other advantages in order to make an informed decision.
Uniform Strength
While solid wood might be stronger because of the homogenous materials of which it is made, plywood is still characterized by excellent durability and solidness due to the way in which it is produced. Even though there is a mix of materials, and the production goes under a series of processes, plywood still comes out as a heavy and durable type of wood. The uniform strength allows it to be suitable for both exterior and interior constructions, meaning that you can still count on its strength as long as you choose the right type of plywood.
Versatility
While solid wood can be used for more solid constructions, i.e., constructions that require strength to achieve their potential, plywood can be used for various interior or exterior constructions. When a type of wood can be used for different constructions, that means that that type of wood is suitable to undergo different changes and still maintain its main purpose. In other words, if a particular type of wood can be used for various constructions, you have to choose the right type of product.
You need to remember that plywood comes in different forms that are suitable for various constructions. For instance, soft plywood is more suitable for furniture, while hardwood plywood is more suitable for outdoor constructions. If a type of wood has versatile usage, it means that its quality is at a high level.
Environmental Friendly
If you are considerate towards the environment, you would always opt for something considered the “greener” option. Plywood is known for its environment-friendly features and the non-toxic properties included in it. Therefore, if you are trying to be more reasonable environment-wise, then plywood would be the better and the right option for you.
Durable
If you consider the fact that plywood is suitable for outside constructions, then you can understand on your own that this type of wood is quite durable. As I mentioned before, the strength between plywood and solid wood is usually considered similar, so you should not worry about whether your plywood constructions will survive in different conditions. You can be sure that your plywood designs will last for a long time, as long as you install and finish the wood properly.
Cheap
Generally, plywood is not characterized by high prices, so you can be sure that when buying plywood, you are, in a way, saving money. There are different types of wood that can cost way more and maybe not be of such good quality. However, you should also consider the place from which you purchase your plywood.
For instance, the bigger home centers usually sell plywood that is not known to be very durable. Therefore, make sure that you know where they sell some high-quality plywood. Also, make sure that you obtain some kind of guarantee for the plywood you are purchasing.
Is Plywood Easier For Maintenance Than Solid Wood?
The maintenance process also plays an important part when it comes to types of wood. For wood to last for a long time and remain in good shape and condition, you have to take care of it properly. This means that you have to familiarize yourself with the proper ways and methods to keep your wood clean and in its original state.
When it comes to plywood and solid wood, usually, laminated plywood is easier for maintenance. This is because this kind of wood is not prone to scratches, it is resistant to moisture, and it can be cleaned with only a damp cloth. If you opt for laminated plywood, you should choose the one characterized by a higher level of thickness since it is considered more durable than other types of plywood.
On the other hand, solid wood also has its qualities and good features. For instance, teak wood is water-resistant, meaning that it would be perfect for outdoor conditions. Also, it does not require any special care, even though it would become darker with age.
This being said, you have probably understood that whatever you choose will require similar care. You need to remember that whatever type of wood you select will need proper care because it is the natural material in question. Therefore, it cannot be established that plywood is easier to take care of than solid wood, or vice versa.
How To Check The Strength Of Plywood?
If you want to ensure that the plywood you will purchase will be solid and strong, you should consider several factors. Plywood products include marks that tell you how strong a particular type of plywood is, but you can also make your own inspection by checking the plywood from outside. Sometimes, checking on your own might be better than relying on certain marks.
ISI Marks
If you are looking into MR grade plywood, the commercial type, you should look for IS:303 markings. On the other hand, if you look into Marine grade plywood, you should aim for the IS:710 markings. These marks show you that a certain type of plywood has been produced according to particular standards that guarantee the strength and durability of the products.
Check The Plywood From The Outside
If you cannot find any markings, or you want to check the strength by yourself, then you can do a quick inspection from the outside. That means that you should check the edges and determine their thickness. Also, you should check the surface and make sure that it is even and smooth.
If all these things are in order, you can be sure that you are purchasing some strong-quality plywood. However, if there are variations in thickness and the surface is not smooth as you expect, then you might be dealing with a low-quality type of plywood that might not be as strong as you think it is.
When Is Solid Wood Mostly Used?
As I established above, plywood is convenient for both exterior and interior constructions; however, sometimes, solid wood might be the better option considering its properties. For instance, when it comes to larger constructions such as doors or wardrobes, solid wood is probably the better solution. This is due to the fact that solid wood can be stiffer than plywood, and for larger constructions, you need a significant level of stiffness.
To avoid bending the plywood in such cases, you should opt for solid wood. This way, you will be sure that you will not have to face any obstacles during the process.
Plywood and solid wood are usually compared and regarded as types of wood with a lot of similarities. Plywood can be the better option in many cases; however, sometimes, the stiffness of solid wood might be more convenient.
Sources:
https://timbercraft.in/blogs/timbercraft-blog/18720603-solid-wood-vs-plywood
https://www.mvorganizing.org/which-is-stronger-wood-or-plywood/
https://www.zadinteriors.com/blog/is-plywood-stronger-than-solid-wood/