What Is The Difference Between Blockboard And Plywood?

Blockboard vs Plywood, most people get confused between two and some think both are the same. First, let’s clarify that these two are separate from each other in usage and design. You can even say them as two different entities. These are unrelated to each other.

Albeit their similar visual appearance, blockboard and plywood are different types of engineered wood and possess different specifications. This is why their field of work does not overlap with each other. Today we will discuss the difference between the two, so you can make the right choice while buying any.

Differences Between Plywood and Blockboard

Difference In Material

Plywood consists of wooden strips glued together with premium resin. Hardwood, softwood, alternate core, and poplar ply are common ones. Based on the resin and manufacturing pattern, the popular plywood grade is commercial ply and marine ply (BWP/BWR).

Blockboard is an engineered wood, in which softwood wooden strips are placed edge to edges which are then sandwiched between two wooden veneers. These veneers are glued and pressed at high pressure to form the sheets of blockboard.

Difference in Uses

Plywood is used for manufacturing furniture, cabinets, flooring, and ceiling indoors, while outdoors it is used in the yacht, barges, ship decks, and even on construction sites.

While blockboard is used only in the fabrication of lengthy furniture. For instance, to make big bookshelves or plywood beds, blockboard is incorporated. It adds structural strength and prevents the furniture from bending. Blockboard is generally used for making single or double beds, lengthy wall panels, or benches.

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Difference In Properties

Plywood is not prone to water damage, considering the plywood is of BWP/BWR/MR grade. It has a uniform core and the finish of the plywood with laminate is uniform across length and breadth. It ensures the veneers can be laminated, lacquered, and cut with ease.

In comparison to plywood, block boards are not water retardant. The blockboard at Austin Plywood defies this property, as we have a Double core block board that is made from hardwood core and double pressed to ensure warp, corrugation, and gap-free surface. It has a screw holding capacity that does not tend to bend from the middle. Block board does not shrink or expand due to changes in weather conditions and does not split while cutting which makes it the preferred choice of carpenters and designers.

Difference in Size

Commercial plywood comes in thicknesses of 4mm, 6mm,9mm, 12mm, 16mm,19mm, and 25mm. While blockboard comes in thicknesses of 16mm, 19mm, and 25mm.

The difference in thickness determines the factors such as screw holding capacity and sagging of furniture after a while.

Conclusion

Plywood and blockboard both are important for the fabrication of plush furniture for the decorative home. Austin has Platinum Plus Plywood, club plus, Marine Gold Plywood, Fire Retardant Plywood, Lincoln MR Plywood, and Flexi Plywood. In the blockboard range, we have Platinum Plus Block Board, Marine Gold Block Board, and Club Plus Blockboard.