Things You Must Know About Waterproof (BWP) Plywood

Have you ever noticed that the wooden countertops/cabinets in your kitchen swells and forms air bubbles within a long time of usage? Similarly, when you walk into the bathroom, a close look at the wooden shelves will lead you to notice the development of cracks and bumps on them. Things get worse during monsoons when you encounter instances of ensued rotting on your wooden -furniture . All these are telltale signs of the damage your plywood is incurring. Now there are some tried and tested textbook methods to resolve these issues like flattening the warped parts, sealing up the plywood, treating it with some chemicals, painting the panels, etc. But all these methods take up time, effort and money. You can save at least 3/4 th of these efforts only if you make the investment of the best BWP or Boiling Waterproof Plywood from the best brand that will last for long.

What Makes BWP Plywood Superior to the Rest? 

What happens to ordinary plywood when they come in contact with moisture and water? The moisture weakens the glue that holds the boards together. You will see the moisture coming out from the panel's edges. The concave side of the plywood has less moisture content than the convex side. This difference in  moisture levels facilitates the process of warping in plywood. Sometimes, improper storage conditions in extremely dry or moist areas can also lead to a process called bowing which is basically plywood shrinking. The Indian Bureau Standards has laid down the standards for moisture content by weight in plywood to be between 5-15%. Anything below or above this level can be detrimental and harmful to the plywood.

Such shortcomings of the ordinary plywood led the manufacturers to invent the Boiling Waterproof Plywood or BWP Grade Plywood and Waterproof ply boards. This plywood has been solely and exclusively built to resist extreme heat and moisture conditions. There are some brands that sell it as Marine Grade Plywood. Technically, both of them are the same. Its distinct attributes have rendered its use in making wardrobes, shelves and wall cabinets, under-basin storage units, lofts, etc.

Boasts of Uniform Thickness with Less Gaps

Drying of veneers controls the thickness variations. When a veneer dries up, it loses its moisture that results in shrinkage. Therefore, it results in wavy veneers. They lead to gaps and overlaps in plywood that in turn leads to thickness variations. Generally, plywood with less variations is considered to be of great quality. The BWP Plywood is manufactured with uniform thickness that contributes to maximum strength and minimal gaps as this allows the glue between the waterproof ply boards  to settle better.

Unmatched Strength

The BWP Plywood is considered more strong and robust than the rest of the plywood. They can be bent and curved without affecting the strength.

Durable at Its Best

There is a test that can gauge the durability of the plywood. Put some samples of the plywood in the boiling water. If they do not delaminate for a longer period, it means that the plywood is a BWP Plywood. There are two kinds of glues that are generally used in the manufacture of the BWP Plywood: a) melamine glue and b) phenolic glue. If the BWP is made with a regular melamine glue, then it can resist boiling water for four to eight hours. But with a better quality melamine glue, the plywood can resist moisture upto ten to twenty hours. Phenolic glue is the most sought-after glue as it  enables the BWP Plywood to withstand delamination in boiling water for 24 to 72 hours.

Owing to certain stress-specific relieving treatments, the plywood has anti-warp properties which does not affect its dimensional stability in extreme dry and wet conditions.

A Safeguard from Unwanted Pests

We cannot emphasise the damage termites and borers do to plywood, both financially and aesthetically. The BWP Plywood comes with chemically treated and tested preservatives that keeps pests, termites and borers at bay and prevents the further decay of the plywood.

Greenply, India’s best homegrown plywood brand in India, produces the best range of Boiling Waterproof Plywood that serves the complete purpose of strength, quality and durability. Not only does  Greenply come with Vira Shield Protection against bacterias/virus, Fungus and Borer Proof and Anti-Termite Guarantee, it also offers waterproof boards that meet the E-0 standard to ensure safe indoor air quality (IAQ). Their premium and mid premium range  consists of Green 710 (Marine Grade Plywood), Green Gold Platinum and Green Club 5 Hundred. But if you are looking for a more affordable branded plywood then choose Ecotec Platinum 710 BWP Plywood.

The best thing about BWP Plywood is that it lends strength and durability which makes furniture last for generations to come. To gain more detailed information on the range of BWP Plywood, visit the website of Greenply.