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Plywood can be broadly classified into different grades, namely commercial MR grade plywood, waterproof BWR grade plywood, BWP grade marine plywood and flexible plywood. These grades of plywood are used for different applications, such as furniture making, panelling, partitions, fabricating staircases and so on. Learn about the costs of different types of plywood (from premium brands) that can be used for the carpentry work of your home.

Specifications of plywood
Plywood is a composite board which is made by glueing thin layers of hardwood or softwood veneer, as seen in the image above.

• Hardwood ply is made from the wood of trees such as teak, red oak, birch and gurjan, while softwood ply is made from species such as spruce, pine, fir and mango. Hardwood ply is stronger and heavier than softwood ply. Therefore, premium plywood manufacturing brands use hardwood because of its enhanced strength and durability.
• It is recommended to buy plywood from BIS-certified plywood manufacturers only.
• The standard sheet size of plywood is 8x4 feet. The other popular sizes of plywood are 8x3 feet, 7x3 feet, 7x4 feet and so on.
• Plywood is available in various thicknesses, ranging between 4 and 32 millimetres. The cost of the plywood increases with the thickness.

MR plywood

• MR or moisture-resistant plywood is also known as commercial grade plywood.
• This type of plywood is recommended for the dry areas of the home that are not exposed to moisture or water, such as the bedroom, living room and dining room.
• MR plywood is highly suitable for fabricating all types of furniture, wardrobes and cabinetry.

Cost

• 6-millimetre-thick MR grade plywood starts at ₹38 per square foot.
• 9-millimetre-thick MR grade plywood starts at ₹45 per square foot.
• 12-millimetre-thick MR grade plywood starts at ₹55 per square foot.
• 16-millimetre-thick MR grade plywood starts at ₹73 per square foot.
• 19-millimetre-thick MR grade plywood starts at ₹78 per square foot.

Marine plywood

• Marine plywood is also known as BWP (boiling water proof) plywood and it is waterproof.
• Marine plywood is highly recommended for the moisture-laden areas of the home. It is also used for the carpentry work in coastal areas where the furniture is constantly exposed to moisture-laden air.
• This grade of plywood is suitable for kitchen cabinetry, bathroom cabinets and outdoor furniture, like in the image above.

Cost

• 4-millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹46 per square foot.
• 6-millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹55 per square foot.
• 9-millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹65 per square foot.
• 12-millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹81 per square foot.
• 16-millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹102 per square foot
• 19 -millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹116 per square foot.
• 25-millimetre-thick marine grade plywood starts at ₹176 per square foot.

 BWR plywood

• The quality of BWR (boiling water resistant) plywood is better than commercial grade plywood but inferior to marine plywood.
• Just like marine plywood, BWR plywood is recommended for carpentry work in areas that are exposed to moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms and semi-outdoor areas.

Cost

• 6-millimetre-thick BWR grade plywood starts at ₹38 per square foot.
• 9-millimetre-thick BWR grade plywood starts at ₹47 per square foot.
• 12-millimetre-thick BWR grade plywood starts at ₹56 per square foot.
• 16-millimetre-thick BWR grade plywood starts at ₹74 per square foot
• 19-millimetre-thick BWR grade plywood starts at ₹83 per square foot.

Flexible plywood

• Flexible plywood is used for making curved furniture. The best part about flexible plywood is that it can be easily bent without breaking.

Cost

• 4-millimetre-thick flexible plywood starts at ₹46 per square foot.
• 6-millimetre-thick flexible plywood starts at ₹55 per square foot.