Comparative characteristics of plywood and other materials. What is the difference between chipboard, MDF, plywood, furniture board, lumber, veneer? What is stronger: chipboard or plywood?

Wood-tile materials are products of processing soft and hard wood and waste from the woodworking industry. These raw materials are widely used in the furniture industry, door production and construction.

Large selection wood boards offer today construction markets. Competitive prices, prompt delivery, individual approach to every buyer - you will find all this.

Features of materials

Chipboard (chipboard) is a pressed board material consisting of sawdust and shavings mixed with synthetic glue and hot pressed into sheets. This one is durable and comfortable material is actively used in the production of furniture and interior decoration.

Chipboard has a number of advantages:

  • high strength;
  • heat and sound insulation;
  • various sizes;
  • ease of processing;
  • price.

Applications

  1. Floor and roof sheathing is an ideal layer for parquet and linoleum flooring, and is excellent for sheathing roofs under tiles.
  2. Manufacturing wall partitions– when remodeling premises, it is actively used as rough material.
  3. Furniture manufacturing - racks, shelves, cabinets in offices are made of chipboard.
  4. Door production - budget interior doors are made from chipboard.

Plywood is a sheet material consisting of several layers of wood veneer glued together perpendicularly. This durable material is used in construction, renovation, and furniture production.

Advantages of plywood sheet:

  • increased moisture resistance;
  • strength and wear resistance;
  • resistance to temperature changes;
  • non-toxic;
  • aesthetics.

Applications:

  1. Furniture production - the texture of plywood itself is original, and is often used in the production of chests of drawers, tables, cabinets, shelves, and children's beds;
  2. Covering floors and walls - plywood is often used as the basis for parquet, and for walls the beautiful texture of the material is used as a decorative detail;
  3. Mechanical engineering - plywood is used as flooring in buses, trailers, and trucks.

What material to choose?

Plywood and chipboard are made from natural wood, but less glue is used for plywood, which means it is less toxic. Plywood has higher moisture resistance, as well as abrasion resistance.

When exposed to moisture, chipboard is susceptible to changes in structure. Fasteners hold better on plywood. As for the price, chipboard is cheaper than plywood, and is often used for the production of budget furniture.

Based on the characteristics of these materials, each consumer will independently choose what he needs to buy, plywood or chipboard. Discussions on this topic are in this video:

Sheet materials made from wood veneer or shavings are very often used for constructing a subfloor, leveling the surface under finishing, as well as for sound and heat insulation. At the same time, you often have to decide: what is better – plywood or chipboard? Let's try to answer this question.


To do this, you need to understand how and what these materials are made of, what properties they have and how they behave during operation.

Features and characteristics of materials

Composition and structure

Both plywood and chipboard are made primarily of wood. But the first material is more natural, contains less glue.

The main difference between plywood and chipboard:

  • Plywood is layers of natural veneer glued together from not the most expensive types of wood: pine, spruce, birch. There can be three or more such layers, the thickness of the material depends on their number.
  • Chipboard consists of wood waste - sawdust and small shavings mixed with glue and pressed into sheets. It is clear that much more glue is required to produce it.

Features and Benefits

To answer the question of what is better for the floor - chipboard or plywood, let's compare the characteristics of these materials.

  • Plywood is aesthetically more attractive. In some cases, it is also used as a finishing coating, covered with paint or varnish.

  • Chipboards, even treated special compounds or painted, have worse moisture resistance. Unlike plywood, they do not return to their original shape after being soaked in water.
  • Chipboard is less resistant to abrasion and can crumble over time under load. In addition, it holds fasteners – screws and nails – less well.
  • But the advantages of particle boards include better bending strength than plywood, and higher heat and sound insulation properties.
  • It is also important to take into account such characteristics of materials as price. For chipboard it is much lower.

Yet none of these materials have sufficient moisture resistance, and with constant exposure to moisture they can rot and become a breeding ground for fungus and mold, leading to deterioration finishing coating. Therefore, it is better to use them in dry, heated rooms.

Advice. For subfloor installations in wet rooms, OSB is more suitable - oriented strand boards, which are characterized by high moisture resistance.

As for the ease of installation, both materials are easy to lay with your own hands using standard tools home handyman. into fragments the desired shape and size.

Attention! At sawing chipboard fine toxic dust is formed, so this must be done using a respirator or other protective equipment.

Based on the information above, it is difficult to make an unambiguous conclusion about whether plywood or chipboard is better for the floor. Everyone can independently evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these materials and decide which one to use.

Technology for constructing a subfloor from sheet materials

Sheet materials can be laid on old coverings (plank floors, linoleum), on screed-leveled floors or on joists. In the first two cases, in addition to fastening with screws, glue is used.

Flooring on screed

Cement screed done to level the surface. To do this, using a level, a line is drawn on the walls along the perimeter of the room, which will serve as a guide for the height of the screed.

Then bars are laid on the base, forming a grid of squares with a side length of about 1 meter. Their thickness should be slightly less than the thickness of the future screed.

Next is preparing cement-sand mortar in a ratio of 1:3, which is poured into the mesh cells and smoothed.

Please note. To prevent the screed from cracking, it is necessary to ensure that a certain level of humidity is maintained during drying. For this purpose it is covered plastic film and leave for 7-10 days.

After the solution has dried, the instructions require priming the surface. bitumen mastic and let it dry. After this, you can begin laying the subfloor.

The sheets are laid on a surface greased with glue with a slight indentation from the walls and with a gap between them of 2-3 mm, necessary for temperature and humidity expansion. They should be laid out with offset joints: the corners of four sheets should not meet at one point.

After laying the chipboard or plywood on the floor, it is drilled and screwed to the base, first in the center, then along the perimeter.

Laying on joists

This method is less labor-intensive and more environmentally friendly. If necessary, insulation is laid between the joists or soundproofing material.

However, thicker and stronger sheets must be placed on the joists to avoid their deformation. What is stronger - chipboard or plywood? This depends on the thickness of the sheet and the distance between the joists.

For example, 12 mm plywood can be placed on a solid base, and at least 20 mm on logs, provided that the distance between them is no more than 40 cm. The thickness of the chipboard should also be 18-22 mm.

Sequence of work:

  1. Draw a diagram for laying lags depending on the size of the sheet material (see also article). The joints of the sheets should be on the center lines of the joists. In this case, take into account the shift of the sheets to offset the seams. You should end up with a mesh with a cell size of 30-50 cm.
  2. Lay longitudinal joists on the floor and level them using spacers. Secure.

Attention! The distance between the wall and the outer joists should be no more than 30-40 mm.

  1. Mark the position of the transverse joists and attach them to the longitudinal ones with nails driven in diagonally.
  1. Place the first sheet in the corner of the room, retreating from the walls by 10-15 mm. To avoid straying from the center line when attaching to intermediate joists, apply pencil marks to the edges of the sheet corresponding to the middle of the bars and connect them with a straight line. Screw in the self-tapping screws along these lines in increments of 100-150 mm, recessing the caps into the body of the material. Then secure the sheet around the perimeter. It is best to use an electric screwdriver.
  2. Likewise mount the remaining sheets, leaving a gap of 2-3 mm between them. If it is not there, the floors may begin to creak over time.

  1. When using tongue and groove sheets, there is no need to leave a gap. In this case, the tongue and groove joints are lubricated with glue and compacted by tapping each other with a mallet.
  2. Remember to offset the sheets to prevent the four seams from intersecting at one point, and to leave a gap between them and the wall. Subsequently, they will be covered with a plinth.

It remains to be said that when laying in rooms where increased humidity is possible, sheet materials before laying it is necessary to cover with drying oil or other protective equipment. If the room is dry, then from the point of view of cost savings and ease chipboard processing Better on the floor than plywood.

Conclusion

In any case, the home owner has to make a choice in favor of this or that material or the method of its installation, taking into account his own capabilities and requirements for the coating. The information presented above will only help you decide. And in the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

Similar materials

All photos from the article

Let's find out what is better suited for forming a subfloor in a residential area: plywood or chipboard. Both materials have a lot of positive qualities, which often makes it very difficult to choose. IN this review we will look at all their main characteristics in order to try to give the most comprehensive answer to the question posed.

Comparison

Before we talk about what better than chipboard or plywood, you should decide on the concepts themselves:

Definitions

  • Plywood or wood-laminated board is a kind of “ layer cake» , in which the layers are coated with special glue;

  • Chipboard is an abbreviation for particle board. This material is made from wood waste in the form of shavings and sawdust, which are mixed with glue and then pressed into convenient sheets.

The first difference between chipboard and plywood that catches your eye is the presence of a much larger amount of glue in the structure, which dramatically affects many performance indicators.

Basic parameters

So, what is better for the floor - chipboard or plywood?

Let's look at all the characteristics in order.

  1. Appearance:
    • The wood-laminated board has an original textured pattern inherent in wood and a pleasant to the eye shade, which allows it to be used even for the formation of finishing;

    • The appearance of chipboard is very specific and is usually not put on public display, since it is a compressed chip mass;

  1. Strength indicators.

The answer to the question of what is stronger than chipboard or plywood is somewhat ambiguous:

    • Plywood is a fairly hard and at the same time flexible material that is easy to work with your own hands;

    • But chipboard, although it has higher bending strength, crumbles during processing and holds screws in less well;

  1. Thermal insulation properties. Here everything is decided by the thermal conductivity coefficient characteristic of these materials:
  1. Environmental friendliness. In order to answer the question of what is more environmentally friendly: chipboard or plywood, you should pay attention to the amount of glue used in the manufacture of both materials, because it may contain harmful formaldehydes. From the definition it is clear that particle board uses a significantly larger amount of adhesive solution, but a wood-laminated product cannot be called environmentally friendly either;

Advice: when purchasing the materials in question for use in a residential area, pay attention to the presence of marks about their environmental friendliness.
If they are absent, it is recommended not to take risks.

Marking Content harmful substances, mg/100 g
E0 Less than 6
E1 7-9
E2 10-20
  1. Installation instructions. Installation of both subfloor options is quite easy on our own. The sheets are not overly heavy, they are easy to cut and lay into a continuous covering, after which they are fixed with ordinary self-tapping screws;

Advice: when cutting chipboard, be sure to use a respirator and safety glasses to protect your eyes and respiratory organs from the toxic dust generated at this moment.

  1. Moisture resistance. In this matter, the difference between plywood and chipboard is quite noticeable:
    • Wood-laminated board has good resistance to excessive humidity due to the presence of layers of glue;
    • Chipboard, although it contains an even larger amount of adhesive solution, does not have a solid wood structure. Sawdust that comes into contact with moisture swells and never returns to its shape;

Tip: both materials have the inherent hydrophobicity of wood, so it is recommended to use them in dry, heated rooms to avoid rotting and mold.

  1. Soundproofing. Chipboard absorbs much better excess noise that disturbs your peace;
  2. Price. What is cheaper: chipboard or plywood when creating a rough base? Of course, the first option, which is made, in fact, from waste, which cannot be expensive. But for the production of wood-laminated products, veneer sheets are needed, which increases the cost of the finished product;
  3. Flammability. Both options pose a danger in the event of a fire, as they are prone to fire. In addition, during the combustion process they will release a large amount of toxic substances, which will only worsen the situation.

Combination

The most significant advantage of chipboard over plywood is low price. Plus, it’s also worth adding bending strength and sound insulation. In other respects, it is significantly inferior. But it is also worth noting that there is also combined option of these two materials - veneered chipboard.

As a result, we get a sample that:

  • Better protected from the negative effects of excessive humidity, crumbling and abrasion by a layer of plywood;
  • It is cheaper than a full-fledged wood-laminated board, since the inside consists of shavings;
  • Looks aesthetically pleasing;
  • It has excellent thermal insulation and noise-absorbing properties.

Conclusion

So, chipboard or plywood for the floor - which is better? Having understood all the main characteristics, we can conclude in favor of wood-laminated board. On the other hand, chipboard sheets will allow you to save significantly. In addition, some advantages, such as aesthetics, for example, will not be important for the rough foundation of a floor structure.


So make your choice according to specific situation and allocated budget, and for special occasions you can always purchase veneered models that include the advantages of both products.

The video in this article contains some additional information that is directly related to the materials discussed. Make your choices wisely. If you have any questions regarding the above topic, you can ask them in the comments.

This article will help you make an informed choice in favor of one material or another.

Plywood- this is a material consisting of veneer, which is glued in several layers using glue.

The following facts speak in favor of using plywood:

  • wide scope of application;
  • high decorative properties. This is especially true for elite and first grade plywood;
  • minimal susceptibility to deformation and shrinkage processes;
  • regulated content of formaldehyde components;
  • ease of processing;
  • good fixation of fasteners in layers;
  • moisture resistance;
  • the ability to return plywood to its original shape after exposure to moisture;
  • the ability to create bent shapes;
  • equal strength over the entire plane of the sheet;
  • no through cracks.

What plywood is better or osb?

Plywood and OSB are the two most similar materials. The only difference in this case is that in plywood the veneer sheets are solid and are located perpendicular to each other from the point of view of the structure of the wood fibers. In OSB sheets, the chips are located chaotically. In general, the material is created from the same raw materials. Therefore the question is What is stronger: plywood or osb- does not have a clear answer. It all depends on the thickness of the product, the type of wood used, and the quality of the glue.

Benefits AboutS.B.

  • high shear strength. What is achieved due to a more uniform texture;
  • low manufacturing cost, affecting the price of the final product;
  • waste-free production;
  • recyclability;
  • less weight, with the same sheet thickness;
  • minimal susceptibility to delamination of material components;
  • possibility of covering the material with film or veneer.

The given product characteristics allow us to conclude that Which is cheaper: plywood or OSB? The latter has the advantage. To be fair, it should be noted that this is almost the only advantage of OSB over plywood. The strength characteristics of these materials are identical.

Chipboard or plywood which is better?

Often at the time of purchase the question arises, Which is stronger than plywood or chipboard??

To answer this question you must first decide How does plywood differ from chipboard?

Chipboard is a chipboard, in the production of which the same material is used as in the production of plywood. However, the manufacturing technology is more similar to OSB technology. In this case, the wood is crushed into small particles, mixed with a binder and placed under a hot press. This is exactly how the process of making chipboards occurs.

Advantages of chipboard:

  • the homogeneous structure of the chipboard provides it with high fracture strength;
  • high heat and sound insulation properties;
  • not high cost.

MDF is a compressed wood fiber board medium density. It is made from wood waste (dust).

Advantages of MDF:

  • high fracture strength;
  • resistance to fungi and other pests;
  • long period of operation;
  • low cost.

What is better: fiberboard or plywood?

Fiberboard - high density compressed fibreboard.

Advantages of fiberboard:

  • high strength;
  • low cost;
  • long service life;
  • high thermal insulation rates.

However, despite these indicators, fiberboard has become more widespread not in construction, but in furniture production.

What better than drywall or plywood?

Drywall- a new product that has replaced traditional wood materials. It is essentially plaster of Paris placed between two layers of cardboard.

It is difficult to compare these two materials because they have different composition and manufacturing technology. When using them, they are used various instruments. But, for example, in those areas where these materials can be interchangeable, we can talk about comparison.

Advantages of drywall:

  • ease;
  • low cost;
  • ease of use;
  • widespread use in interior decoration.

What is better gvl or plywood?

GVL - gypsum fiber sheet. In structure, raw materials and manufacturing technology it is similar to plasterboard. Additionally contains cellulose waste paper, which acts as an amplifier.

Advantages of GVL:

  • Possibility of use in rooms with humidity levels up to 70%;
  • low heat absorption coefficient;
  • high level of sound absorption.

Conclusion

Summarizing the above, we can conclude that the answer to the question Which is better plywood orosb, fibreboard, chipboard, MDF, plasterboard or other material - depends on the scope of its potential application. Depending on the requirements imposed on the material by operating conditions. The size of your budget also influences your choice.

RUB 1,450

  • 700 rub

  • RUB 2,500

  • 260 rub.

  • RUB 4,800

  • RUB 2,300

  • RUB 1,400

  • 3,000 rub.

  • RUB 2,590

  • RUB 2,000 RUB 2,200

  • The use of natural wood in some areas of construction, as well as in the production of furniture and in any other industry, is partly unreasonably expensive. For this, there are cheaper substitutes - wood-based materials. Many of them have all the necessary qualities for use in a particular area of ​​construction, but the most popular are chipboard and OSB (OSB) and plywood. It is difficult for an ignorant person to make a choice, because quality characteristics These materials and their costs vary significantly. To make a targeted and right choice, you need to know their differences.

    Production technology

    A comparison of OSB, chipboard and plywood can begin with their production technology. All indicated materials are made using natural raw materials, although they step by step process different.

    • Plywood is a multilayer material for which peeled veneer is used. Plywood has good strength, since the veneer sheets are laid using a special technology - perpendicular to the fibers of the previous sheet.
    • Chipboard – this one, unlike plywood board, is produced by hot pressing. And the raw material for it is waste shavings after wood processing.
    • OSB – compared to the above-mentioned boards, is a new material. However, it has already firmly taken a leading position in some areas of construction. OSB panels are 90% natural pine sawdust, and only a tenth is allocated to the binder. Moreover, in comparison with the first two, they are environmentally friendly. Of course, these indicators significantly increase the quality characteristics of the slab and expand its scope of application. Even despite the higher price, in some cases such material is more profitable to buy.

    Qualitative characteristics

    When choosing a material for a certain type of work, it is also necessary to take into account its operational characteristics. After all, to perform certain functions, you may need one of the qualitative aspects of one of the panels, which others have to a lesser extent.

    The strength indicators of chipboard are much lower than those of plywood and. The last two are not inferior to each other in this regard. The strength of plywood is determined by the special laying of veneer sheets, while OSB uses a method of pressing wood chips, similar to chipboard, which is still more advantageous, since the capacity of natural raw materials is greater there.

    Considering the possibility of mechanical damage, again, chipboard is not the best option for places where such an impact is possible. Although this material is not capable of drying out and coming apart, which is the problem with plywood. The best option is still OSB panel, it is reliable and not susceptible to external influences.

    The moisture resistance of materials also varies. Use chipboard in areas with high humidity not worth it. In turn, the production of plywood and OSB boards has the ability to produce moisture-resistant varieties - FSF plywood and OSB-3, 4.

    From an environmental point of view, OSB is more the best option, since it does not contain synthetic impurities, which plywood and chipboard cannot boast of.

    To sum up, we cannot mention the cost. Of course, of all these materials, OSB panels are the most expensive, but their advantages and long service life always justify such a purchase. Although plywood sheets are not inferior in cost to OSB boards, their use is possible for the most part for outdoor work. But chipboard is a cheap material and is most often used for rough finishing, for example, for flooring.

    Since OSB is more natural in its composition, it is often used for finishing wall surfaces. The panels are well tolerated various paints and other coating agents. Plywood sheets more are ordered for the manufacture of budget furniture and the production of laminated floorboards, although many construction projects also cannot do without its participation.