Do You Need Marine-Grade Plywood?
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Marine-grade plywood is a high-quality hardwood plywood made with waterproof glue. Though marine-grade plywood is not waterproof wood, it is water resistant, lightweight, strong, and virtually free of defects.
Because of its many layers of high-quality wood, marine-grade plywood can last 15 to 25 years if well maintained.
These qualities make marine-grade plywood a popular choice for exterior building projects like outdoor furniture, especially in coastal areas. Marine-grade plywood gains even more durability after it receives a strong protective finish.
Learn about marine-grade plywood, how it's different from standard plywood, and where you can use it.
Marine-Grade Plywood vs. Standard Plywood
Marine-grade plywood consists of five layers, or plies, of high-quality wood adhered with waterproof glue, while regular plywood consists of three layers of wood attached with non-waterproof glue.
Marine-Grade Plywood
Marine plywood is a type of hardwood plywood. Hardwood plywood is made with thin layers of 100-percent hardwood, which is generally stronger, harder, and has a finer grain than softwood.
Thin layers of hardwood veneer—known as plies—are used to make marine-grade plywood. Arranging the sheets in perpendicular layers strengthens the plywood.
Cross-lamination gives marine plywood even more strength. The plies may have knots but no knotholes.
The waterproof glue in marine plywood will not fail, and the wood layers will not delaminate or fall apart if the plywood is exposed to moisture, very high humidity, or boiling temperatures.
Waterproof glues are critical if you're building a boat hull with plywood. The plywood will remain structurally intact if the hull's protective finish is damaged and the wood gets wet.
Standard Plywood
Standard plywood is made with fewer, thicker layers than marine-grade plywood and mainly contains softwood, like pine or Douglas fir.
The interior layers also have voids, or holes, that you can't see until you cut into the plywood panel.
Standard plywood contains fewer thicker layers of wood than marine-grade plywood. More thin plies result in a denser panel with edges that cut and sand cleaner.
Even though most plywood products are graded A, B, C, and D (with A being the best), they aren't considered as high quality as marine and other hardwood plywood.
Types of Marine-Grade Plywood
Marine plywood is available in the following grades:
Pros and Cons Of Marine-Grade Plywood
Pros
Durable up to 20 years
Water-resistant
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Attractive surface
Resists termites and ants
Cons
Expensive
Harder to cut
Contains chemicals
Difficult to obtain
How to Protect Marine-Grade Plywood
If marine plywood is exposed to moisture, it must be protected by an excellent water-resistant finish.
To protect marine plywood, use a clear penetrating epoxy. This type of sealant takes more time to apply than a polyurethane sealer but requires less maintenance in the long term.
Waterproof adhesive was invented in 1934, making plywood possible. It was used to build boats and barracks during WWII, and homes and cities in postwar America. By 1954, the industry grew to more than 100 mills and production approached 4 billion square feet.
Do You Need Marine-Grade Plywood?
Any boat or nautical structure should be built with sealed marine-grade plywood. Along with nautical uses, marine plywood is used for other moisture-impacted projects like:
Marine plywood must be finished with a sealant to protect it from moisture damage.
FAQ
Is marine plywood worth the money?
Marine plywood is worth the money if you need it for nautical applications as it is less prone to delamination than standard plywood.
Which is better, marine plywood or treated plywood?
If you need a material that can withstand moisture without a protective finish, choose pressure-treated lumber or plywood rated for the expected level of exposure. Wood species that naturally resist decay, like redwood, cedar, ipe, shorea, and cypress, are less likely to rot due to molds and other organisms that feed on the wood. Marine plywood is not pressure-treated to resist decay, like pressure-treated lumber and plywood.
What is the cheapest way to waterproof plywood?
The cheapest way to waterproof plywood is with an exterior-grade polyurethane coating or with exterior-grade acrylic-latex paint.
That depends (sigh)… How do you plan to use it?
Marine plywood is any plywood made to withstand the elements of nature, specifically water. So it is used for Marine construction like boats and docks but also water front properties. As you can imagine the amount of exposure the plywood sees varies widely on whether it is used on a boat or on an ocean front home. The particular use of the marine plywood will help dictate what exact product you should purchase.
Any call or email we get for marine grade plywood results in a series of questions about why it is needed and how it will be put to use. The term “marine grade” is used a bit too liberally by manufacturers to be trusted at face value. In other words there are many shades of gray to it and and most likely a good product can be found for your project whether it be exterior home work, a marina, or a boat. The standards required by APA- The Engineered Wood Association, for a product to be called “marine grade” are not that much higher than your typical exterior grade plywood. With many options for glue, veneers, plies, and preservatives to consider, close examination of what your final project will be subjected to must be considered before deciding which marine plywood product to buy.
All marine plywood will be free of voids in the core. Voids are traps for water and will rot the product from the inside out. Repairs to the core plies are very few for this same reason. Weather and Boil Proof (WBP) glue must be used as well. This glue has been subjected to boiling water for more than an hour without delamination of the plies. This is where the standards stop so you can see there is a lot of room for variety that can effect what kind of product you get. Additional standards like BS 1088 and BS 6566 raise the bar quite a bit on what is allowed but these only add to the variety of products open to the general market. Species of face veneer and appearance, species of veneer core, core construction, and glue used will all effect how the finished sheet of marine plywood will behave in different conditions.
In some ways it would make most sense for the plywood suitable for boat building to be the only plywood with a marine grade label. Alas this is not so. Water resistance, bending ability, and appearance are all key. The plywood is either expected to be a show face or at least a consistent face that can operate as a reliable surface for a decking veneer or fiberglass overlay. Weight is another factor to consider but all of these additional variables depend upon your specific construction needs. As far as water resistance, plywood that is BS1088 (or better) should be a must in order to ensure long term durability.
While perhaps not as harsh an environment as on a boat, depending on where the structure is situated exterior plywood can take quite a beating. Many of the same parameters are in play but the water resistance does not have to be as key and often appearance is of much less importance because the plywood is used as a substrate for an exterior hardwood, softwood, or composite material. Usually seaside homes and commercial structures need to have have marine grade plywood, but many licenses can be taken to lessen the costs due to less harsh environmental conditions. Since the plywood is not submerged in water some voids are permissible and this is a major factor that can save you money when buying Marine plywood for an ocean front property.
This range of quality comes with a wide range of price tags so it is imperative that the buyer understand which of the many variables are most important and buy the product with the right match. Don’t go to your dealer and just ask for “marine grade plywood” or if you do, be prepared to answer a whole slew of questions. If your dealer doesn’t’ ask you these questions then buyer beware as you may be getting either a sheet of plywood that is overkill or will fall apart on you down the road. There are many factors to consider and this article barely scratches the surface of the myriad technical details that make up grades of marine plywood. They key is to know that not all marine grade plywood is created equal and it shouldn’t be. Ask questions when you go to buy and keep in mind the key elements you need for your project. A reputable dealer can help you get the right product, whether it is marine plywood or exterior plywood.
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