Buying plywood is a critical decision for builders and renovators of houses, and selecting the right type of plywood is equally as key to the longevity and viability of your investment. While many builders based their boards on the thickness and the cost of the products, one additional factor to consider is the type of wood used in manufacturing the alleged board. Gurjan and regular plywood are often compared as the closest types of boards, understanding the differences between these products will help you to determine which type of board is best suited for your project and will ultimately provide long-lasting value.
What is Gurjan Plywood?
Gurjan is the name of the tree that produces Gurjan Plywood; Gurjan plywood is manufactured from Gurjan wood veneers, which are highly compressed to form an extremely strong grain structure and possess excellent strength and durability. Gurjan plywood is manufactured using strong adhesives and provides for extremely durable, high-load bearing, and moisture-resistant boards. As such, Gurjan plywood is frequently utilized in the production of premium quality furniture and stuffed in construction and structural applications and locations known to be structurally weak.
What is Regular Plywood?
Regular plywood includes all types of plywood; however, regular plywood usually has a polyurethane (lightweight), plywood core, while Gurjan plywood has a hardwood core. Many of the variations of regular plywood come from the types of materials used to construct the plywood, the type of adhesives used to bond the layers together, and the method of construction. On the one hand, regular plywood can play an important role in your house (basic applications like flooring and/or siding). Each type of plywood has its flaws; depending on the type of plywood and how it is utilized will determine how durable it is.
Strength and Load-Bearing Capacity
A distinction between Gurjan plywood and regular plywood is strength. The hardwood base of the Gurjan plywood provides the strength and load-bearing capacity, and increased structural stability compared to the softer wood composition of regular plywood. Gurjan plywood is ideal in environments that necessitate the use of the use of heavy loads, and is less likely to bend or crack.
Moisture Resistance and Durability
Compared to regular plywood, Gurjan plywood performs very well in humid conditions and is much more resistant to moisture in a variety of environments than regular plywood. Gurjan plywood does not absorb moisture. Consequently, Gurjan plywood has a lower likelihood of moisture swelling and warping as compared to regular plywood, especially with the continuing moisture build-up in bathrooms, kitchens, and areas located along coastal regions.
Finishing Quality (Surface Quality) and Performance of Furniture
For cabinetry, both Gurjan and regular plywood are manufactured using flat surfaces; therefore, the finish quality will be directly impacted by both the flatness of the surface and any internal voids created by the glued layers of the plywood. The flat, dense support structure of the Gurjan plywood will assist in providing the best adhesive bond for laminates and veneers, which will result in a better finished product. Many regular plywood boards may not be flat and contain internal voids. Therefore, regular plywood may result in reduced finishing quality and reduced lifespan of finished furniture.
Cost vs Long-term Value
While Gurjan plywood is generally more expensive initially than standard plywood; the long-term perceived value of Gurjan plywood is considerably higher, as Gurjan plywood has an overall lower total cost of ownership. On the other hand, regular plywood has a low initial purchase price, but over time, users can expect to have increased maintenance and ownership costs associated with using regular plywood.
Final Thoughts
The two main distinctions between Gurjan plywood and regular plywood are in strength and durability, as they relate to perceived long-term cost/ value. Thus, if safety, quality, and use expectations are top of mind in your decision process, Gurjan plywood is likely to be the superior choice, as offered by trusted manufacturers such as Royale Touche.