When it comes to furniture & cabinetry, Solid Wood is often seen as the gold standard. It has a natural beauty, warmth, and patina that make it attractive to both homeowner and designer alike. Changing lifestyles, increased moisture with time, and escalating material costs have made many homeowners and professionals look to alternative materials such as Plywood as a replacement. Can Marine Plywood be used as an alternative material for solid wood? To answer this question it’s essential to look at the Pros & Cons of each.
Using Marine Plywood Instead of Solid Wood
Marine Plywood is manufactured with a combination of multiple layers of high-grade hardwood veneers that have been impregnated with waterproof phenolic resin adhesives. The result of this process is a product that is extremely durable, stable, and moisture resistant. With a growing number of people moving into urban areas, they are now required to utilize materials that will withstand the extremes of modern urban life.
Marine Plywood will not expand or contract, warp, crack and break apart when it is subjected to high humidity or extreme temperature changes as solid wood will. It will continue to remain in the same form under many different environmental conditions.
The Benefits of Using Marine Plywood Over Solid Wood
One of the primary benefits associated with utilizing Marine Plywood is that it is moisture-resistant. The majority of solid wood furniture does not retain its shape or strength as a result of its exposure to high humidity; in fact, many solid wood furniture pieces will become unusable after a short period of time if they have been exposed to high humidity or extreme temperature changes. Marine Plywood retains its form under the same conditions and retains its strength under high humidity.
Unlike most types of solid wood, where the quality can vary based on the location in which they were harvested, Marine Plywood has the same thickness, strength, and finish of all the sheets; therefore, it provides predictable quality.
In many respects, Marine Plywood is a more cost-effective option than premium solid wood furniture options, especially if you factor in the long-term maintenance and replacement costs associated with the solid wood.
Another advantage to using Marine Plywood for furniture is that it offers numerous options for Modular and contemporary designs, while still allowing for a high level of durability. There are many different types of Laminates, Veneers, and Finishes available that can be used with Marine Plywood; therefore, many Designers take advantage of this amount of flexibility while still providing durability. A lot of Interior Designers also choose to utilize the Royale Touche Marine Plywood for functional furniture where Reliability is more important to them than Tradition.
Solid Wood vs Marine Plywood
While Marine plywood has many positive features and advantages over solid wood, it does have limitations. First, Marine plywood cannot replicate the depth, character, or tradition of solid wood, nor can it replicate furniture carved in the traditional manner – where aesthetics is more important than functionality.
Second, it also has a perception problem. Some homeowners believe that because solid wood furniture has been around longer than engineered materials, that it is a more Luxurious and Long-lasting alternative. However, modern engineered products tend to outperform solid wood when exposed to challenging environmental conditions.
Many homeowners who desire Authenticity, or Heirloom-style furniture pieces, will likely not be interested in using Marine Plywood.
Where Marine Plywood Is an Excellent Alternative to Solid Wood
Marine Plywood, like Royale Touche Marine Plywood, are great replacements for solid wood when building Functional Furniture such as Cabinets, Wardrobes, and Shelving in Moisture-Prone areas.
Conclusion
In summary, Marine Plywood can be a legitimate replacement for solid wood in most functional interior design applications. It will provide superior moisture-resistance, stability, and Cost-effectiveness when compared to solid wood. The final decisions about what to use depend on Your User Requirements, Environment, and Design Priorities.
