Finding the right marine plywood for your project can be a challenge, especially when you need consistent quality and supply. At FA Mitchell, we specialise in providing certified, sustainable marine plywood sheets that meet your project’s exact requirements—from design to construction.
As a marine plywood wholesale supplier for Sydney and the rest of Australia, we can help you answer that question. We offer an extensive range of marine grade plywood for you to choose from — all certified 100% sourced from local timber plantations and rated with zero formaldehyde emissions. With our decades-long expertise in plywood, you can keep your project cost-effective while tapping into marine plywood’s full potential.
General Features of Our Marine Plywood Sheets
Marine plywood is water-resistant, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications exposed to high humidity or water. It is ideal for boats, docks and outdoor structures because it will not delaminate or split under moist or wet conditions.
- Fine wood grain. To produce the Australian marine plywood we offer, our manufacturers first cut veneers or plies from local trees like Eucalyptus or Hoop Pine. These species have the fine grains and the right densities for this purpose.
- More plies (for extra stability). Our marine plywood veneers are usually cut thinner than those for standard plywood because using an increased number of thinner plies provides better structural integrity for the finished plywood.
- Cross-banding. Veneers or plies are glued on top of each other at 90-degree angles, to achieve a cross-grain pattern. This results in added stability and cleaner machine cuts.
- Water-resistant adhesives. The veneers are put together with special adhesives, like undiluted or “unextended” phenolic resin. These adhesives are formaldehyde-free, waterproof and relatively heat-resistant. They make the marine plies less prone to moisture absorption and splitting or “delamination.”
- Pressure treated. Finally, the glued veneers are pressure-treated to increase their density and durability against moisture.
Marine Plywood Grades You Can Choose From
Generally, all marine plywood fall under the following categories:
AA
This is the marine plywood type with the most superior appearance, water resistance and durability. It is also the most expensive. It has no defects like knots in the wood grain, colour inconsistencies or voids within the material. You can use it for exterior applications (e.g., external wall cladding, partially exposed decking) as well as wet interiors (e.g., boat sleeping quarters, spas, bathrooms).
AB
Equally as durable and water-resistant as AA, but may have a few colour variations and small defects in the wood grain. Can be used for both exterior and interior locations.
BB
Carries the same strength and durability as AA and AB, but features aesthetic defects like voids, irregular colouring and knots. If you need cheaper yet structurally sound marine plywood (and don’t need aesthetic perfection), this type is perfect for that purpose.
Medium Density Overlay (MDO)
This type provides AA-grade durability at a slightly lower cost. While the inner plies of this marine plywood type have the lower quality of AB and BB grades, it has ‘face’ or outer hardwood veneers on either side that are infused with extra resin. These outer veneers act as a protective weatherproofing layer with a uniform finish. They are suitable for painting or staining.
High-Density Overlay (HDO)
This also has outer hardwood veneers but has been treated with a greater amount of resin. That results in a harder and shinier surface. Depending on the manufacturer, the inner plies or core can range from AA to AB. HDO marine plywood can be used for outdoor structures and all-weather exterior cladding (including boat exteriors).
A Variety of Uses
No other plywood type is as versatile as marine-grade plywood. You can install it either indoors or outdoors without the risk of immediate water penetration or ply degradation.
No one marine plywood grade is inherently better than the other. Each grade was developed to serve different uses. To get the marine plywood that’s best for your project, you only need to match the right grade with its appropriate use. For instance, AA-grade is ideal for high-appearance applications like all-weather furniture, while HDO suits low-maintenance areas like garden patios.
Other uses for marine plywood include:
- Beachfront property outer wall cladding
- Public entertainment or eating areas (floors, walls and ceilings)
- Exposed front porches
- Garden or pool decks
- Spas or saunas
- Water sports facilities
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Docks
- Boats (interiors and exteriors)
Why choose FA Mitchell for marine plywood?
Higher quality standard
Of the many standards used to gauge the quality of marine ply, the Australian Standard (AS) 2272 is currently the most stringent in the world. It is even stricter than the British Standard (BS) 1088, which still allows B-grade outer veneers and lower-quality interior plies. The AS 2272 will allow nothing less than A-grade face veneers, high-quality cores and higher concentrations of water-resistant resins or adhesives.
As one of Australia’s premier plywood wholesalers, we supply primarily AA, AB, and HDO grades, all adhering to the rigorous Australian Standard AS 2272—ensuring top-tier durability and quality.
EWPAA-approved
The finished plywood sheets are also audited by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) and must pass the zero-formaldehyde rating test. We consider them fit for clients like you only when they bear the “EWPAA-Tested” stamp.
Guaranteed local and sustainable
Our premium marine plywood sheets are often made from wood species (e.g., Hoop Pine) selected from within Australia, all of which are chosen by their densities, impact resistance and pliability. We only supply marine plywood manufactured in Australia, ensuring sustainable sourcing and ethical production standards.
The benefits of using our marine plywood
As a developer or architect, you must always find a balance between safety, aesthetics and budget constraints. Our marine plywood can help you strike that balance with these benefits:
Cost-effective luxury
In general, marine plywood is more expensive than most other types of plywood and manufactured wood products (e.g., MDF, OSB and particleboard). However, it is still a less costly alternative to rare natural hardwood or weathered lumber. You get the best and most luxurious properties of wood for less.
Durability at lower cost
Our marine plywood already has the same moisture-resistant and weatherproof characteristics as more expensive weathered wood. Furthermore, we can enhance this with additional rot and termite treatments to help extend the life of the plywood significantly.
Elevated aesthetics
By adopting marine plywood as one of your development project’s building materials, you can significantly enhance concepts that were initially designed on paper. Marine ply’s beauty, strength, durability and even acoustical properties can surprise your clients. Use it cleverly and you’ll create an interesting juxtaposition of textures and colors. Moreover, marine plywood may also develop a patina or weathered characteristics over time, further adding character to any space.
Low-cost maintenance
Because marine plywood is manufactured for tougher conditions, your property managers will have less to deal with in terms of maintenance.
Consistent results
Unlike natural wood, plywood is a manufactured wood product. Its appearance, sizes and quality are tightly controlled. This means you get uniform characteristics in every sheet you purchase. That leads to more consistency in quality throughout your project.
Easy sourcing
Like with most plywood and other manufactured wood products in Australia, marine-grade plywood is a near-constant supply. The local plywood manufacturing industry is well-established and already relies primarily on tree plantations, which are a more consistent source of lumber than wild forests.
Lower carbon footprint and better sustainability
At FA Mitchell, we exclusively rely on manufacturers who have sustainable lumber sources (i.e., well-managed forest farms). Purchasing marine plywood from us helps you avoid a higher carbon footprint and negative impact on Australia’s natural ecosystems.
Easy transport, easy installation
When you purchase marine plywood sheets from us, you’ll get good customer service from us as well. We’ll make sure your supplies are complete and on time. Our plywood sheets also comply with the quality and sizing standards set by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA), which means they are easy to transport and easy for your construction teams to install.
FA Mitchell – Your Marine Plywood Supplier in Sydney and NSW
Wondering how large your order of pre-cut marine plywood panels for your property development should be?
Looking for additional information to do an accurate cost analysis of different wood products vs. marine plywood for your project’s overall square footage?
Want specific expert advice on where to best apply marine ply (e.g., plywood flooring) and so strengthen your design concept and add to the long-term value of your project?
We can help you. We’re the expert wholesale marine ply supplier with decades-long experience you can trust. We’ve been in the business of manufactured wood products since 1933 and we supply plywood throughout Australia from our Sydney warehouse. We have our own custom wood-cutting facility. We know marine plywood like no one else and we can give you the specific answers you seek!
Contact us for a free customised marine plywood quote today!
For personalised advice and a quote for your project, please call us on (02) 9646 2777 or fill out the form below and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
