A comprehensive guide to the grade of plywood products

Plywood grade guide

Plywood, as a widely used industrial material, is marketed in various grades and quality levels. Choosing the right grade, according to the need and intended application, plays a key role in the final quality and efficiency of the project. In this section, we will discuss the plywood grade guide, including (B, BB, CP and C) and provide you with complete information.

Grade B plywood

Features:

• Moisture resistance: Grade B is somewhat resistant to moisture, but it is not suitable for use in constantly wet environments, such as bathrooms and toilets.
• Smooth and uniform external surfaces: Grade B has smooth and uniform external surfaces with minimal defects, such as small knots and wood grain. This feature makes this grade suitable for applications where appearance and beauty are important.
• Suitable for applications where appearance and beauty are important
• High resistance and strength: Grade B plywood has high strength and resistance and can be effectively used in various structures.
• Easy to paint and polish: The smooth and uniform surfaces of this grade make it easy to paint and polish.

Applications:

• Furniture Upholstery: Because of its beautiful and smooth appearance, Grade B is an ideal choice for furniture upholstering, especially luxury and modern furniture.
• Cabinet making: This grade is widely used for making kitchen cabinets, wall cupboards and other cabinets due to its high strength and good appearance.
• Interior decoration: In interior decoration, grade B plywood is used to make wall covering, false ceiling, partition and other decorative elements.
• Boat and dock construction: Grade B is partially suitable for boat and dock construction due to its moisture resistance.
• Shipbuilding Industry: Due to its resistance to moisture, this grade is used to build ship decks, small boat hulls, and other structural components exposed to water.
• Construction of temporary structures: Due to its high strength and easy portability, grade B plywood is used in the construction of display platforms, exhibition stands, concrete formwork and other temporary structures.
• Sculpting: The smooth and uniform surfaces of this grade make it suitable for making wooden sculptures, especially abstract and modern sculptures.
• Musical instruments: Due to the good sound quality, grade B plywood is used in making some musical instruments, such as drums, boom booms and guitar cases.

Advantages:

• Beautiful and smooth appearance: This grade has a beautiful and smooth appearance that makes it suitable for decorative applications.
• High strength and resistance: Grade B plywood has high strength and resistance and can be used in various structures.
• Easy to paint and polish: The smooth and uniform surfaces of this grade make it easy to paint and polish.
• Reasonable price: The price of this grade is more reasonable compared to grade A.
• Sound and heat insulation: Grade B plywood is partially sound and heat insulation and can help improve environmental comfort in the interior.
• Recyclability: This grade is made from reclaimed wood and is itself recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly choice.
• Variety in thickness: Grade B plywood is available in different thicknesses, which allows you to choose the right thickness for each application.

Disadvantages:

• Limited moisture resistance: Grade B is somewhat moisture resistant, but not suitable for use in constantly wet environments.
• The presence of minor defects: The external surfaces of this grade may have minor defects, such as small knots and wood grain.

Important points in selection and maintenance:

• Choosing the right type: Grade B plywood is available in two coated and uncoated types. The coated type is suitable for applications that require beauty and moisture resistance.
• Correct storage: To increase the life of grade B plywood, it should be stored in a dry and cool place and avoid exposure to direct moisture and sunlight.

Plywood grade BB

Features:

• External surfaces with minor defects: BB grade has external surfaces with minor defects, such as small knots and wood grain. These defects are generally small and inconspicuous and do not significantly affect the quality and strength of plywood.
• High resistance and strength: BB grade plywood has high strength and resistance and can be effectively used in various structures.
• Easy to paint and polish: The smooth and uniform surfaces of this grade make it easy to paint and polish.
• Moisture resistance: BB grade is somewhat resistant to moisture, but it is not suitable for use in constantly wet environments, such as bathrooms and toilets.

  

Applications:

• Boat and dock construction: BB grade is suitable for boat and dock construction due to its moisture resistance.
• Outdoor wooden structures: This grade is an ideal choice for building outdoor wooden structures, such as gazebos, pergolas, and fences, due to its high strength and moisture resistance.
• Concrete foundation and molding: BB grade plywood is used for concrete foundation and molding in construction projects.
• Making boxes and pallets: Due to its high strength, this grade is suitable for making boxes and pallets for transportation.
• Construction of load-bearing walls: due to its high strength, this grade can be used to build load-bearing walls in wooden structures.
• Flooring: BB grade is suitable for flooring in high-traffic areas, such as sheds and warehouses.
• False ceiling: This grade is used to make a false ceiling in places that require strength and moisture resistance, such as bathrooms and toilets.
• Furniture making: BB grade can be used to make simple and functional furniture, such as tables and chairs.

Advantages:

• High strength and resistance: BB grade plywood has high strength and resistance and can be used in various structures.
• Easy to paint and polish: The smooth and uniform surfaces of this grade make it easy to paint and polish.
• Moisture resistance: BB grade is partially resistant to moisture and is suitable for use in outdoor environments.
• Reasonable price: The price of this grade is more reasonable compared to grades A and B.
• Light weight: BB grade plywood is light weight due to the use of thin wood in its construction.
• Flexibility: This grade is somewhat flexible and can be used in the construction of bent and curved structures.
• Easy cutting and drilling: cutting and drilling of this grade is easy due to its smooth and uniform surfaces.

Disadvantages:

• Not-So-Smooth Appearance: The exterior surfaces of this grade have minor imperfections, such as small knots and wood grain, which may not be suitable for some decorative applications.
• Limited moisture resistance: BB grade is somewhat moisture resistant, but not suitable for use in constantly wet environments.
• Unsightly appearance: BB grade is not suitable for applications where appearance and aesthetics are important, such as furniture upholstery, due to the presence of minor defects on the external surfaces.
• Need for painting or coating: To increase the beauty and longevity of BB grade plywood, it should be painted or coated.

In choosing BB grade plywood, it is necessary to pay attention to the following:

• Intended use: According to the intended use, the appropriate grade should be selected.
• Environmental conditions: If plywood is to be used in humid environments, moisture-resistant grades should be used.
• Appearance quality: If a smooth and uniform appearance is required, grades A or B should be used.

Comparison with other grades:

• Comparison with B grade: BB grade is similar to B grade in terms of strength and moisture resistance, but it has a less beautiful appearance and is cheaper.
• Comparison with CP grade: BB grade is better than CP grade in terms of strength and moisture resistance, but its appearance is not so beautiful and its price is more expensive.

CP grade plywood

Features:

• External surfaces with more defects: CP grade has external surfaces with more defects, such as large knots, wood grain and roughness.
• Good strength and resistance: This grade has good strength and resistance and can be used in different structures.
• Cheap price: CP grade plywood is the cheapest plywood grade.
• Ability to paint and polish: The surfaces of this grade can be painted and polished.

Applications:

• Internal uses: CP grade plywood is used to make flooring, wall covering, false ceiling, shelving and simple and functional furniture.
• Making concrete formwork: Due to its reasonable price and sufficient strength, this grade is used to make concrete formwork in construction projects.
• Packaging: CP grade is used to make wooden boxes and shipping pallets.
• Temporary structures: This grade is used for the construction of temporary structures, such as exhibition stands and display platforms.

Advantages:

• Cheap price: The price of this grade is much cheaper compared to other plywood grades, such as A, B and BB.
• Suitable for indoor use: Due to the appearance defects, this grade is suitable for indoor use where appearance is less important.
• Good strength and resistance: CP grade has good strength and resistance and can be used in various applications.
• Ability to paint and polish: The surfaces of this grade can be painted and polished to give it a more beautiful appearance.

Disadvantages:

• Unsightly Appearance: Due to appearance defects, this grade is not suitable for applications where appearance and aesthetics are important, such as furniture upholstery.
• Limited moisture resistance: CP grade is somewhat moisture resistant, but not suitable for use in constantly wet environments.
• Need for painting or coating: To increase the beauty and longevity of CP grade plywood, it should be painted or coated.

Important points in selection and maintenance:

• Choosing the right thickness: The thickness of plywood should be chosen according to the intended application.
• Choosing the right type: CP grade plywood is available in two coated and uncoated types. The coated type is suitable for applications that require beauty and moisture resistance.
• Proper storage: To increase the lifespan of CP grade plywood, it should be stored in a dry and cool place and avoid exposure to direct moisture and sunlight.

Grade C plywood

Features:

• External surfaces with significant defects: Grade C has external surfaces with significant defects, such as large knots, wood grain, roughness and holes.
• Adequate resistance and strength: despite the appearance defects, this grade has good strength and resistance.
• Cheap price: C grade plywood is the cheapest plywood grade in the market.
• Ability to paint and polish: The surfaces of this grade can be painted and polished.

Applications:

• Infrastructure uses: Grade C plywood is used for construction of infrastructure, concrete formwork, non-load bearing walls and other infrastructure uses where appearance is less important.
• Construction of temporary structures: Due to its reasonable price and sufficient strength, this grade is used for the construction of temporary structures, such as display platforms and exhibition stands.
• Packaging: Grade C is used to make wooden boxes and shipping pallets.
• Industrial applications: This grade is used in the construction of some industrial equipment, such as workshop floors and loading platforms.

Advantages:

• Very cheap price: The price of this grade is much cheaper compared to other plywood grades, such as A, B, BB and CP.
• Suitable for infrastructure use: Due to the appearance defects, this grade is suitable for infrastructure use where appearance is less important.
• Proper strength and resistance: Grade C has good strength and resistance and can be used in various applications.
• Ability to paint and polish: The surfaces of this grade can be painted and polished to give it a more beautiful appearance.

Disadvantages:

• Unsuitable appearance: due to significant appearance defects, this grade is not at all suitable for applications where appearance and aesthetics are important, such as furniture upholstery.
• Limited moisture resistance: Grade C is somewhat moisture resistant, but not suitable for use in constantly wet environments.
• The need for painting or coating: To increase the beauty and longevity of grade C plywood, it should be painted or coated.

Important points in selection and maintenance:

• Choosing the right thickness: The thickness of plywood should be chosen according to the intended application.
• Choosing the right type: Grade C plywood is available in both coated and uncoated types. The coated type is suitable for applications that require beauty and moisture resistance.
• Proper storage: To increase the life of grade C plywood, it should be stored in a dry and cool place and avoid exposure to direct moisture and sunlight.

Key points in choosing the right plywood grade:

• Application: The first and most important step in choosing a grade is to determine the desired application.
• Appearance: If the appearance of the wood is important to you, you should choose grades A or B.
• Strength: If you need high strength and resistance, especially against moisture, B or BB grades are more suitable.
• Price: The price of plywood varies according to its grade. A and B grades are more expensive and C and CP grades are cheaper.