Wooden Boards
Types Of Wooden Boards Used For Interior Design, Furniture And Civil Projects
Wooden boards are the most common and versatile building material and are extensively used for various building construction projects. The wooden boards are widely used in various home improvement, furniture, remodel, and other interior design projects.
Some of the most commonly used types of wooden boards include plywood, particle board, medium density fiber (MDF) board, WPC board, laminated board, block board, oriented strand board (OSB), and medium density particle board (MDP).
In this section will discuss different types of wooden boards, their technical characteristics, and their uses in interior design, furniture, and civil engineering projects. We will also discuss some latest entrants in building materials industry such as WPC boards , ACP boards and solid plastic boards.
Wooden Boards Types
Table Of Contents
Wooden Boards For Interior Design Projects
Plywood
Plywood is the most commonly used form of wooden board. The plywood is manufactured in the factory by binding together thin slices of wood called plies or thin veneers with synthetic resin and adhesives.
The plywood quality depends upon the quality of the raw materials such as wood, chemical binders, manufacturing process, and other materials used to enhance the plywood quality and strength.
The plywood is manufactured by binding together multiple thin layers of wood veneer in their natural form. The wood fibers in the plywood are oriented in one particular direction, being made up of wood veneers.
Therefore, the plywood usually gives a better smooth cut if the cut is aligned in the direction of the wood fiber.
Different types of plywood are available on the market and used for different applications. The plywood types are differentiated based on the special features and their technical properties.
Applications Of Plywood
Plywood is a versatile and durable material that is available in different grades, strengths, and technical features. Plywood is extensively used for various applications such as furniture, base cabinet for kitchen countertops, cabinets, partition walls, false ceilings and other design features.
- Â Interior furniture and wardrobe.
- Â Kitchen countertops body and cabinets.
- Â Interior partition walls and false ceilings.
- Â Exterior grade plywood is used for outdoor work.
Plywood is one of the most commonly used building materials, extensively used in various interior design and home improvement projects.
In the construction industry, plywood is sold in three major categories, also referred to as “grades of plywood.” The three major types of plywood categories or grades include:
- Â Moisture Resistant Plywood ( MR Grade ).
- Â Boiling Water Resistant Plywood. ( BWR Grade ).
- Â Boiling Waterproof Plywood ( BWP Grade ).
Wooden Boards For Interior Design Projects
MDF Boards
Medium Density Fiber ( MDF ) Boards
The MDF board stands for medium density fiberboard (MDF), which is a type of engineered wooden board. The MDF boards are made of wood fibers glued together using some chemical adhesives and synthetic resin. This mixture is compressed under heat and pressure.
The MDF boards are manufactured in controlled conditions to produce a solid, durable board with a uniform thickness. The MDF boards are extensively used in the furniture industry as well as various building and interior design projects.
The MDF boards offer an excellent surface finish due to the random directions of the wood fibers used in the manufacturing process. And therefore, the MDF boards can be cut in any direction and gives a smooth finish cut. These boards are very easy to work with and can be molded in any shape.
The MDF boards are available in either plane boards and prelaminated MDF boards. The prelaminated boards are widely used in the readymade furniture industry. The MDF boards are mostly used for interior usage.
- Â Interior furniture and wardrobe.
- Â Kitchen countertops and cabinets.
- Â Interior partition walls and false ceilings.
HDF Boards
High Density Fiber ( MDF) Boards
The HDF board is an abbreviation for high density fiberboard (MDF), which is a better variant of the MDF engineered wooden board. In terms of strength and water resistance, HDF boards are considered to be superior to MDF boards.
HDF boards are manufactured from wood fibers and wood powder that have been bonded together with chemical adhesives and synthetic resin. In order to strengthen the water resistance capabilities of the HDF boards, some specific chemicals are also used.
This mixture is compacted using heat and pressure to create a board with a consistent thickness, superior surface finish and texture.
HDF boards are produced under controlled conditions to provide a solid, very durable, water-resistant board with a uniform thickness. When compared to MDF boards, HDF boards offer significantly better technical properties.
The HDF boards offer an excellent surface finish due to the random uniform material texture used in the manufacturing process. Therefore, the HDF boards can be cut in any direction and give a smooth finish. These boards are very easy to work with and can be molded into any shape.
- Â Interior furniture and wardrobe.
- Â Kitchen countertops and cabinets.
- Â Interior partition walls and false ceilings.
Wooden Boards For Interior Design Projects
Block Boards
Blockboard is also referred as Plyboard
Block boards are also alternately referred to as plyboards. Plyboards are completely different products as compared to plywood. The block board is a special type of plyboard manufactured by placing a softwood block in between the two thin layers of wood veneers.
The strength of the blockboard depends upon the strength of the wood blocks used to manufacture the blockboard. However, the blockboard is considered a cheaper alternative to plywood.
Due to the limitations of the structural composition, blockboard (plyboard) cannot match the strength of plywood. However, plyboards are still used as a cheap, light weight material where strength is not required.
Plyboard can be safely used for wall panels , partition walls, book shelves, showcases, and door panels.
Particle Board
Low Density Fiber ( LDF ) Board
Different types of engineered wood products are used in various interior and exterior work projects for making furniture and other wooden items. Particle board is also one type of engineered wooden board extensively used for interior furniture products.
It is made up of wooden particles glued together with adhesives, synthetic resins, and other chemicals. It is also known as low-density fiberboard or chipboard.
Particle board is manufactured from waste wood products such as wood chips, sawdust, or sawmill shavings with a synthetic resin and chemical adhesives used to bind the material.
Particle boards are also called low-density fiber (LDF) boards. Due to its low density body, it is considered weaker as compared to MDF , HDF, and plywood. The larger sized wood particles are used to manufacture the particle board and the wooden chips can be clearly seen on the board edges.
Despite their limitations, prelaminated particle boards are used to produce low-cost furniture and other wooden board products.
Wooden Boards For Interior Design Projects
Flush Door
Flush Door Boards For Door Panels
The term “flush doors” refers to the door shutters manufactured from different types of wooden boards. The door sizes used for house construction and commercial projects are mostly standardized.
Various types of ready-made door shutters can be found in any home improvement or home décor store. These door panels are made up of different types of wooden boards, such as plywood, MDF, HDF, WPC and other forms of wooden boards.
The flush door panels usually have a wooden frame structure covered by surface veneer on both sides of the door. The internal wooden frame in the flush door provides the flexibility to make minor adjustments to the door size during fixing the door panel.
Further, the internal wooden frame in the flush doors provides the required strength to the door panel to hold the screws used to fix the door hinges.
Flush doors are available in various designs and finishes. Unfinished flush door panels can be customized and finished by fixing the laminates on both sides of the door as per the interior design.
Wooden Boards For Interior Design Projects
WPC Boards
Wood Plastic Composite ( WPC ) Boards
The term “WPC” stands for “wood plastic composite” board. WPC boards have gained popularity as they offer two major advantages as compared to natural wood, other engineered wooden boards, and plywood.
WPC board is a type of composite engineered board made up of wood powder, PVC particles, and plastic polymer. Its composition is 70% virgin polymer, 15% additive chemicals, and 15% wood powder.
Due to their durability and excellent water resistance properties, WPC boards are widely used for both interior and exterior design projects. It is available in three types, which include low-density, medium-density, and high-density WPC boards.
Due to its high moisture resistance, WPC boards can be used for bathroom furniture, kitchen countertop base cabinets, kitchen cabinets, and wall cladding. WPC board also offers excellent termite resistance, UV ray resistance, and durability. However, it is not a heat-resistant material.