What does plywood grade describe?
The named grading system sets visible face and back requirements, such as knots, repairs, joints and sanding. Specify the core and glue bond separately for the intended use.
Buyer guidePlywood selection
Plywood Grades, Cores and Bonds for Your Product
Choose the face your customer will see, the core your workshop will machine and the bond the working environment needs. Grade letters alone do not describe the whole panel. This guide helps you compare those three choices together, then ask our CUZI PLY factory for the construction that fits your component, finish and budget.
- Appearance
- Face and back grade, defects and finish
- Construction
- Core species, ply count and edge quality
- Service
- Adhesive, exposure and required testing
Start with the questions buyers ask most
Are B/BB and BB/CC universal?
B/BB and BB/CC describe different face/back combinations under a stated grading convention. Compare the written defect limits and our full-panel samples before choosing a finish.
Which plywood core is best?
Match the core to the component, then compare the finished sheet mass, veneer sequence and machined edge. A species name does not fix the weight or quality of every construction.
Does birch face mean birch core?
A birch face can be paired with poplar, combi, hardwood or birch inner plies. State whether the order requires birch-faced, birch-core or all-birch plywood.
What does WBP mean?
WBP is a commercial bond description. For wet service, state the adhesive family, exposure conditions, relevant bonding test and acceptance requirement in the quotation.
Can grade systems be converted one-to-one?
Use the standard named for the destination and application. ISO and EN appearance classes, structural product standards and commercial grades cover different requirements; compare their stated criteria.
What should an approved sample define?
Keep a full-panel face/back reference, a cut-edge sample and a machined component where those features matter. Record the accepted colour, repairs, core gaps, thickness and finish.
What belongs in the RFQ?
Send the application, face/back requirements, core species and lay-up, bond and exposure, size, thickness tolerance, moisture target, machining, quantity and destination.
Three parts of one plywood specification
A face grade, core description and bond requirement answer different purchasing questions.
What will be seen?
Name the face and back separately. Agree the species, colour, knots, repairs, sanding and decorative finish using full-size samples where appearance matters.
Review face grades ↗What is inside?
State the core species sequence, ply count, gaps, overlaps, density or panel mass, and quality expected at a cut or machined edge.
Compare core options ↗Where will it work?
Describe interior or exterior exposure, adhesive family, intended finish and any project-specific test method or acceptance class.
Compare bond terms ↗Grade both faces for the intended finish
A painted cabinet front and a concealed back can have different appearance requirements.
Choose the finish first
Paint, clear veneer and overlay finishes each reveal different defects. Set the acceptable colour, joints, knots and repairs for the face that customers will see.
State its own grade
A concealed cabinet back may allow a wider appearance range while retaining the required construction, flatness and bond.
Review a full panel
Compare a representative sheet under agreed lighting. Keep a face-and-back sample and a written defect schedule with the order.
Plywood grade chart: letters, faces and intended finish
Read the face and back separately. The first letter usually describes the face and the second the reverse, within the stated grading system.
| Grade | Meaning | When to consider it | What to specify |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Under US PS 1, an A veneer provides a smooth, paintable surface with permitted repairs. | Painted visible faces. | State the back grade, sanding and final paint finish separately. |
| AA / A-A / AA-CC | AA can describe a premium commercial face; A-A denotes two A faces under a named system. AA-CC is a separate face/back combination. | Two visible sides or a selected decorative face. | Agree the grading convention, veneer matching and repair limits. These labels are not automatically equivalent. |
| AB / A-B | A-B identifies an A face and B back under the stated system; AB may also be a commercial face designation. | A visible face with a less demanding reverse. | Write whether AB means one face selection or a face/back pair. |
| B/BB | A B face and BB reverse under the declared hardwood or birch grading schedule. | Furniture and components with different requirements on each side. | Agree knots, repairs, veneer joints and colour on both sides. |
| BB / BB-CC | BB allows the repairs and natural features in the declared schedule. BB-CC combines that face with a different reverse grade. | Painted, laminated or practical exposed surfaces where the agreed repairs are acceptable. | Confirm the grade schedule and test your finish over permitted repairs. |
| CP/BB | A CP face and BB back in the stated birch appearance convention. | Components where repair allowance and the visible side matter more than the short grade label. | Identify the side that will be seen and agree its defect limits. |
| A/C | An A face and C back under a named A-D grading system. | A paintable face with a utility reverse. | Confirm the C-back limits, bond, panel standard and intended exposure. |
| B/C | Under US PS 1, a solid B face is paired with a C utility back; permitted knots and repairs differ by side. | General construction or components that accept the specified B-face features. | Specify the product grade and exposure classification as well as B/C appearance. |
| B/D | A B face paired with a D utility back under the named system. | Protected or concealed reverse surfaces when the product specification permits. | Do not select a D veneer for US PS 1 Exterior plywood. |
| C/C | Two C utility faces under the stated system. | Concealed work, overlays or construction with the required panel rating. | Appearance letters do not supply a span rating or bond class. |
| C/D | A C face with a D utility back under the named system. | Sheathing and concealed construction when the specified structural product allows it. | For CD or CDX, also state the structural grade, thickness category, exposure and support requirements. |
A, B, C and D describe different surface allowances, not one universal scale for every hardwood, birch and softwood panel. Decorative veneer selection, permissible repairs and structural grading must be read within their own standard or written schedule.
Choose the grading system used by your market
US and North American plywood grades
Use the specified product standard with face/back grades, panel marking, thickness category and structural rating where required. Exposure 1 addresses temporary moisture during construction; Exterior is the classification to specify for repeated wetting and drying. A-C or B-C lettering alone does not select the exposure class.
UK and European plywood grades
Use the relevant EN 635 appearance part for hardwood or softwood and the specified BS EN 636 use conditions and structural or non-structural requirement. For furniture and cabinetry, add veneer species, face/back quality and finish. Do not convert a commercial AA, BB or CP label directly into an EN appearance class.
Australian and New Zealand plywood grades
For structural work, state the required AS/NZS 2269 product specification, stress grade, thickness and support. Its A, S, B, C and D appearance grades describe surfaces; the stress grade answers the load-bearing question. Include bond and project documents rather than selecting structural plywood from a face letter alone.
| System | What it covers | What to specify |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 2426 | ISO surface-appearance classification | Part, species scope, face/back class and declared defects |
| EN 635 | European surface-appearance family | General, hardwood or softwood part and face/back class |
| DOC PS 1-22 | United States structural plywood standard | Grade, construction, workmanship, dimensions, certification/marking scope |
| AS/NZS 2269.0 | Australia/New Zealand structural plywood specification | Product grade, nominated structural option and project acceptance |
| JAS 0233 | Japanese plywood standard | Applicable category, grade, quality, test and marking option |
| Supplier shorthand | Order-specific commercial vocabulary | Defect schedule, face/back sample, repairs and limits |
For appearance grading, check the relevant ISO 2426 or EN 635 part. For structural applications, specify the applicable product standard and project requirements. Explore standards and certifications ↗
Make the visible quality measurable
| Feature | State in the order | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Face/back pairing | Record both sides independently; a better face does not define the reverse. | Full-panel visual review |
| Species and cut | Name the visible species and whether the appearance option is rotary, sliced or otherwise specified. | Species declaration and face review |
| Colour range | Set an acceptable range through samples or a controlled written scope. | Controlled-light comparison |
| Sound knots | State number, size, distribution and whether they are accepted on each face. | Defect count and size check |
| Open defects | State whether open knots, splits, checks or voids are permitted and how they are repaired. | Defect and repair inspection |
| Patches and plugs | Define shape, number, colour contrast, adhesion and permitted locations. | Patch/plug inspection |
| Veneer joints | Record joint visibility, overlap/open-joint limits and surface telegraphing expectations. | Joint and telegraphing inspection |
| Sanding | Specify calibrated, sanded, unsanded or finish-ready option and the acceptance reference. | Surface and calibration check |
| Grain and figure | Use only where the visible component requires direction or repeatability. | Directional comparison |
| Printing and marks | State whether mill marks, stamps or repairs may appear on the visible or reverse face. | Marking inspection |
| Finish compatibility | Tie paint, veneer, melamine, HPL or clear-finish trials to the selected face. | Finish trial and adhesion review |
| Approved reference | Agree a representative full-panel appearance range alongside the written defect limits. | Side-by-side approved-range comparison |
Choose the core for weight, machining and edge finish
Compare veneer sequence, ply thickness and cut-edge quality for machining and fixing. For handling weight, compare finished sheets of the same size and thickness at the agreed moisture condition.
Veneer core
Thin wood veneers form the panel, normally with adjacent grain directions crossing. Specify inner species, ply count, veneer thicknesses and gap limits for the cut edge and fixing points your component needs.
Combi veneer core
Mixed wood species form the inner veneer layers. Agree the species sequence and thickness plan; the word combi does not identify a strip core or guarantee a particular sheet weight.
Strip core and blockboard
Wood strips form the centre, with crossbands and face veneers around them. This is a different construction from all-veneer plywood. For doors or long furniture parts, specify strip arrangement, machining locations, fixing positions and finish.
Six common construction choices
Choose the species and lay-up for your component. Compare measured panel weight rather than assuming a fixed lightest-to-heaviest species ranking.
All-poplar
Poplar inner veneers for furniture, interiors and packaging. Specify the face and finished construction.
- Weight
- Compare actual sheet mass at the same size, thickness and moisture condition.
- Machining
- Check edge voids and machined finish
- Fastening
- Test screw holding at the selected density
Combi veneer
Mixed inner veneer species selected for the component, panel mass and budget.
- Weight
- Compare actual sheet mass at the same size, thickness and moisture condition.
- Machining
- Check mixed-species edge consistency
- Fastening
- Test the declared species sequence
Hardwood
Declared hardwood inner species with the required veneer quality and lay-up.
- Weight
- Compare actual sheet mass at the same size, thickness and moisture condition.
- Machining
- Check cutter load and exposed-edge finish
- Fastening
- Test fasteners at the selected density
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus inner veneers with the specified drying, bond and finished-panel quality.
- Weight
- Compare actual sheet mass at the same size, thickness and moisture condition.
- Machining
- Check tool wear and cut-edge quality
- Fastening
- Test fasteners and edge distances
Birch-faced
Birch outer veneer over a named poplar, combi, hardwood or birch core.
- Weight
- Depends on the named inner core and finished panel.
- Machining
- Check ply sequence and edge appearance
- Fastening
- Test fasteners in the actual lay-up
All-birch
Birch veneers throughout the face, back and inner layers for the specified component.
- Weight
- Compare actual sheet mass at the same size, thickness and moisture condition.
- Machining
- Trial the selected lot for precision machining
- Fastening
- Test fasteners in the selected lot
Specify the veneers behind the face
These details help compare two panels sold under the same core name.
| Detail | Specify | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Species sequence | Name every veneer family from face to back | Review construction sheet and a cut edge |
| Ply count | State the permitted finished-panel ply count | Count plies on representative cut edges |
| Veneer thickness plan | State nominal veneer plan or permitted range | Compare edge sequence with construction sheet |
| Cross-band orientation | Record the direction of face, cross-bands and core plies | Check edge and machining reveal for directional sequence |
| Core gaps | Set permitted width, length, frequency and distribution | Inspect and measure representative edge gaps |
| Core overlaps | Set permitted overlap width, frequency and distribution | Inspect and measure representative overlaps |
| End joints | Define permitted end-joint form, location and spacing | Inspect locations visible on approved edges or records |
| Scarf or repair option | Define permitted repairs, scarf geometry and locations | Inspect repaired veneers and representative cut edges |
| Open defects and plugs | Define permitted open features, plugs and fills | Inspect edge and any approved core review records |
| Moisture before lay-up | Set the pre-lay-up moisture control and method | Review measured veneer/moisture records |
| Panel density or mass | Set accepted panel mass or density range at the stated condition | Measure panel mass or density by the agreed method |
| Symmetry and balance | Require a balanced sequence around the centre line | Compare opposing veneer sequence and panel flatness |
| Edge reveal | Confirm an accepted cut-edge reference and defect limits | Compare full edge with retained reference |
| Machining trial | Define cutter, feed, drilling or fastening trial conditions | Run the approved machining or fastener trial |
| Repeat-order material changes | Confirm changes to species, lay-up, adhesive or finish in writing. | Compare the changed features against the agreed specification. |
Continue with the panel suited to your application
General-purpose interior supplyCommercial Plywood ↗Calibrated furniture or cabinetry manufactureFurniture Grade Plywood ↗Lower-mass panel or packing componentPoplar Plywood ↗Higher-density hardwood constructionHardwood Plywood ↗Birch appearance or declared birch constructionBirch Plywood ↗CUZI PLY factory-produced all-birch plywood optionBaltic Birch Plywood ↗Load-bearing or code-nominated workStructural Plywood ↗Marine project and veneer/bond requirementsMarine Plywood ↗Concrete-contact overlay panelFilm Faced Plywood ↗Decorative paper-finished panelMelamine Plywood ↗High-pressure laminate-finished panelHPL Plywood ↗Industrial crate or case panelPacking Plywood ↗
See the lay-up before ordering repeat supply
Check gaps, overlaps, repairs and veneer sequence at the cut edge. Trial your cutting or machining operation to judge the exposed-edge finish and fit of the finished component.
Match the adhesive to the service conditions
UF, MUF and PF identify resin families. MR and WBP are commercial descriptions. Choose the required bonding class for the service conditions.
| Term | Category | Meaning | What to request |
|---|---|---|---|
| UF | Adhesive family | Urea-formaldehyde resin. | State the intended indoor use, required bond quality and emission specification. |
| MUF | Adhesive family | Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin. | Specify the service exposure and bonding class; resin family alone does not define the tested result. |
| PF / phenolic | Adhesive family | Phenol-formaldehyde resin. | Confirm bond quality, panel construction and finishing for the intended service. |
| MR | Commercial description | Moisture-resistant wording used in quotations. | Name the exposure, adhesive and required bonding test rather than relying on MR alone. |
| WBP | Commercial description | Water-boil-proof wording used for a bond expectation. | State the actual bond-quality standard, class and test requirement. |
| Interior / exterior | Service conditions | Where and how the panel will be used. | Describe wetting, drying, coating, edges and installation with the specified product use class. |
| A-bond | Market-specific bond class | Bond terminology defined within the nominated product system. | Name that system and request its applicable product and test documents. |
| EN 314 | Bonding standards | Part 1 covers test methods; Part 2 covers requirements. | Give the required bonding class and the applicable test report. |
Interior furniture and cabinetry
Specify bond quality for the indoor environment and finishing process. State the required emission method or class and destination documents separately from the resin family.
Exterior plywood
Describe wetting and drying, coating, edges, support and any preservative treatment. A durable glue bond does not make untreated wood immune to decay or define an entire exterior assembly.
Construction and softwood plywood
For sheathing, floors and load-bearing parts, add the required structural product grade, thickness category, support and installation conditions. Surface appearance and bond quality do not replace design capacity.
For bonding methods, acceptance requirements and emissions, see Bonding & Emission Options ↗.
See how the choices change by application
Painted cabinet carcass
- Face
- Finish-ready face
- Core
- Poplar or combi
- Bond
- Interior-use adhesive
- Check
- Calibration, machining and paint trial
Exposed multi-ply edge
- Face
- Controlled face/back
- Core
- Birch or all-birch
- Bond
- Adhesive suited to the intended use
- Check
- Edge appearance and repair limits
Film-faced formwork
- Face
- Selected film overlay
- Core
- Poplar/combi/hardwood
- Bond
- Exterior-use bond specification
- Check
- Edge sealing, surface wear and concrete release
Structural sheathing
- Face
- Project structural grade
- Core
- Construction matched to the named standard
- Bond
- Specified structural bond
- Check
- Assembly span, fasteners and product documents
Marine component
- Face
- Selected marine veneers
- Core
- Durable veneer construction
- Bond
- Marine-project bond specification
- Check
- Project standard, edge protection and maintenance
Laser-cut component
- Face
- Clean face and kerf
- Core
- Fine, consistent lay-up
- Bond
- Adhesive selected for the process
- Check
- Trial cut, char and void exposure
Industrial crate panel
- Face
- Utility face
- Core
- Poplar/combi/hardwood
- Bond
- Bond suited to storage and transport
- Check
- Fastener strength and complete package design
Clear-finished furniture
- Face
- Selected visible veneer
- Core
- Machining-stable core
- Bond
- Interior-use adhesive
- Check
- Colour, figure and sample range
Four specifications for common jobs
Example specifications show how appearance, construction and service requirements fit together. Confirm your selected dimensions and performance with our factory.
Choose the visible face, concealed back and exposed-edge finish together with the core, bond and thickness. Compare quotations against that complete construction so the delivered panels suit your finished product.
Painted cabinet carcass
- Appearance
- Paint-ready face; concealed reverse face
- Core
- Declared poplar or combi construction
- Bond
- Interior/project adhesive and exposure requirement
- Size
- BOM dimensions and machining tolerance
- Acceptance
- Paint and hardware trial plus approved range
Visible multi-ply furniture edge
- Appearance
- Controlled birch face/back and visible edge
- Core
- Declared birch or all-birch construction
- Bond
- Project exposure requirement
- Size
- Finished component thickness and edge tolerance
- Acceptance
- Edge/machining reference plus repair limits
Concrete formwork panel
- Appearance
- Overlay condition is separate from face veneer grade
- Core
- Declared poplar/combi/hardwood lay-up
- Bond
- Nominated exterior method and requirement
- Size
- Panel size, thickness and support layout
- Acceptance
- Overlay, edge and panel inspection plus support, fixing and site handling
Structural wall sheathing
- Appearance
- Project-nominated structural face/grade option
- Core
- Construction qualified under the nominated structural option
- Bond
- Nominated structural bond and use class
- Size
- Panel size, thickness, orientation and supported joints
- Acceptance
- Project grade, inspection and required product documents
Put the same requirements beside every offer
Worked example: two offers for a painted cabinet. Compare the proposed specifications, then ask us to quote the construction, quantity and delivery terms for your order.
| Compare | Required | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible face and reverse-face requirement | Paint-ready face; concealed reverse | B/BB birch face/back | BB/CC poplar face/back |
| Named grade system or seller defect schedule | Written buyer defect schedule | Supplier birch grade table Rev C | Supplier poplar grade table Rev B |
| Species and veneer option | Declared species at face, back and core | Birch face/back; poplar/combi core | Poplar face/back; poplar core |
| Core family and exact species sequence | Poplar/combi; sequence declared | Poplar-eucalyptus-poplar sequence declared | Poplar core; sequence not declared |
| Ply count and veneer-thickness plan | Odd balanced lay-up; plan recorded | 13 plies; nominal plan attached | 11 plies; plan not attached |
| Core gap, overlap and repair limits | Buyer-approved edge reference and written limits | Limits stated; edge coupon supplied | Seller standard; no edge coupon |
| Density or panel-mass target | Panel mass recorded for hardware trial | Declared 590 kg/m³ nominal | Declared 520 kg/m³ nominal |
| Adhesive family | Interior project adhesive option declared | MUF option declared | UF option declared |
| Dimensions and orientation | 2440 × 1220 mm; long grain parallel to length | 2440 × 1220 mm confirmed | 2440 × 1220 mm confirmed |
| Thickness and tolerance | 18 mm nominal; finished tolerance per drawing | 18 mm; ±0.4 mm declared | 18 mm; ±0.5 mm declared |
| Moisture condition | Conditioned panel record before machining | 8–12% supplier target | Not stated |
| Machining, drilling and fasteners | CNC nesting plus hinge and screw trial | Machining coupon and hardware trial offered | CNC sample offered; hardware trial open |
| Surface or finishing option | Primer and paint system trial | Sanded face; paint trial accepted | Sanded face; paint trial not completed |
| Product documents and inspection records | Construction, dimensions, appearance and first production sample records | Complete proposed pack | Appearance photo and dimensions only |
| Quantity and thickness mix | 500 sheets at 18 mm after one trial pallet | 500 sheets plus trial pallet | MOQ 800 sheets; no trial quantity |
| Packing and labels | Protected export pallet; label file by revision | Specified pallet and label file included | Standard pallet; face protection open |
Compare final price after appearance, core, bond, thickness, moisture, finishing trial, quantity and packing have been aligned. Read the price guide ↗
Read the applicable standard for your market
Use the relevant appearance, structural or bonding standard when specifying a tested requirement.
Surface appearance: ISO 2426 and EN 635
US structural plywood: PS 1-22
Australia and New Zealand structural plywood: AS/NZS 2269.0
Japanese plywood: JAS 0233
Bonding quality: EN 314 and ISO 12466
European plywood specification: EN 636
ISO 2426-1:2020, Edition 2Plywood — Classification by surface appearance — Part 1: GeneralBS EN 635-1:1995Plywood — Classification by surface appearance — GeneralBS EN 635-2:1995Plywood — Classification by surface appearance — HardwoodBS EN 635-3:1995Plywood — Classification by surface appearance — SoftwoodDOC PS 1-22Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-22 — Structural PlywoodAS/NZS 2269.0:2012 Amd 1:2015Structural plywood — Part 0: SpecificationsJAS 0233:2026Japanese Agricultural Standard for PlywoodBS EN 636:2012+A1:2015Plywood — SpecificationsBS EN 314-1:2004Plywood — Bonding quality — Part 1: Test methodsBS EN 314-2:1993Plywood — Bonding quality — Part 2: RequirementsISO 12466-1:2007Plywood — Bonding quality — Part 1: Test methodsISO 12466-2:2007Plywood — Bonding quality — Part 2: Requirements
Common grade, core and bond questions
DECISION QUESTIONS
Before the purchase order
Choose the right specification.
Can I reduce cost by choosing different face and back grades?
Where the component has a visible face and a concealed back, agree the appearance requirements for each separately. Keep the required core, flatness, bond and thickness unchanged unless the component specification allows a different choice. We compare the available combinations so you pay for the finish your customer needs without leaving the panel construction undefined.
Why can two panels with the same grade letters perform differently in my workshop?
The letters usually describe appearance within a stated grading convention. Core species, veneer sequence, gaps, finished thickness, moisture, sanding and bond can still differ. Compare those fields and trial the cut, hole or fixing used in your component before choosing between offers.
How can I select plywood when my customer gives only a product name?
Ask how the panel will be used, what will remain visible, how it will be supported and finished, and whether a standard or report is required. Send us those details with dimensions, quantity and destination. We can propose face, core and bond combinations and explain what is included in each quote.
What do plywood grades mean?
A plywood grade defines appearance or product requirements within a named grading system. Face and back letters describe permitted surface features; core construction, bond and structural rating must also be specified. Use the grade chart on this page with the standard or our written face/back schedule.
Is B/BB better than BB/CC?
B/BB and BB/CC select different face/back combinations under the stated hardwood or birch schedule. Choose by visible sides, acceptable knots and repairs, and the paint, clear finish or overlay you will apply. We agree those requirements for both sides with you before production.
Does a birch face guarantee an all-birch core?
A birch face can cover poplar, combi, hardwood or birch inner veneers. Specify birch-faced, birch-core or all-birch construction explicitly.
Which core is best for CNC machining?
Choose by cut-edge visibility, tool path, weight and fastener duty. A representative CNC component shows chipping, void exposure, edge finish and fit.
Is WBP a plywood grade?
WBP describes a commercial bonding expectation. Specify the adhesive family, service exposure, test method and acceptance requirement for the order.
Are EN 635 and PS 1 grades equivalent?
EN 635 classifies surface appearance; PS 1 covers structural plywood in the United States. Use the standard required by the destination and compare its relevant clauses.
What is the difference between a core and a bond?
The core is the veneer construction inside the panel. The bond is the adhesive connection between plies; both should be stated in the order.
Can one approved sample cover every future order?
Keep the agreed face, edge and machined reference with the written construction. If species, veneer lay-up, adhesive or finish changes, confirm the revised specification and compare the affected features before repeat production.
Do more plies always mean better plywood?
Ply count works with veneer quality, thickness, cross-grain balance, repairs and bonding. Compare the finished panel against the component's machining and load requirements.
What should be checked on a cut edge?
Check species sequence, ply count, gaps, overlaps, repairs, glue lines and the finished edge after machining.
Does a standard title prove a batch passed?
Ask for the product certificate, declaration or test report required by your project, with the applicable construction, performance class and reference number. Documents apply through their product and performance scope; a different cut length or width does not automatically require separate certification for every dimension.
How should a buyer request a comparison?
Send the application, visible and reverse faces, core construction, bond and exposure, dimensions, moisture target, machining, quantity, packing and destination.
What is BC grade plywood?
In US PS 1 terminology, B/C means a B face and C back. The B face is solid with the permitted knots and repairs; the C back allows the utility features in that standard. Specify the bond, exposure classification and structural product grade separately. For another market, use its stated grading convention rather than assuming the same limits.
Which plywood grade should I choose for cabinets and furniture?
Start with the finish and visible sides. A smooth paintable face, a selected decorative veneer and an exposed multi-ply edge need different appearance checks. Agree face/back grade, core gaps, thickness and machining with us, then try the intended coating or laminate on that construction.
Are plywood grades the same in the UK and Australia?
No. UK and European specifications use the applicable EN appearance and product standards; Australian and New Zealand structural specifications also distinguish appearance from stress grade. State the project standard, surface finish, exposure and load requirements so we can recommend the appropriate construction.
Does a waterproof bond make plywood suitable for every exterior use?
Bond durability is one part of exterior selection. Also specify the veneer construction, wetting and drying, coating, edge sealing, support and any preservative requirement. Match those details and the product use class to the installed component rather than treating WBP or glue colour as a complete exterior specification.
Find the face, core and bond that fit your product
Tell us what you will make, your finish, quantity and destination. We recommend the construction and confirm the included machining, packing, price and delivery terms.
Application
- Application
- End component
Appearance
- Visible face
- Reverse face
- Grade system
- Requested face/back grade
- Appearance and machining comparison
- Face species
- Face repair limits
Core and lay-up
- Core family
- Core species sequence
- Ply count
- Core gap limit
- Core overlap limit
- Core repair limit
- Density or weight target
Bond and exposure
- Bond terminology
- Adhesive family
- exposure requirement
- Test method
- Acceptance requirement
- emission requirement
Dimensions and process
- Panel width
- Panel length
- Thickness
- Thickness tolerance
- Machining or drilling
- Fastener interface
- Surface finish
- Edge treatment
Order and delivery
- Quantity
- Destination
- Target date
- Packing
- Required product documents
- Repeat supply and specification changes
Talk directly to our factory
Let’s plan your plywood order.
Tell us what you’re making, the quantity and destination. Our team will help you choose a panel and prepare a quote.