If you’re thinking about using plywood for outdoor projects, there is only one choice, and that’s marine plywood. After all, marine plywood is basically waterproof plywood.
For patio furniture, gazebos, boats and fences and other exterior projects that will be exposed to lots of moisture and condensation, only marine plywood will do the job.
What’s so special about this particular type of plywood anyway, you might ask. Read on to find out what it is made of, and why it’s the best type of plywood for external applications.
Naturally water-resistant tropical hardwood
Marine plywood is constructed out of the finest grade of naturally water-resistant tropical hardwood. To ensure the best results, only the highest quality grade of veneers are used. That’s because high-quality veneer is free of defects, which means that when the sheet is cut, core gaps are practically done away with.
To put things in perspective, let’s take structural plywood for example. Structural is already a great plywood product, but the high grade veneers used in every layer of marine plywood makes the latter an even better kind of plywood. And if we are talking about higher-quality marine-grade plywood, you know it is so much stronger and more durable because it’s made up of more and thinner layers of hardwood.
What makes marine plywood perfect for wet and moist external applications is the fact that it is bonded or glued together using phenolic resin. This type of glue, in combination with the already water-resistant hardwood, makes it completely waterproof.
Standards for marine plywood
Manufacturers of marine-grade plywood use a variety of standards. The strictest standard in existence, however, is Australian Standard AS 2272. It is the very standard that we at FA Mitchell adhere to for our marine plywood products.
If you’re buying marine grade plywood that is manufactured to overseas standards, the best piece of advice that we can give you is that you should be cautious with this kind of plywood. There simply is no substitute for marine plywood made to AS/NZS 2272.
How marine plywood is made
To give you an idea how marine-grade plywood is made, watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGnr8ATHHX8
If you require commercial quantities of plywood – marine or otherwise – contact us today and we will be happy to assist you. We can also advise you on the best types of wood for your particular project.
