Plywood is a popular woodworking material. But what is plywood used for, exactly? In short, you can use plywood for interior walls, cabinetry, furniture making, housing construction, and DIY projects.
Let’s look at the general use cases of plywood.
Housing Construction
Plywood can play a pivotal role in housing construction. In this arena, it has a range of applications, including roofing, sheathing, flooring, and subflooring.
Plywood can be used to form a base layer for roofs. It can also support shingles and other roofing materials.
Beyond that, plywood can be cut and shaped to fit any part of the building. Thanks to this, it’s suitable for several use cases, from reinforcing walls to flooring foundations.
Interior Walls
While drywall is the usual choice for interior walls, plywood can be used in areas that require reinforcement. Since plywood is made from multiple layers of wood veneer, it is naturally strong and durable. This makes it a great choice for paneling and partitioning interior walls.
It is flexible and can be easily cut into custom shapes and sizes. It also comes in different finishes, making it perfect for accentuating interior areas. To top it off, it is water-resistant to a degree. As such, it can be used in indoor spaces like kitchens and bathrooms where dampness can be an issue.
However, plywood is not fireproof or soundproof like other materials. You’ll find these “other materials” in our article about some plywood alternatives for DIY projects.
Exterior Walls
Plywood is popular for being durable and easy to use. These perks make it an ideal choice for exterior wall sheathing.
One common way to use plywood for exterior walls is to attach it to each stud in your walls. This application allows the plywood to strengthen the wall structures and prevent horizontal and vertical shifting.
Read More: What is a stud in a wall?
Furniture Making
Plywood’s strength and durability make it a popular material for producing furniture like chairs, tables, bookshelves, wardrobes, and the like.
What’s more, plywood is affordable and comes in various grades. This means that you can buy lower grades at cheaper prices and use them for structural purposes where the face of the plywood won’t be visible.
It also means you can use higher-grade plywood with smoother and more aesthetic finishes for sides that need to be shown off.
Apart from being affordable, plywood is especially preferred over solid wood because it is less likely to warp or crack. In other words, it has a longer lifespan.
Cabinetry and Joinery
Compared to materials like MDF, plywood is more resistant to warping and cracking. This makes it a popular choice for cabinetry and joinery.
Since plywood is strong and durable, it can be used to create kitchen and bathroom cabinets that can support heavy weights. You can use it for the sides and backs of these cabinets and easily paint or stain them to fit the room’s decor or appearance.
Outdoor Use
Certain types of plywood, such as marine and exterior plywood, are known for their moisture resistance and their ability to withstand the elements. This makes them good for outdoor projects.
To be more specific, you can use plywood to build your sheds, decks, and other outdoor furniture. But as you do so, be sure to get the right plywood type and treat it to resist insects, decay, and other outdoor elements.
DIY Projects
From creating custom bookshelves to building birdhouses or workbenches, plywood is a go-to for DIY enthusiasts.
One reason for this is that plywood is easy to work with. This means that you don’t need specialized tools or experience to cut, assemble, or trim it to your desired shape or size.
That said, the major reason why people prefer using plywood for DIY projects is its affordability. You can buy multiple large sheets of plywood at just a fraction of the price of solid wood.
To add, plywood is versatile and comes in varying grades and thicknesses, which makes it perfect for just about anything.
Finally, plywood is light enough for DIYers to easily handle and, at the same time, strong enough to support heavy structures.
FAQs About the Uses of Plywood
Why Should I Use Plywood For My Projects?
Plywood is known for its strength and resistance to warping, cracking, and shrinking. It is also lightweight, easy to work with, and durable. Additionally, it is an alternative to solid wood that allows you to spend less without compromising on quality.
For a deeper look at the benefits of plywood, take a look at our article on the advantages and disadvantages of plywood.
How Do I Choose the Right Plywood to Use?
The right plywood to use will depend on what you intend to use it for. For furniture or cabinets, you can choose higher-grade plywood with fewer knots and smoother surfaces.
For outdoor or structural projects, choose moisture-resistant plywood like marine or exterior plywood. Also, you should consider the plywood’s grade. For more information on this, check out our article on the different types of plywood.
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Main Photo Credit: Piotr / Adobe Stock Free / License
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