What type of plywood is best for concrete formwork?
For Europe film-faced work, match bond class and reuse card: Eco Form Plus up to 8, Form Basic up to 10, Form Extra up to 15 (MUF, EN 636-2, not Class 3), Pro Form Lite up to 15 (PF, EN 636-3), Pro Form up to 20. US yards often ask for HDO or MatteFace instead of film-faced. Face film and core glue are separate specs.
How thick should plywood be for concrete forms?
18 mm is the workhorse for walls and columns. 12 mm suits edges and low pressure. 21 mm is for heavy walls and deep pours. Thickness follows span and pour pressure, not the overlay colour. Millimetre-by-pour tables sit on the formwork plywood thickness guide.
What is the difference between face film and core glue on film-faced plywood?
Core glue is the adhesive between veneers (MUF for EN 636-2 grades, PF for EN 636-3). Face film is the phenolic overlay that touches concrete, typically 120, 165, or 220 g/m². A brown film does not make an MUF panel Class 3. Read EN 636 on the TDS.
How many times can film faced plywood be reused?
Reuse is up to N on the mill card, never N+. Eco Form Plus up to 8, Form Basic up to 10, Form Extra up to 15, Pro Form Lite up to 15, Pro Form up to 20. Site care — release agent, same-day scrape, edge sealer, flat stacking — decides whether you hit the card.
Is Form Extra phenolic Class 3?
No. Form Extra is Superior Glue MUF, EN 636-2, up to 15 reuses. Extra cycles come from glue chemistry, not a heavier face film. Only Pro Form, Pro Form Lite, and the HDO range are phenolic Class 3 on the Vinawood formwork line.
How do film-faced, HDO, and MatteFace differ for formwork?
Film-faced is the Europe hero overlay with EN bond classes. HDO is a high-density overlay range for North America (phenolic Class 3). MatteFace Plywood (MTF) is a matte phenolic surface film for formwork only, up to 15 reuses; buyers often search for MatteFace as MDO formwork plywood. MDO stays a search term, not a Vinawood product name.
