Blockboard Vs Plywood - 6 Key Differences that will Chnage Your Buying Decision

Blockboard vs plywood are common choices when one is trying to decide what to use for furniture for home improvement projects. Block board and plywood are commonly used in construction of cabinets, doors, partitions, and a variety of other furniture items. These two materials are different in structure, durability, usage, and cost. This enables one to distinguish one material from the other, thus selecting suitable one for the most suitable for the project.

Major Differences Between Block Board and Plywood

When choosing between block board and plywood, understanding their key differences is essential for making the right decision. Here are the main differences between block board and plywood as given below:

Internal Structure Composition

Blockboard consists of pine strips glued together to form a core, which is positioned between the veneer layers. These strips are referred to as blocks that overlap each other in an edge-to-edge configuration to form the core. Veneers merge with the core from both sides making the blockboard lighter compared to plywood.

Plywood is composed of a number of thin layers, or plies of wood veneer glued together with each layer's grain direction rotated 90 degrees from the preceding one. This cross-graining technique provides plywood its strength and resistance to warping or cracking. The thickness and strength of a sheet of plywood vary depending on the number of plies.

Strength and Durability

Plywood comes with excellent strength and durability. Given its cross-layered structure, plywood is highly resistant to warping and splittings. Plywood is the most suitable material for load-bearing furniture, flooring, or any outdoor application where a high strength is compulsory. The pinewood core of the blockboard has lower density, which makes it more vulnerable to bending with heavier weights. The lightweight nature of blockboard makes it suitable for indoor furniture items such as wardrobes, bookshelves, and interior doors where extreme strength is not an issue.

Workability and Ease of Use

The ease of working between block board vs plywood is an essential aspect to consider.

Blockboard is easier to use than plywood due to the softwood core making it easier to cut, drill, and shape better without splintering. This makes blockboard a recommended material in large-scale carpentry projects where handling ease is a concern. Blockboard is also chosen in making long shelves or large tables as it is stable without warping, especially when over 6 feet in length.

Plywood is denser and harder thereby requiring relatively more effort to cut and shape the plywood. It may also splinter at the edges if veneers are layered onto it. One must use special tools and techniques in cutting plywood.

Resistance to Moisture and Warping

Resistance of a material to moisture and warping is a major concern, especially in wet weather.

Plywood is less susceptible to moisture than blockboard, because cross-lamination forms a structure in the veneer. It is widely used for outdoor furniture, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom fittings. Moisture distribution within the layers of a ply helps minimize warping and swelling.

Moisture damage can be noticed more in blockboard, which has a softwood core, as compared to plywood. Moisture can penetrate the pockets of the softwood blocks and when it is exposed to moist air for sometime, the material will warp or swell. Blockboard is appropriate for furniture to be used indoors and dry situations.

Block board vs plywood price

Blockboard vs plywood price plays an important factor when it comes to choosing the type of plywood for a given project.

Blockboards are cheaper than plywood. This is because the core blockboard uses softwood, which is cheaper than plywood and mainly consists of hardwood veneers. Blockboard is used for low-strength interior furniture projects.

Plywood, especially the high-grade types, like marine plywood, is costly. However they come with superior strength, resistance to moisture, and durability. In applications that necessitate a long-term performance requirement, expenditure on plywood would be warranted.

Applications and Suitability

Blockboard is ideal for indoor furniture, doors, partitions, wardrobes, and long bookshelves. It is lightweight and offers resistance to bending, which makes it ideal for these applications. However, it's not appropriate for outdoor applications or areas with high moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Plywood is versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes, including furniture-making, flooring, and exterior wall cladding. Because of its strength and durability, it is the first preference for outdoor furniture, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and any application where good resistance to moisture is of importance. For curved surfaces, plywood can also easily be employed because of its flexibility.

Blockboard vs plywood - one can choose depending on what the project needs are. Plywood is stronger and is more resistant to moisture. Blockboard has greater affordability and lightness when used indoors. Understanding such factors and also comparing block board vs plywood price helps one decide what is the best option they can choose for the project.

Use Of Blockboard vs Plywood

Use Of Blockboard

• Interior doors and door cores
• Desks and tables
• Shelving and storage unit
• Partition panels
• Other furniture that needs to be as light as possible, but has moderate strength with good surface finishes

People select blockboard when they want moderate strength and a good surface finish without a huge amount of weight.

Use Of Plywood

• Outside doors and frames
• Cabinets and wardrobe
• Wall and ceiling panels
• Floor underlay and sub-structure
• Furniture with a heavier load and higher moisture content

Plywood offers multi-directional strength and moisture resistance, indicating its suitability for both interior and exterior applications.

Properties Of Blockboard vs Plywood

Properties Of Blockboard

• Blockboard has a lower weight than plywood of the same thickness
• Blockboard has a good edge strength along the panel length.
• Blockboard is less moisture resistant to prolonged exposure over time.
• Blockboard is much easier to cut and shape into simple applications.
• Blockboard is stable in horizontal applications, as long as controlled conditions are maintained.

Properties Of Plywood

• Plywood has excellent dimensional stability due to alternating grain veneers.
• Plywood also offers high strength along both the length and width of the plywood.
• Plywood has better moisture resistance and resistance to environmental changes.
• Plywood can hold up under heavy load conditions and as a structural component.
• Multiple finishing options are available with the use of laminates, veneers, and paints on plywood.

Maintenance Of Blockboard vs Plywood

Maintenance Of Blockboard

• Avoid prolonged exposure to moisture, as the strip core may swell if it gets wet.
• Use a dry or slightly damp cloth for cleaning (no excessive amount of water).
• After cutting the blockboard, be sure to re-seal the edges to protect the core material.
• The edges should be checked regularly for swelling or signs of fungus.

Maintenance Of Plywood

• Regularly wipe down the tops of the plywood sheets to remove dust and debris.
• Use only moderate and milder cleaning solutions (not abrasive).
• Make sure to prevent direct exposure to water and to dry immediately after cleaning.
• When necessary, apply protective coatings and polishes to the surface of the plywood.

Both products benefit from regular edge sealing, proper air flow and routine inspection for moisture or pest damage.

Sizes Of Blockboard vs Plywood

Blockboard

The standard sheet size for blockboard is:

• 8' x 4' (2400 mm x 1200 mm)
• 7' x 4' (2100 mm x 1200 mm)
• Custom cuts depending on the blocks used, and commonly found in 12 mm, 16 mm, or 18 mm thicknesses or thicker.

Blockboards come in long, narrow sheets designed to meet the furniture and the door core specifications.

Plywood

Plywood sheets are available in standard sizes, such as:

• 8' x 4' (2400 mm x 1200 mm)
• 6' x 3' (1800 mm x 900 mm)
• Custom sizes based on the ability to produce (View manufacturer for custom-sized plywood).

Plywood comes in a wide variety of thicknesses from 6 mm thick to as thick as 25 mm and thicker. Plywood's wide range of thicknesses and sizes makes it suitable for a variety of construction and interior finishing needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blockboard stronger than plywood?

Plywood is considered to be stronger due to its cross-graining structure, which distributes weight evenly and prevents warping and bending under heavy loads. Blockboard has a core made of softwood strips, which makes it lighter and more prone to bending.

Can blockboard be used in wet places, say kitchens and bathrooms?

Blockboards made with waterproof resins can be used in kitchens and bathrooms as they can resist exposure to moisture. Plywood, especially marine-grade plywood, is an ideal choice for such places.

Which is cheaper? Blockboard or plywood?

Blockboard is cheaper than plywood. However, BWP grade blockboard and plywood are similarly priced. Plywood, high-grade ones with added characteristics can cost higher.