Cabinets must withstand high-humidity areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Traditional plywood is unsuitably vulnerable to moisture damage, so when all you do is deliver high-quality, custom cabinets to online customers, you’ll have cabinet-grade plywood options for several reasons.
Cabinet-grade plywood is a high-grade plywood crafted specifically to build cabinets. It’s studier and more watertight than traditional plywood. Manufacturers use waterproof adhesives to tightly bond layers of wood veneers under heat and pressure so the plywood can support more weight pressure and withstand dampness.
Before considering cabinet-grade plywood, you should learn more about the varying types, grades, and thicknesses. This post will cover these factors and offer a few buying tips.
What Is Cabinet Grade Plywood?
As explained before, it’s a high-quality plywood specially manufactured for building cabinets. It offers many advantages over traditional plywood, making it an ideal choice for cabinet construction.
Some of these benefits include its strength, durability, and resistance to moisture. The higher quality adhesives used in its production make it more resistant to warping, cracking, and shrinking.
Characteristics of Cabinet Grade Plywood
- More compactly packed veneers with few voids.
- Increased strength and durability.
- Higher resistance to moisture damage.
- Smooth surface for better finishes.
- Available in various grades, types, and thicknesses.
Learn more on this post, ‘What Is the Best Plywood for Kitchen Cabinets?’
Additional Uses for Cabinet-Grade Plywood
While cabinet-grade plywood is primarily used for making cabinets, this versatile material has many other uses. Here are a few ideas:
- Furniture: Cabinet-grade plywood can be used to make furniture, such as tables, chairs, and bookshelves.
- Flooring: Thicker cabinet-grade plywood can be used for flooring, especially in areas where traditional hardwood may not hold up well.
- Shelving: Strong and durable, cabinet-grade plywood is perfect for creating shelves in your home or garage.
- Crafts and DIY projects: Cabinet-grade plywood can also be used for smaller crafting projects, such as making signs or decorative pieces.
What Are the Different Types of Cabinet Grade Plywood?
Folks who fancy customized decor and furniture are always happy to learn about the plywood’s diversity. The different types of cabinet-grade plywood possess unique characteristics, and each is suitable for specific purposes.
Here are the most common types of cabinet-grade plywood:
1. Hardwood Plywood
This type features various hardwoods, such as oak, maple, cherry, and birch. It’s known for its strength, durability, and beautiful grain patterns, making it perfect for visible areas of cabinets.
Additionally, hardwood plywood stains tend to blend exquisitely with other furniture, making them ideal for a classic, high-end look. Find out the differences between plywood and solid wood cabinets.
2. Softwood Plywood
This plywood type features veneers from softwood like pine, cedar, and spruce. It’s less expensive than hardwood plywood, making it a budget-friendly option for cabinet construction.
Softwood plywood is commonly used in non-visible areas of cabinets or as a base material for other types of plywood.
3. Decorative Plywood
As the name suggests, this type of plywood is designed for aesthetic purposes. It features a thin layer of decorative veneer on top of another type of plywood, giving it an attractive finish.
Decorative plywood comes in various patterns and wood species to match different interior design styles.
4. Marine Grade Plywood
This type is specially designed for use in marine environments because of its high moisture and water damage resistance. Its superior waterproofing makes it perfect for cabinet construction in bathrooms, kitchens, or other moisture-prone areas.
What Are the Different Grades of Plywood?
The plywood grading system helps categorize the quality, appearance, and suitability of plywood for different applications. Each grade signifies the level of defects, quality of the veneer, and finish smoothness.
Here’s a quick overview:
- Grade A: Top quality with a smooth, sanded surface and minimal defects. Suitable for visible surfaces where appearance is important, such as cabinet faces.
- Grade B: Slightly lower quality than Grade A with minor, repairable defects. It is often used when aesthetics are still a priority, but slight imperfections are acceptable.
- Grade C: More visible defects, such as knotholes and patches. Typically used for structural or non-visible applications, where appearance is not the primary concern.
- Grade D: The lowest quality with significant defects, voids, and patches. It comes in handy for structural purposes or hidden applications.
Combination Grades
Combination grades of plywood are made up of two or more grades combined together. They provide a balance between appearance and cost, making them suitable for various applications.
1. AB Grade
This option couples the highest and second-highest grades to offer a smooth surface. You get minimal defects at a lower cost than Grade A.
2. BC Grade
Combining the second-highest and third-highest grades offers good structural integrity and appearance at a lower cost than grade B.
3. CD Grade
Combining the third-highest and lowest grades helps with structural purposes where appearance isn’t crucial.
Zero Void Cabinet Grade Plywood
Aside from its solid core, Zero Void Cabinet Grade Plywood offers several other advantages:
- Smooth surface: The absence of voids in the inner layer results in a smooth and uniform surface, making it perfect for painting or veneering.
- Consistency: Each panel of Zero Void Cabinet Grade Plywood is consistent in thickness and quality, ensuring your cabinets have a professional finish.
- Water resistance: Zero Void plywood is made with waterproof glue and has no voids, making it resistant to moisture and humidity. This feature makes it suitable for kitchen or bathroom cabinets, where exposure to water is common.
- Strength: Zero Void Cabinet Grade Plywood’s solid core provides superior strength to traditional plywood, making it less prone to warping or sagging under heavy loads.
- Durability: The lack of voids in Zero Void plywood also contributes to its overall durability. The panels are less likely to break or bend over time without any weak spots or gaps.
Plywood Thickness Options for Cabinets
Plywood for cabinets comes in various thicknesses, each serving a specific purpose. It’s essential to select the appropriate thickness based on your cabinets’ intended use.
Using thinner plywood than necessary can result in structural issues and cause your cabinets to fail prematurely. The following are different thickness options and their uses:
1/4 inch
It’s popular for overlaying on cabinet surfaces or as the back panel. It’s suitable for lightweight applications.
3/8 inch
The 3/8-inch plywood is occasionally used for lightweight cabinet components such as backing or non-load-bearing panels. While not as common as 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch plywood, it can be a suitable choice for small, decorative cabinetry.
1/2 inch
This thickness option is a favorite for cabinet building thanks to its strength and durability. This thickness can handle most standard cabinet sizes.
5/8 inch
This option offers extra stability and strength, making it ideal for larger cabinets or those holding heavy objects.
3/4 inch
The thickest option, 3/4-inch plywood, is ideal for creating custom cabinets and can support heavy loads without sagging.
1/8 inch
While not commonly used for cabinet construction, 1/8-inch plywood can be suitable for drawers or as a veneer over other materials.
1 inch
This thickness is typically only used for special applications demanding superior strength and durability, such as industrial cabinets or heavy-duty shelving units.
Buying Tips for Cabinet-Grade Plywood
When purchasing plywood for cabinets, keep the following tips in mind to ensure you get high-quality material:
- Check for defects: Inspect the surface of each panel for any knots, splits, or cracks. These imperfections can weaken the integrity of the wood and affect its strength.
- Look for a smooth surface: The surface should be free of rough patches or bumps, which could cause issues when finishing or painting your cabinets.
- Check the edges: Ensure that all edges are straight and even. Uneven edges can make it difficult to join panels and create gaps in your cabinets.
- Consider the wood type: Different wood types offer varying levels of strength, durability, and resistance to moisture. Some popular choices for cabinet-grade plywood include birch, maple, and oak.
- Choose the right grade: Plywood is graded based on its appearance, with A being the highest quality and D being the lowest. For cabinets, choosing a higher-grade plywood is best to ensure a smoother surface and fewer imperfections.
- Learn more about MDF vs. plywood cabinets.
Where to Buy Cabinet-Grade Plywood
You can buy cabinet-grade plywood from local lumberyards for expert advice and quality options, big-box stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s for convenience and affordability, and specialty woodworking shops for premium or exotic materials. Choose based on your project needs and budget.
At Designer Cabinets Online, we offer a wide selection of high-quality cabinets made of cabinet-grade plywood in various sizes and types of wood. Our seasoned team can also help you pick the right material for your specific cabinet project.