Marine Plywood for Exterior Use – Is It for You?
If you’re using something outdoors, choosing the right one is a big deal. Rain, humidity and temperature variations can ruin many common building materials. Enter marine ply. It is known for excellent water resistance and strength, and premium marine plywood sheets are often preferred for exterior applications that require long-lasting durability. It is widely regarded as one of the best exteriors, but can it always deliver? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Marine Plywood?
Marine plywood is a high-grade plywood that is made specifically to resist water and moisture damage over long periods of time. It is made of the strongest, best quality hardwood veneers and glued with strong waterproof adhesives, which means that even if it is underwater for a long period of time, the veneers stay separated from each other.
What Makes It So Good for Outdoor Projects?
Marine plywood is intended and constructed for use in the outdoors. In the outdoors, wood should be as strong and water-resistant as possible with no loss of strength from exposure. Marine plywood is the perfect exterior choice for outdoor projects because it:
- Maintains shape and form after exposure to water
- Resists delamination due to strong bonding throughout panels
- High structural integrity and load-bearing capacity
Awesome Outdoor Project Ideas
Marine plywood is the perfect wood for various outdoor and semi-outdoor situations, with its water-resistance and durability, and many projects can utilise it, such as:
- Furniture outdoors
- Garden furniture or seats
- Balconies/Terraces
- Doors or panelling, outside
Are There Any Disadvantages to Using This Type of Plywood?
Marine plywood is remarkably water-resistant, but that does not mean that it is 100% waterproof. To get the best out of it, the best you can hope for is to protect it and not sit exposed to the elements all the time.
The finish on marine-grade plywood must also be of the highest quality.
Why It Is Important to Protect the Surface
To get the best and most lasting use of marine-grade plywood outdoors, you’ll want to treat it with a good finish. Laminates, paint or other sealers will create a layer on top of the plywood to protect it from water and UV rays.
Built to Last for a Long Time
Marine plywood is a good choice for load-bearing constructions and projects where integrity is needed for your outdoor build. Marine-grade plywood is dense enough to hold screws and fasteners tightly.
The Most Important Thing Is Quality
The strength of marine-grade plywood can be very dependent on the quality of materials used in making it. Higher grades than marine-grade plywood will give you much better long-term durability, a more secure bond and overall more consistent quality all around.
Royale Touche’s plywood is well engineered and high quality, and it produces excellent results for each of your indoor and outdoor builds regardless of the level of difficulty.
Conclusion
Marine plywood is a good choice for outdoor furniture, panels or building components that need to be very strong and water-resistant, but its best potential is realised only with a protective finish and a little care.
