Types of Textured Plywood
- Plywood comes in many different texture patterns.plywood texture image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
Plywood is an important building block in homes and commercial buildings, and is typically made from wood pieces adhered together. Some plywood is made from large sheets of wood glued together while other variations simply take tiny bits of wood and form them into a large sheet, which is why each type comes in different texture patterns. Because plywood can be made from smaller wood pieces, it is usually purchased for less than solid hardwood. - Veneer-core plywood is known for its strength and light weight. The core is made from alternating layers of fir while the surface of the plywood has a veneer with a finished wood grain texture in oak or maple. The plywood is easy to handle, but often comes with inconsistencies in thickness. The plywood is also prone to chipping when it is cut.
- Made from course wood dust, particle board plywood is lighter than most types of plywood. It also tends to be cheaper. When manufactured, particle board-core plywood often has edges and surfaces that are not smooth or consistent. Its distinct texture is due to being made from large wood chips, a binding agent and wood dust.
- Also known as MDF, medium density fiber-core plywood is made from a fine wood dust that is mixed with a binding agent and heat-pressed into panels. The wood dust used for MDF is much finer than the wood dust used in particle board plywood. MDF plywood is produced in consistent sheets that are 3/4-inch wide. Unlike veneer-core and particle board-core plywoods, MDF tends to be very heavy, sometimes weighing as much as 90 pounds per sheet. Once painted, MDF can look like almost any solid sheet of wood.
