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May 15, 2011

When Plywood is Better than Solid Wood

Timber — Tags: , , , — Booker Timber @ 11:42 am

As any timber merchant will tell you, selecting the right timber is half the battle. Different timbers and timber materials have different properties and they’ll behave differently under almost any given set of circumstances. Some materials are more resistant to damp and insect pests, some are stronger, heavier, or can handle extreme heat better than others.

Plywood sheets have several features worth noting. The first is that they are cheap and easy to produce. When price is the first concern, many builders and carpenters look to plywood first of all. It’s also very light in weight. It may seem strange to say it now, when so many of us travel in huge metal aeroplanes, but many World War II fighter planes were made with plywood.

Flexibility is also key. The layers in a piece of plywood are glued together, and the end result tends to flex rather than snap or crack under pressure. Because different woods are often used to make a single sheet, characteristics like strength, flexibility, and weight can be engineered quite precisely. Not all plywoods were created equal, or to do the same job.

Solid timber can crack, shrink, or warp over time, especially in hot or damp conditions. Plywood is resistant to warping and there are varieties that are constructed especially for use in wet environments. We can supply a wide range of plywoods and associated products, and our plywood cutting technology is second to none. Booker Timber can provide the ready-shaped materials for roofing, furniture, and much more.


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