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Plywood that Makes the Grade

Last updated on December 21, 2012 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Khaya Plywood
Khaya Plywood

At J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber, we specialize in high-quality lumber that enables our valued customers to meet the expectations of their own selective clientele. Because of the grading confusion inherent in the plywood industry, we meticulously evaluate the materials we purchase so that you don’t have to wonder what you’re getting when you order from us. With a 200 year long reputation for quality at stake, we’re not about to risk it on low-grade plywood, so you can be sure that all the lumber and wood products we carry meet the same standards that you’ve come to appreciate from the name McIlvain.

Appropriate Applications

Plywood offers affordability and wide widths difficult to attain with solid wood, but its benefits certainly don’t end there. Its stability makes it resistant to movement due to changes in temperature or moisture levels, making it ideal for applications with tight tolerances. In situations with a natural tendency toward expansion, cupping, bowing, or cracking, this kind of stability is invaluable. What’s more, projects with a large surface area such as wall paneling or cabinetry can more easily attain color and grain matching with plywood than they ever could with solid lumber.

Sapele Plywood
Sapele Plywood

Quality Variations

Premium plywood is comprised of higher quality cores and thicker face veneers than your run-of-the-mill product found at big-box retailers. While the thickness of each ply and the number of plys will vary according to the origin (imported or domestic), generally the face grades will surpass HPVA grading standards.

Throughout the market, you’ve probably noticed that pricing of plywood varies greatly among same-species sheets labeled as being the same grade. This industry-wide issue makes plywood grading nearly pointless in describing the level of quality. The problem stems from some major holes in the grading system used by the HPVA (Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association). The alphanumeric designation will only designate the front and back face appearance, with nothing to designate the quality of the core or its assembly. What’s more, the grading does not reflect the type of face pattern or color and grain matching.

Current Offerings

White Oak Plywood
White Oak Plywood

At J. Gibson McIlvain, we offer only premium plywood with MDF or veneer cores made from Poplar or Fir. Our customers can choose between these thicknesses: ¼”, 1/2”, and ¾”. Our most often-requested face pattern is plain sliced and rotary cut, except Sapele, which is usually quarter sawn. Sequence matched and numbered is also an option available for your most prestigious projects. We offer many domestic species for veneers, including Cherry, Natural Birch, Natural Maple, Red Oak, Walnut, White Birch, White Maple, and White Oak. Exotic species include African Mahogany and Sapele. Our plywood experts can guide you as you mix-and-match your choice of core, thickness, face pattern, and species.

Here at J. Gibson McIlvain, we carry plywood as a convenience to our customers, enabling them to circumvent the guesswork regarding the immense variations within the plywood market. We hope to be your choice for quality hardwoods, softwoods, and plywood. For more information on how we can be your premium plywood supplier, please visit our website or call us toll free at (800) 638-9100.

Learn More about Plywood

  • Vague plywood grading leads to price confusion
  • Do you really need marine grade plywood?
  • Bruynzeel marine grade plywood is perfect for boat builders

Filed Under: Construction

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