« Blockboard: Structure, Benefits and Common Applications » n'est pas encore disponible en Français

Blockboard is an engineered wood panel built around a core of softwood strips glued edge to edge, then faced on both sides with a wood veneer laid crosswise. It runs about 25 to 40 percent lighter than plywood at the same thickness and stays flat over wide spans, which is why it is used for interior furniture, flush doors, shelving and cabinet panels.

Blockboard is an interior panel. Standard MR grade is not made for wet rooms or exterior use, and the softwood core needs sealing at every edge. The face veneer is thin, often 0.6 to 1 mm, so it wants finishing before service. Small gaps between core strips are a normal feature of strip-core construction within international grading tolerances (EN 635 and ANSI/HPVA HP-1), so the sensible move is to buy on specification: confirm the glue grade, core species and strip spacing. Where a job involves real load or moisture, plywood is the better choice.

Neither is better in the abstract; it depends on the job. Blockboard wins where you need a light, flat, wide interior panel that stays put, such as long shelves, wardrobe sides and flush doors. Plywood wins on load-bearing strength, moisture tolerance and structural use. For a light interior span, blockboard is often the economical pick; for anything structural or damp, specify plywood.

Yes. Blockboard remains a standard interior panel across the UK, India and Southeast Asia, sold in 2440 x 1220 mm (8 x 4 ft) sheets in 12, 15, 18 and 25 mm thicknesses. In the United States the same product is usually called lumber-core plywood.