When you are getting furniture made or interiors designed for your home, one of the most crucial choices is the material you use for the same. It determines how long your furniture will last, how its appearance will shape your home, and how functional it will be in its utility. While each material has its characteristics that fit the needs of its respective audience, the most common options considered for material are calibrated plywood, high-density fiberboard (HDF), and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
However, when it comes to choosing one of these materials, it becomes a difficult choice for many – they need to understand each of them in depth to make an informed decision, as it is a hefty investment in your home. In simple terms, plywood is made of solid wood layers adhered to each other, whereas HDF and MDF are made from wood fibers. In this blog, let’s explore each material in detail with respect to considerations people may have.
First, let’s dive into the 4 major deciding factors that can help you differentiate between plywood and HDF / MDF.
Screw holding strength
When you are choosing any wooden material for your construction needs, another determining factor is the sturdiness of the same. Because plywood is majorly known for its structural endurance, it is a popular choice for crafting durable furniture. The strength of the plywood is directly proportional to its screw-holding capacity, which is influenced by its thickness, density, and wood type. Calibrated plywood has even thickness which can provide a good grip to the screws and higher density adding to its durability and higher screw-holding strength. As against this, high-density fiberboards, or HDF, are comparatively weaker, and medium-density fiberboards, or MDF, have the least strength of the three.
Water Resistance
Take plywood from any of the top plywood brands in India, you will get Boiling Waterproof Grade plywood, which has an extremely high resistance to water and moisture and can also withstand hot boiling water with no significant wreckage. Even when such plywood comes in contact with water, it swells up by around 8-10%, which is significantly lower than HDF or MDF. This makes plywood an ideal pick for applications where water resistance is crucial, such as for construction or even outdoor projects. As opposed to this, when it comes to HDF or MDF, they are more water-absorbent, resulting in them soaking up moisture and water and swelling up by almost 300% in thickness. This makes plywood a clear choice for areas more prone to be exposed to water.
Emissions
When we talk about emissions, there is a striking difference between calibrated waterproof plywood and HDF / MDF – a standard 8x4 plywood sheet of 19 mm thickness is made with approximately 5 kgs of Urea-Formaldehyde resin, whereas a sheet of MDF or HDF with the same size and thickness contains nearly three times that amount, totaling almost 15 kilograms of urea-formaldehyde. This higher amount of formaldehyde contributes to higher levels of emission, polluting indoor air quality and having adverse effects on the health of people living in the household. With lower levels of emissions, plywood is a more sustainable choice over HDF / MDF, as it aligns with the goals of environmental-friendliness that is much needed in today’s world.
Load bearing capacity
The load-bearing capacity of Calibrated BWP Plywood is remarkably higher as compared to that of High-Density Fiberboard (HDF) and Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF). HDF has only half the capacity of bearing load than plywood, whereas, in the case of MDF, it drops to one-third. This is the main reason why applications where durability and strength are of the utmost importance, plywood is the most appropriate choice.
Your choice
When it comes to the final choice, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each material against each other. The material you choose should align with all the prerequisites you have when it comes to screw-holding capacity, resistance against water and moisture, emission levels, and load-bearing capacity. Taking everything into consideration, the best choice of material is BWP plywood. Price, however, can be a concern, but be it any use, its features make it the perfect material for furniture, interiors, as well as construction projects.
Wigwam’s plywood is technologically engineered to be the best in the industry – with a fully automated manufacturing process, superior bonding and higher density in sheets are ensured. This ensures that you get plywood that is robust and durable. They have a range of plywood that matches your budgetary needs, ensuring ultimate customer satisfaction through every sheet of ply.
Final thoughts
To sum it all up, each material has its distinctive features, the best choice for all projects is only calibrated plywood from Wigwam. It is based on a thorough perusal of all their specifications that fulfill your requirements to the fullest. Remember, it isn’t just a choice of material, it’s the choice of the foundation of your future. Choose wisely, choose Wigwam.