Plywood is a sheet material made by gluing together a number of thin veneers or plies of softwood or hardwood.
There is always an odd number of veneers and each ply is at a right angle to the one below, this gives the material it's strength. The more veneers used, the stronger the plywood becomes. Both the type of glue and veneers determine the suitability of a sheet for a particular application. Sydenhams can supply a vast range of plywoods for any use.
Plywood is an incredibly versatile material when it comes to building and construction. A common reason for using plywood instead of plain wood is its resistance to cracking, shrinkage, warping/twisting and its general high degree of strength.
The finish quality of plywood varies considerably, some plywood have attractive grains while others can contain knots.
Plywood should be adequately sealed with a suitable wood treatment/sealant before installation, on all faces and edges to prevent moisture absorption. Where nails or screws have been used to fix the panel during installation, these areas also need to be sealed.
All plywood purchased by Sydenhams is 3rd party verified. To view a copy of the plywood standards
click here.
Information on Stocked Plywood
- Plywood to EN636-2, EN636-3 and EN314-2 - Thicknesses stocked - 3.6mm, 5.5mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, and 25mm.
- Structural - 9mm, 12mm, 18mm and 24mm.
- Structural (Wisaply) - 9mm, 12mm, 18mm and 24mm.
- Non-Structural - 12mm, 18mm and 24mm.
- Marine Ply - 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm & 25mm.
Different types of Plywood available from stock
Plywood to EN636-2 and EN636-3 - This type of plywood can be used in external applications*. Water resistant adhesives are used to protect the wood and withstand a certain amount of moisture.
(*All Plywood requires paint or varnish to protect the outer veneer from the elements.)
Non-Structural Plywood - A softwood plywood bonded with a water and boil proof glue. Suitable for a multitude of uses from construction to packaging, furniture to site hoarding as well as shuttering when pouring concrete. Not for use as a permanent installation.
Structural Plywood - A shuttering or sheathing ply which uses water and boil proof glue; these sheets are also normally graded for use as structural ply. Used when Plywood is to be a permanent installation.
Marine Plywood - Stronger than other ply and is easier to mould, bend and cut than fibreglass, Marine Plywood can resist warping from excess heat and can last long in damp conditions. This ply is obviously perfect for boat building and construction near rivers and areas of damp.
Mesh/Smooth & Phenolic - A high quality ply with a dark brown mesh on one side and smooth on the other, usually used in the transport industry as vehicle side panelling and flooring, sometimes referred to as trailer board.
Plywood to order
To compliment our stock profile, Sydenhams can also supply a huge range of specialist Plywood.
Veneered Ply - A veneer is a thin slice of timber used to cover base materials. Usually available with one or both faces veneered in a variety of finishes.
Flexible Ply - A sheet with a grooved underside allowing use in many applications
Flame Retardant - Sheets treated in various ways to meet 'Class 1' and 'Class 2' in fire performance tests.
Birch Plywood - With an excellent strength to weight ratio and a beautifully smooth, hard surface with a distinctive pale sheen, Birch Plywood has many potential applications and is equally suited to further processing.
