What Is Blockboard?
Similar to normal plywood, blockboard is man-made engineered compound plywood with a core made by joining softwood stripes from edge to edge and then glueing them together under high pressure. There are plenty of distinct types of engineered wood available in the market like plywood, MDF, hardboard, particleboard, blockboard, etc. Each of them has its own distinct properties, raw materials, and manufacturing process.
What sets blockboard apart from the rest is that it is the preferred choice of material for any exterior or interior furniture. It is made up of high-quality timber and innovative machinery and the board is widely accepted for its durability and finish. Experts will tell you that particleboard and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) are no match to blockboard because of their excellent dimensional stability, warp and twist-resistant functionalities etc.
It is imperative to have a little material knowledge about blockboards; especially if you are planning to buy blockboard furniture or are planning to make one. This blog will help you figure out the basic block board advantages and disadvantages that will help you in the future.
Before we jump on to blockboard advantages and disadvantages, let’s understand what blockboard is used for and its types.
What is blockboard used for?
Listed below are some of the top uses of blockboards:
- To make bookshelves, benches, heavy top tables, and sofas
- To make doors and flush doors with a solid core
- For wall panels
- For doors
- For partition walls
- For flooring
- For tables
- For woodwork in railway carriages
- For interior decoration
- For prefabricated houses
- Bus bodies
Types of Blockboard:
In the Indian market, the following are the two most popular blockboards:
Boiling Water Proof Blockboard
1. Boiling Water Proof Blockboard
BWR plywood or boiling water-resistant plywood, as the name suggests, is highly water-resistant plywood, widely used by the furniture industry. BWR plywood has become quite a name for its application indoors, outdoors, and for semi-outdoor purposes with humid conditions.
2. Moisture Resistant Blockboard
Moisture-resistant blockboard is mainly used for its application in indoor spaces such as partition, ceiling, wall panelling, etc.
Blockboard Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Easily the lightest in weight when compared to other engineered wood. The main advantage here is that it can easily be transported, and the cost of transportation goes down. They are commonly used in interiors due to their lightweight properties.
- It’s easy to work with and easy to handle. Since the interior of the blockboard is made of solid wood strip, its processing requirements are not high, making it convenient for on-site construction.
- When compared to other engineering wood, blockboards show more endurance and durability. They can show restraint with their moisture-resistant properties even in a humid environment.
- Block boards come with excellent screw strength and high strength when compared to particleboard and MDF.
- Block boards are the most environmentally friendly engineered wood out there. It uses very little glue but makes you feel solid wood sense at a lower cost.
- Flat surface, uniform color and a beautifully textured wood veneer are added benefits with blockboards.
- Comparatively cheaper than plywood and is vital in lowering interior costs.
Disadvantages
- Though sturdy, it is not as strong and durable as actual plywood.
- During the manufacturing process, if there are small gaps left inside the core, it makes the blockboard difficult to work with. This can affect the durability of the furniture. The unavoidable distance created by these gaps makes it hard for carpenters to operate.
- The board might shrink or swell when exposed to certain conditions for a long time.
- Screwing and nailing must be done carefully as it might result in breaking if there are any gaps in its core.
- Poor load-bearing and bending strength are some of the most negative blockboard properties.
AK group’s Apple plywood offers different types of blockboard best suited for any project. If you’re looking to buy some quality grade blockboard, reach out to our representatives and we’ll deliver them to you. Get a free quotation now!
