Similarly, you can also find core gaps present, although they do have to be under an inch wide or the Ply will lose its exterior grading. Common plywood markings will have three letters indicating the plywood's application. Better grades also tend to … Marine-Grade Plywood vs Pressure Treated Plywood Marine-Grade Plywood. It has no chemicals added to enhance decay resistance, unless it has been subsequently pressure treated (= $$$). Marine plywood is made strictly of Douglas fir and Western larch woods. They are used in the construction of a house exterior region or outdoor furniture. Crafting copy for customer tutorials, inspiration and advice, Brandon builds and maintains Plyco's plywood knowledge base. With marine grade, the lowest grade veneer that can be used is "B," which means that there will be no voids on the surface or in the interior plies. A big difference that our Exterior Plywood offers is that it comes in three different sheet sizes, allowing for greater flexibility when building. Typical applications include signs and non-structural claddings. Plywood graded C-D or CDX is often mistaken for exterior plywood but is not approved by the APA for outdoor exposure. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Marine Grade Plywood is arguably the strongest plywood on the market, and its eye-watering price reflects that. When purchasing exterior plywood, read the marks on the plywood to identify it. Pressure-treated plywood usually has a greenish hue and a slightly oily surface. Marine grade plywood, on the other hand, is a different creature. home improvement and repair website. In order to be marine grade plywood, the outer plies must be graded at least a B or better. It is a stronger grade of plywood and has no open knots. What Is the Best Way to Reinforce a Creaky Stair Banister? Marine-grade plywood is a sturdier, higher-quality material made of Western Larch or Douglas-fir that is not treated with chemicals. You can get the same performance from panels such as exterior AC in most cases. - J Gibson McIlvain. A-B: This type of panel is also often found in a 4 feet by 8 feet size but is ¾-inches thick. Can I use liquid sandpaper to paint paneling. Same is true of exterior grade. If the Marine Plywood vs Exterior Plywood debate has been settled and you know exactly what you’re looking for, head on over to Plyco’s online Plywood store where you can shop our entire product range. When you cut a sheet of exterior grade plywood, you may expose a gap on the cut surface. The difference between the two is that marine plywood is supposed to void free, just as John O points out. Without just one of these factors present a Plywood cannot be considered marine grade. Marine Plywood is perfect to use in humid and wet conditions and resists delaminating and fungal attack. Marine plywood can be used for all the jobs which can be done by exterior plywood . Feb 13, 2018 Knowing that a difference in marine grade plywood exists and how it will effect the project face that can operate as a reliable surface for a decking veneer or fiberglass overlay. Structural Plywood When the appearance of the face is of lesser concern than the strength and stability of the material, structural plywood will typically be the choice. The species of wood, the glue used, sanding, blemish levels, and core-gap size are important aspects of the plywood's grade. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". I have used exterior grade plywoods in all my boat projects as the marine plywood is just to expensive. This post is part of Plyco’s Guide to Marine Plywood and highlights the important differences between Marine and Exterior Grade Plywood. . Both products utilise an A-bond glue, allowing them to stand strong in the face of all the unique challenges that come with being used in the unpredictable outdoors. In conclusion, exterior grade plywood may replace cheap marine grade plywood in cases of an outdoor structure yet it will never fully replace it for all uses. The most obvious similarity is that both Marine Plywood and Exterior Plywood are designed to be used externally. However, this wood is a good-quality, hardwood plywood created with waterproof glue. Alternatively, if you’re still looking for more information you should take a read of our blog post “The Key Things to Know About Marine Plywood vs MDF”. Exterior plywood is glued together with adhesives that are meant to survive in wet or moist areas. For bathrooms, a Luan plywood is good to put on top of decking plywood for protection. Marine grade uses exterior adhesive. It is created by breaking down wood residuals into wood fibers. Simpler is better, except when complicated looks really cool. Sourced from all over the world in all sizes, thicknesses and grades, you could say our factories are the United Nations of timber. As mentioned, a Marine Ply has to be knot free in order to get its official classification, but with Exterior Plywood you can find knots of up to 1 and a half inches present! Marine Grade Plywood, on the other hand, costs roughly $100 per 4×8 sheet. To know which is best for a specific project, it is best to evaluate the cost, use, aesthetics, and overall goals of what is intended to be built. This wood is not treated using chemicals and not rot-resistant as well. The grades of plywood in case of exterior are A-C, B-C and CDX. A 4×8 foot sheet of exterior graded plywood can cost around $10 a sheet. Exterior grade plywood is made with water-resistant glue, but the exterior shell is the only layer that is made void-free. The marine-grade plywood, commonly referred to as marine plywood, is not waterproof as many people often claim. Exterior wood is good for most all wood needs and can be purchased to look almost identical to marine plywood at a much lower cost. Plywood grades are not regulated by the U.S. Federal government but are a voluntary set of standards administered by the APA. Marine plywood and exterior grade plywood both use the same glue. They haven’t been repaired, and the flaws can be a little larger and more noticeable. On the surface, they seem extremely similar, but knowing the key differences between Marine Plywood and Exterior Plywood can save you from a lot of headaches further down the line. Exceptions to this might include tropical hardwood throughout plywood and marine grade plywood. Brandon is the Woodworking Wordsmith and Social Media Sage at Plyco HQ. These grades are referred to as "plugged" as often knots need to be plugged in order for the ply to meet grade requirements. The edges tend to cut and sand cleaner than the standard plywood. We are able to CNC route some exterior plywoods, drop us an e-mail if you require this for your project. Exterior plywood is manufactured with a higher quality(A, B, or S grade) face with a reduced quality (C or D grade) back. This is the same adhesive as used in AC Exterior grade plywood. Additionally, marine plywood is considerably harder to find and more expensive than other grades of plywood. plywood is used as a substrate for an exterior hardwood, softwood, or composite material. The major differences between marine plywood and exterior plywood come from the standards for plywood grades set forth by the American Plywood Association (APA). Exterior plywood must be graded a C or above, meaning knots and knot holes of up to 1½ inches are allowed. Exterior, is the grade given to any plywood which is bonded with 100 percent waterproof adhesive and is intended for permanent outdoor exposure. 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. Our Co2 laser cutters are unable to successfully cut through exterior grade, marine grade or structural grade plywood.