
Which plywood should I use?
What type of plywood should I use?
- BWP Grade or Waterproof Plywood. BWP grade plywood stands for Boiling Water Proof plywood, which is known to be completely water resistant. …
- MR Grade or Commercial Plywood. MR grade plywood stands for moisture resistant grade. …
- Firewall Plywood.
What materials are used to make plywood?
Plywood may be made from hardwoods, softwoods, or a combination of the two. Some common hardwoods include ash, maple, mahogany, oak, and teak. The most common softwood used to make plywood in the United States is Douglas fir, although several varieties of pine, cedar, spruce, and redwood are also used.
What is the span rating of plywood?
The span rating provides a measure of the strength and stiffness in the direction parallel to the grain of the face and back veneers of the panel. The span rating on SHEATHING SPAN panels appears as two numbers separated by a slash (e.g., 32/16 or 48/24). What do the letters on plywood mean?
What is plywood and what is it used for?
Plywood is commonly used to sheath roofs and as a subfloor on many internal flooring projects. On floors, plywood panels may include tongue-and-groove edges that slot together to allow them to carry the required load without shifting or movement whilst on roofs, they can act as a very durable and suitable skin prior to laying tiles, metal or a ...

What is the difference between HDO and MDO?
Concrete forming grades are both ideal for reuse under the harsh conditions of concrete formwork; HDO leaves a smooth "steel-form" finish while MDO leaves a matte finish. Both may be reused for concrete forming many times, but HDO has a longer use life.
Can you paint HDO plywood?
Sylvan's high-end Armor-Ply™ Medium Density Overlay (MDO) Sign grade plywood is designed to meet the highest standards to meet applications for “paint-grade” applications, both for indoor and outdoor applications.
Is HDO plywood waterproof?
The resin-soaked fiber overlays are applied with heat and pressure, forming an extremely strong, extremely flat and extremely smooth engineered wood product that is waterproof.
Is MDO plywood waterproof?
In between each veneer a layer of waterproof resin is applied, and then everything is fused together with heat and pressure. The overlay coatings are made from waterproof resin-impregnated fiber, making MDO 100% waterproof.
What paint will waterproof plywood?
Plywood can be waterproofed with paint, polyurethane, or epoxy finish. Lightly sand the plywood with 180 grit sandpaper, clean off any sawdust, and apply the finish with a brush or by pouring the finish on if using epoxy.
How do I get a high gloss finish on plywood?
To get a glossy finish for wood, start by sanding the surface smoothly, then apply a grain filler before lacquer or varnish. For professional-looking results, finalize the work by wet-sanding it with ultra-fine sandpaper and buffing it to create a polished look and feel.
Which is the best water proof plywood?
Bond 710 is a premium Boiling Water Proof Marine Grade plywood, one of the best quality plywood and waterproof in nature.
What plywood is best for outdoor use?
marine grade plywoodWell, marine grade plywood is regarded as the best outdoor plywood, and is extensively used for construction. There are other construction materials that can be used for building exterior structures like oriented strand board (OSB) or ACX, but marine grade plywood outshines them all.
What type of plywood is the most water resistant?
BWP Grade Plywood This is “boiling waterproof" plywood, and it's also referred to as Marine plywood.
Do you need to seal MDO?
When using a MDO plywood outdoors that is unprimed, it should be appropriately edge sealed and primed on both sides with a high quality wood primer that is compatible with latex (waterborne) paints. A light sanding is recommended prior to priming, to promote adhesion and reduce any potential evidence of wood grain.
Is MDO suitable for outdoor use?
Medium-density overlay plywood (MDO plywood) is durable plywood that is used primarily for outdoor applications due to its weather-resistant nature. In addition to its exceptional durability, MDO plywood is very easy to finish and paint.
Does MDO need to be painted?
MDO plywood signs should be painted with a primer such as Ronan Block Out White, and then with two coats of 1-Shot enamel. Lightly sand between coats of paint using a 230-sand paper to ensure good intercoat adhesion.
What type of plywood can be painted?
Type of plywood for painting While you can paint any plywood, the answer to the second question above is NO – I did not use expensive veneer plywood. In fact, I used the cheapest one – sanded plywood. If I were staining the project, I would have considered a good quality veneer like oak or maple.
What kind of paint can you use on plywood?
acrylic-latex paintsFor plywood projects, water-based acrylic-latex paints are generally the easiest to work with. Epoxy paints also offer great durability. Opt for high-quality paint and apply with a quality brush for the best possible results.
Which plywood is best for painting?
Choose MDF or Birch. For projects I'm going to paint, I like MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or birch. B-grade birch or lower is fine. Sometimes, you'll even see plywood classified as “paint grade.” Birch is close grained with a smooth texture that doesn't show through paint.
Is MDO plywood paintable?
Product Details. Medium density overlay panel or MDO panel, is a paintable surface made of plywood with a weather-resistant resin overlay bonded to the wood by heat and pressure.
What is a high density plywood?
High-Density Overlay (HDO) Plywood is an overlaid plywood with excellent durability and concrete finishing.
Where is plywood logistics located?
Plywood Logistics is a leading supplier of High-Density Fiberboard (HDO) Plywood in California and all over the US.
What is High-Density Overlay Plywood (HDO)?
As already mentioned, HDO is the abbreviation for High-Density Overlay Plywood. This type of plywood is also known as ‘ signboard,’ and this is because HDO has initially been used in only making signboards. So much so that the alternate name given to it was, in fact, signboard.
The production process of HDO
These engineered plywoods have been identified as having similar features as plyform structural I or class I. Almost all HDO Plyform have been seen to have a firm and transitionally opaque surface that is believed to be because of the -phenolic resin that is used in setting its ply together.
Hush Density Overlay Plywood VS Medium Density Overlay Plywood
High-Density Overlay Plywood is often compared with MDO, Medium Density Overlay, as both are soaked in the resin during their production process. However, the one key difference between HDO and MDO is that HDO has higher density due to the excessive compactness introduced with the addition of high resin content and high-density fibers.
Direct Plywood Supplier of HDO
Now that we have discussed the importance of high-density overlay let us discuss the correct method to get our hands on premium quality HDO. to figure this out, it is integral that you first make sense of what a direct plywood supplier is.
Main 5 reasons to buy HDO plywood from a direct plywood supplier
A huge factor when making furniture is choosing the right type of plywood. As consumers of plywood, you must have had enough experience with woodworks to realize that certain designs call for a specific kind of plywood.
Why is Plywood Logistics the best direct plywood supplier?
Plywood Logistics is one of the leading direct plywood suppliers, and rightfully so. Many aspects make us different from others, including our impeccable work ethic and considerate customer care. We have morphed certain sections of our organization for the betterment of our clientele because a satisfied and happy customer is our supreme reward.
What is HDO plywood?
APA trademarked High and Medium Density Overlay plywood (HDO and MDO) combine the toughness of Exterior-type plywood with the superior wear of an overlaid surface. These features place HDO and MDO among the most durable construction materials on the market today.
What is HDO and MDO?
HDO is available in two grades, Concrete Form and Industrial, and MDO is available in Concrete Form and General grades. Concrete forming grades are both ideal for reuse under the harsh conditions of concrete formwork; HDO leaves a smooth "steel-form" finish while MDO leaves a matte finish.
Is HDO more durable than MDO?
HDO is manufactured with more resin than MDO, but both are far more durable than standard plywood and are ideal for use in the most punishing of applications.
Can HDO be used for concrete?
Both may be reused for concrete forming many times, but HDO has a longer use life. Industrial grade HDO panels are commonly used for highway panels, industrial tanks, and other highly demanding applications.
What are the applications of MDO plywood?
Medium-density overlay plywood is versatile and can be used for a range of applications. It is commonly used for:
What is the best material for concrete forming?
HDO plywood is, of course, one of the best materials for concrete forming. It has an excellent smooth surface and can be reused several times. For concrete forming applications, you can choose a high-density overlay plywood supplier. Such a product performs well under alkaline exposures. It has the natural insulating quality of plywood that provides more consistency for concrete forming.
What is MDO plywood?
Just like exterior siding, MDO plywood is best for some interior applications as well. A reliable medium density overlay plywood supplier can provide you high-quality MDO that you can use for countertops, shelving, molding, bins, floors, cabinets, panels, walls, and many other applications. You can use it for everything due to its safe nature and high durability.
What is overlay plywood?
Overlaid plywood can be used in various applications due to the strength, smooth surface and high durability. When it comes to high-density overlay plywood, it was first created for use in signboards and for the reflective material attached to highway signs. More resins are used in order to provide a better surface for attaching the reflective material. Similarly, MDO plywood has major applications in exterior siding, concrete form, and signboards.
What is medium density plywood?
Medium-density overlay plywood and high-density overlay plywood fall in the category of hardwood, where a resin is soaked between the veneer layers. The top veneer layer is regarded as an “A” grade of both sides. It provides a smooth surface without any void. With the help of resin-soaked fiber overlays, an engineered wood product is produced. Such a wood product is extremely strong, flat and smooth due to pressure and heat. Do you know what makes them different? It is all about the density of the exterior fiber layer, which is comparatively higher in the case of HDO as compared to MDO. Moreover, there is more resin content in HDO as well. A reliable HDO plywood supplier can provide you a high-quality product.
What is the most durable construction material?
These applications require tough building materials. Medium Density Overlay (MDO) and High-Density Overlay (HDO) plywood have the toughness required for exterior-type plywood. Moreover, both have superior wear of an overlaid surface. That is why both MDO and HDO plywood are among the most durable construction materials out there in the market.
What is the difference between HDO and MDO?
There is a huge difference between HDO and MDO in terms of thickness. Both of these materials come in a range of thicknesses (such as 3/8”, 1/2″, 5/8”, and 1) , which provides you the flexibility to purchase one that best suits your construction needs. Moreover, standard sheets have different lengths such as 8’, 10’ and 12’, and these have 2 to 4 feet widths.
How Is MDO Plywood Made?
In between each veneer a layer of waterproof resin is applied, and then everything is fused together with heat and pressure. The overlay coatings are made from waterproof resin-impregnated fiber, making MDO 100% waterproof.
How Does it Compare To Other Types of Plywood Like MDF?
There are other factors that make it a better choice than other types of plywoods like MDF, such as:
What is MDO plywood?
MDO (Medium-density overlay) plywood is an all-purpose, specialty plywood that can be used for a large variety of projects and applications. It is built for exterior use but can also be used anywhere regular plywood is used. It can often be confused with MDF (medium-density fiberboard), and though the two plywoods are similar, they are not the same.
Is MDO more expensive than MDF?
Cost. Due to its high durability and strength, MDO does cost a great deal more than MDF and other plywoods. However, MDO is generally a higher quality board that will not require you to replace and rebuild, and will last you much longer than MDF.
Is MDO plywood weather resistant?
Weather Resistance. Due to the layer of waterproof resin, MDO is much more weather resistant and can better handle friction than other plywoods. If MDF ever gets wet, for example, it absorbs and the wetness and swells, creating a huge risk for mold, termites, and other wood-related issues.
Is MDO good for outdoor use?
Uses. MDO is better for outdoor use and any indoor use that risks exposure to moisture (floors, walls, cabinets, etc.). MDF can also be used for a variety of applications, but due to how it absorbs moisture, it is best to only use MDF for internal projects that will not get wet.
Is MDO plywood good for outdoor projects?
The experts who told you that MDO plywood is the best option for your project were right. It may be more costly than other plywoods, but it is the perfect wood for just about any project you have in mind. Specifically, if you need plywood for any outdoor projects, or anything that will come in contact with water or moisture, you want to be sure to only use MDO to avoid the wood decaying or rotting.
