Plywoods are nowadays the most common material used for roofing. This is because plywood is strong and provides good durability to the roof, and it costs less than many other alternatives such as slate, metal, rubber slate, solar, plastic polymer, etc.
If you are looking to know more about the best plywood for roofing or need help choosing the right plywood for your roofing project, you’re at the right place. Let’s start with the basics.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Roofing Material
Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing the right material for roof construction:
- Cost – how much the material costs and whether it fits your budget. Because plywood is available in different varieties, you can easily find one in your budget.
- Material type & weight – Roofing material should not be very dense or heavy otherwise the roof won’t be able to hold its weight.
- Weather – Depending on where you live, local weather conditions must also be considered, as roofing material must be resistant to moisture
- Appearance – Another thing to consider in roofing material is its appearance, including color, design, etc. It must match with your property.
- Maintenance requirements – last but not least, how much maintenance does the roofing need and what is the expected life?
Why Plywood is Preferred For Roofing
Plywood is not only cheaper than solid wood and a range of other construction materials but also very strong, offers structural stability and is also water-resistant. These are the most common reasons why builders use plywood as their material of choice for external projects such as roofing.
A roofing system relies heavily upon the strength of the base material for support. Because plywood is strong and durable, it makes a perfect option for roofing material.
Because of how plywood is built, the material is not only very strong but has its strength evenly distributed across the wood, making it strong across all sides and in the corners. Also, plywood doesn’t split when nailed into or shrinks or expands with temperature changes.
Another reason why plywood is preferred for exterior applications such as roofing is that this type of manufactured wood is resistant to moisture and will continue to perform well even with constant exposure to moisture.
Plywood Vs OSB
Besides plywood, OSB or oriented strand board is another popular material used for roofing.
OSB is also a manufactured wood. It is made by combining and pressing small pieces of wood together using glue.
For roofing, both OSB and plywood are good choices. OSB is generally less expensive than plywood but it is not resistant to moisture. OSB is easily available in large panels and has a greater shear strength than plywood.
How to Choose The Best Plywood For Roofing
When it comes to plywood for roofing, there are many options available in the market. Based on your particular requirements and budget, you can choose from the following types of plywood for roofing:
For roofing, the plywood used most commonly is called exterior plywood. It is one of the best grades of plywood in terms of strength and durability. It is both very strong and resistant to moisture.
- Constructional Structural Plywood
- Shuttering Plywood
- General Plywood
- CDX Plywood
Constructional structural plywood is created specifically for the purpose of exterior use. This type of plywood is very strong, durable and high performing. It is ideal for all types of building and construction applications. Marine Grade Plywood is one of the most popular examples of construction plywoods.
Shuttering plywood is a structural plywood used primarily to hold concrete. It’s strong and built through multiple tests to check its strength and structural integrity.
General plywood is the most common type of plywood and is used for general applications such as furniture, doors and other interior use. This type of plywood may not always be suitable for exterior applications such as roofing and may need more maintenance than others.
CDX Plywood is one of the strongest types of plywood. It is made by combining different grades of plywood sheets together to achieve a strong material. ‘C’ in CDX refers to the grade of the plywood sheet used at the front, while ‘D’ refers to the grease of the sheet used on the back. X is the type of glue used to combine the wood layers together. CDX plywood also commonly refers to construction grade wood for exterior (C) purposes. As for the size, plywoods are available in different sizes, with 4×8 feet being the standard size for commercial plywood sheets. Depending on the size of your roof and required coverage area, the roofer can calculate the size and number of plywood sheets required for the job.
Other than the type of plywood, plywood thickness, size, etc. are some other factors to consider when purchasing plywood for roofing. Normally the plywood for roofing must be about ½ inch thick and the standard thickness is ⅜ inch. In areas where weather conditions are bad or heavy load is expected, thicker plywoods are generally used.
Need help?
If you are having a difficult time finding the right plywood for your roofing project, feel free to contact CameroonTimberExportSarl to discuss your project. We are a leading supplier of construction-grade plywood for both interior and exterior applications. Call us to buy top quality roofing plywood at the best price in the market with doorstep delivery.