16mm Plywood for Furniture: Applications, Drawbacks, and Benefits

When it comes to selecting furniture that is lovely, sleek, and strong, and can be easily used, the material selection is highly sensitive. Plywood is one of the main products used in furniture production; as for its thickness, 16mm has become one of the most popular ones. Nevertheless, like all materials, it has certain strengths that should also be considered and certain weaknesses that should also be taken into consideration also.

Use of 16mm plywood is essential when you are trying to do self-finishing or hire someone to do it for you in arts and crafts, carpentry, and construction projects. The following tutorial outlines the advantages and disadvantages of 16mm plywood and the most likely applications of 16mm plywood. This information will help you determine whether it is possible thus necessary to use 16mm plywood in making your furniture.

What is 16mm Plywood?

Plywood is a sort of manufactured lumber that is made from sheets of thick veneer layered with adjacent layers bonded upon one another with adhesives. This article is going to brief us on the 16mm plywood and why it’s preferable. Plywood, on the other hand, is a multi-ply wood-based product made of laminated thin veneer ply. Each of the layers of plywood is placed perpendicular to each other to create better hardness to the plywood sheets that have a standard thickness of 16 millimeters.

16mm plywood can be applied both for residential and commercial furniture which includes cabinet shelves, wardrobe, tables, among others. So, what makes 16mm plywood special? Below we discuss its benefits, evils, and its uses so that you can make a realistic decision about it as your furniture-making solution.

Benefits of Using 16mm Plywood for Furniture

Strength and Durability

The main benefit of using 16mm plywood is its sturdiness. The density of this sort of plywood is not very high, and it is not as thick as other sorts; however, it can carry the load of furniture. This strength proves particularly valuable in items such as bookcases, bookshelves, wardrobes, coffee tables, etc., where stiffness is an important factor.

• Strong enough for heavy-duty applications.
• They also do not tend to warp, unlike thinner types of plywood, as they can support a heavier amount of weight.
• Impact and wear-resistant.

Affordability

16mm of plywood is generally cheaper compared to other thicker variants but is still quite solid. This makes it even ideal for designers who have many furniture plans to execute on a limited budget. If you wish to derive the strength of the plywood but do not wish to spend the additional amount of money on the thicker sheath of this material, you can opt for the 16mm thickness.

• Balances quality and price.
• Especially the bulky furniture such as desks, tables, and the like, which may consume a lot of material in their production.
• Ideal for delivering personal kinds of furniture or producing several pieces on a single piece of equipment.

Versatility of Design

Being very compact and durable, its thickness makes it feasible to incorporate it into various design themes. It is easy to process and shape the material and dozing it to the required shape needed. Regardless of the type of interior design style, with elements of modern or contemporary style or classic and traditional design, 16mm plywood will be suitable for installation.

• It can be used as support as well as used for beautification purposes.
• The design can easily be adapted to meet any architectural specifications.
• It may be covered with a thin layer of wood, plastic, or any other material to give it an appealing look.

Ease of Installation and Handling

Since 16mm is half the thickness of 32mm, this kind of plywood is easier to maneuver and fix as compared to thicker plywood. This makes it good when the installation of the furniture is to be done by the clients or end-users themselves.

• It is much thinner and easier to carry as compared with regular plywood.
• Cutting and drilling are made easy and faster, thus saving time.
• Suits smaller items of furniture or areas where space is limited.

Disadvantages of Using 16mm Plywood for Furniture

Less Strength to Hold Heavy Loads

Although 16mm plywood is very sturdy, it is not so ideal to be used for heavy furniture like plywood bookcases full of heavy books or cabinets that are likely to bear a lot of load and weight. In such situations, thicker plywood or further reinforcement may be required.

• May require additional supports especially in the event of large furniture fixtures.
• It is not suitable for applications that have a very high load-carrying capacity.

Risk of Sagging Over Time

When it comes to larger pieces, such as wide shelving units or tables, 16mm plywood may be prone to sagging after some time if the gap is not adequately covered. For large surfaces, a thicker one would be more appropriate to make the furniture last long.

• Thin plywood tends to droop even when used to cover large areas due to the lack of support that usually accompanies long spans.
• It should be braced further to avoid warping.
• Not as durable as thicker plywood in certain applications.

Susceptibility to Moisture Damage

16mm plywood is also exposed to moisture risks as is common with all plywood. If exposed to water or humidity, it can easily get swollen, warped, or develop mold. Particularly if applied in areas of high humidity such as the kitchen or bathroom, special precautions have to be taken in sealing of the plywood and its subsequent maintenance.

• Subjection to moisture will weaken the strength of the material used in the production of the plywood.
• It may need to be treated with a waterproofing finish.
• It is not suitable for outdoor conditions or areas with high humidity

Also Read - 16mm Plywood for Kitchen and Bathroom

Applications of 16mm Plywood in Furniture

Bookshelves and Cabinets

16mm plywood is normally used in the fabrication of bookshelves, cabinets, and display units. This is because it has wonderful mechanical properties of strength while being relatively cheap in comparison to the cost of other sizes.

• Ideal for shelves and compartments.
• Ideal to order and have functional custom bookcase designs in a relatively cheaper way.
• It can be veneered or laminated to give it an aesthetically pleasing look.

Desks and Tables

16mm plywood is ideal for small side tables, coffee tables, and desks. Even if the models are rather large, it is possible to use thicker plywood, or for small furniture items, 16mm would do well.

• Ideal for minimalist or contemporary designs.
• Ideal for adapting according to the characteristics of various forms of tables.
• Best for home offices or small living spaces.

Wardrobes and Closets

16mm plywood is used for wardrobes, closets, and dressers. Offers the right support in such kind of furniture, and its flexibility is essential for the customization of closets.

• Strong enough for wardrobe partitions and interior shelves.
• It can be used as a design for sliding doors or folding wardrobes.

Storage Units and Sideboards

16mm plywood is preferable for storage units due to its lightweight and durability.

• Ideal for custom storage units where both strength and lightweight are required.
• Especially suitable for environments with limited space.

By considering the pros and cons of 16mm plywood, you can make an informed decision regarding its suitability for your furniture-making projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use 16mm plywood to make outdoor furniture?

Respected opinions say that using 16mm plywood to build outdoor furniture is rarely a terrible idea, as long as the plywood is treated to be water-resistant. Marine plywood, or "moisture resistant plywood”, can also be used for outdoor furniture.

Can you use 16mm plywood to build large furniture?

16mm plywood is good for building small-scale furniture, for example, bookshelves or small tables. If you want to make as large furniture as a heavy-duty dining room table, for example, think about using a thicker plywood for additional load-bearing.

How should wooden furniture made from 16mm ply be treated?

Dry, well-ventilated locations are ideal for storing 16mm plywood furniture. Clean the surface regularly with a damp cloth and be sure to refresh the wood finish or varnish to minimize 'wetting' and other forms of damage caused by moisture and dampness.

How should I prevent 16mm plywood furniture from sagging?

To eliminate or mitigate the risk of sagging wood, particularly with larger pieces of furniture, a supportive frame (for example, a brace or cross-supports) should be used to distribute the weight more evenly and prevent warping.

What is the best ply for furniture making?

Royale Touche is a good option for consumers who are seeking quality, water-resistant, long lasting plywood suitable for many versions of furniture to build outdoor and indoor furniture.