5.5mm Non-Structural Hardwood Plywood Sheet 2440mm x 1220mm (8' x 4')

What Is 5.5mm Hardwood Plywood?

Unlike structural plywood, 5.5mm Plywood Hardwood Faced Non-Structural Grade is manufactured with aesthetics in mind. It probably comes as no surprise (with its smooth sanded surface and hardwood face) that its intended purpose is to be seen. 

One of the best ways to use this sort of high-grade plywood is to use it as flooring. You can paint your plywood to complement the colour scheme of any room; simply paint or varnish the plain face for an aesthetic finish. 

What's more, this durable and versatile sheet material is suitable for a wide range of building applications. Comprised of multiple layers of thin veneer wood, this strong board is often used in floors, walls and roofs where a high-quality decorative finish is required.

It is compliant with the EN636-2 and EN314-2 bond classes, which supersedes the old "WBP" term often used to characterise this type of plywood. It can only be used in non-structural moisture-resistant applications.

Colour and finish are representative only and may vary slightly as this is a natural product.

5.5mm Hardwood Faced Plywood Applications

5.5mm Hardwood Ply is one of the most widely used sheet materials in the construction industry and offers many benefits. It provides consistent strength and stability to both interior and exterior applications, although when used in exterior applications it must be sealed correctly with an appropriate preserver and oil-based paint.

If you are looking for an exterior grade plywood sheet, our Marine Plywood is the ultimate hardwood external grade in terms of strength and weatherproofing. For Marine Plywood and other plywood building materials, click here.

We recommend using Non-Structural Hardwood Plywood in the following applications: 

• Furniture
• Bath panelling
• Flooring
• Packing cases
• Storage boxes
• Interior vehicle building
• General joinery

Note that if you are using the sheets for furniture making, plywood absorbs more paint than other wood products. 

5.5 mm Plywood Key Benefits

Hardwood Plywood sheet features benefits such as the following: 

• Versatility – 2440mm x 1220mm x 5.5mm plywood can be used in many general purpose applications, such as internal and external joinery (providing it is properly sealed)
• Strength - Thanks to the cross-graining process by which it is manufactured, it has a high strength-to-weight ratio. It also provides a high level of impact resistance
• Durability - Designed to resist warping and bending
• Appearance - Quality hardwood facings with lightweight softwood core. Due to its appealing aesthetic appearance and smooth sanded surface, plywood can provide a sleek finish when making furniture such as doors and cabinets

5.5mm Non-Structural Hardwood Plywood Manufacturing Process

Hardwood Plywood is an engineered wood that comprises multiple thin timber layers laid at right angles, which are then heat bonded together using a resin adhesive. 

In the manufacturing process, each adjacent layer of wood is rotated up to 90 degrees and is laid at right angles in a process known as "cross graining". This prevents warping (when the plywood becomes misshaped and difficult to use). 

The combination of these thin layers improves strength and makes the 1220 x 2440 plywood sheets suitable for a wide range of construction applications. 

WBP Plywood 5.5mm

Hardwood plywood is sometimes referred to as "WBP Plywood". "WBP" stands for "Weather and Boil Proof", and refers to the type of glue that is used to bond the layers of wood veneer together. Although many people still refer to this type of plywood as "WBP", this terminology is actually outdated and is not relevant to current statutory building requirements.

This terminology has been superseded by the EN314 and EN636 classifications, which define the bonding quality of the adhesive and the standards to which the plywood will perform. 

Our hardwood plywoods reach Class 2 of these classifications, which means that they are suitable for use in humid conditions, and can be used outside if properly sealed. 

However, if the plywood gets wet for a long duration of time it can lead to warping, so it’s important to ensure that it is suitably protected when used outside.