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What is 15/32-inch plywood equal to?
Plywood sheet goods are available in various thicknesses and sizes and are typically sold by their nominal thickness, as well as by the number of plies – 3 ply and 5 ply being common. While the length and width are often the actual dimensions, the nominal thickness is usually different from the actual thickness. So what is 15/32 plywood equal to? Here is the size chart which can help you understand and know the real thickness of plywood for choosing the best.
The actual thickness will be:
| Nominal | Actual |
| 1/8 inch | 7/64 inch |
| 1/4 inch | 7/32 inch |
| 3/7 inch | 11/32 inch |
| 1/2 inch | 15/32 inch |
| 5/8 inch | 19/32 inch |
| 3/4 inch | 23/32 inch |
What is 15/32 plywood used for?
Like normal plywood, 15/32 plywood is versatile and has a variety of uses. Applications include interior and exterior applications, such as furniture, soffits, stairs, shelving, paneling, and DIY projects. Exterior plywood suitable for uses not permanently exposed to the weather.
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Here are some common uses:
- Roof Sheathing ; Because of its strong, stability, 15/32 plywood is usually used in roofing
- Subfloor: This can be used as subflooring, particularly in the areas where it needs the most strength and stability like hardwood, laminate or carpet.
- Furniture making: It is a good material for construction of furniture, especially where a thicker, more stable material is required
- Also, it is suitable for building cabinets, shelves and other storage units where a mid-range thickness is desirable for both strength and ease of handling.
- DIY Projects: Due to its manageable thickness and strength, it is popular in DIY projects ranging from shelving to craft projects.
- Temporary Surfaces: It can be employed for temporary surfaces such as workbenches or protective coverings during construction or renovation projects.
- Signage: The smooth surface of 1/4 inch plywood makes it suitable for painting and creating signs.
- Partitions: Lightweight partitions or dividers can be made using this plywood, useful in offices or temporary setups.
- Cabinet Backing: Thin plywood is often used as the backing for cabinets, providing a stable surface while keeping the overall weight of the cabinetry low.
- Drawer Bottoms: It serves well as the bottom surface of drawers, offering sufficient support for light to moderate loads.
- Craft Projects: Due to its manageable thickness, 1/4 inch plywood is popular in DIY and craft projects, such as making picture frames, birdhouses, and small decorative items.
- Underlayment: It can be used as an underlayment beneath flooring materials like vinyl, laminate, or tile, helping to create a smooth, level surface.
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Is 15/32-inch plywood suitable for subflooring?
Yes, 15/32 plywood is suitable for subflooring, some experts suggest that 15/32- inch plywood should be standard if the underlying floor joists are spaced in 16 inches apart or less, but you should use slightly thicker ¾ inch plywood for joists spaced further apart. Some notice that you should follow is that you should check if it is acceptable or if you find it difficult to check, you can ask the experts or the purchaser for the recommendations. To improve rigidity for your project, you could reduce joist spacing to 12 inches or add additional supports.
There are some installation tips that you should follow. Firstly, the underlayment should be added with an additional layer of underlayment over 15/32 inch plywood to increase overall thickness and improve stability. Secondly, using appropriate screws or nails and adhesive to secure the plywood is important. Lastly, ensure the gaps between sheets are minimized to prevent weak spots.
Is 15/32-inch plywood suitable for roof sheathing?
Yes, it is possible to use 15/32 plywood for roof sheathing but you should consider many standards to ensure that it is suitable for your specific project.
As you know there is no single standard plywood thickness for roof sheathing. The thickness of conventional roof sheathing ranges from ⅝ to ½ thick. If you’re installing OSB for your rooftop, a thickness of ⅝ is advised. You should pay close to attention to the markings on the boards because various materials with the same thickness are rated for different spans. An OSB roof plank’s minimum depth is approximately 15/32 inches. When roof rafters or trusses are spaced 16 inches on center, It’s allowed to use 15/32 inch plywood. Because of its structural integrity and load-bearing capacity, roof sheathing must support the loads imposed by roofing materials, snow, wind, maintenance activities, and ensure that the plywood is rated for exterior use ( CDX or exterior grade ) to withstand moisture and weather conditions.
Is 15/32-inch plywood suitable for wall sheathing?
Not only suitable for roof sheating, 15/32 plywood is also appropriate for wall sheathing, but it’s important to pay attention to various factors to ensure it meets the necessary structural and building code requirements.
Like the demand for roof sheathing, the building codes and standard or plywood is worth considering. Use 8d nails spaced at 6 inches on center along the edges and 12 inches on center in the field are used, ensure that the plywood is properly installed with staggered joints to avoid weak points and improve the wall’s structural performance. Also consider the insulation and vapor barriers required for your climate zone. While 15/32-inch plywood provides structural support, additional layers (e.g., house wrap, rigid foam insulation) may be necessary for thermal performance and moisture control.
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How much weight can 15/32 plywood hold?
The question that comes to mind for who purchases plywood is, how much weight can plywood hold? Normally, the thickness of plywood makes all the difference when it comes to weight bearing and strength. In general, plywood floors can support up to 20 psf when it comes to dead load and up to 40 psf when it comes to living load. The below chart indicate the strength of different softwood plywood sizes:
PLYWOOD BOARD
| 1 1/8” Plywood | 2.64 per square foot | 84.5 lbs |
| 3/4” Plywood (23/32) | 1.9 per square foot | 60.8 lbs |
| 5/8” Plywood (19/62) | 1.56 per square foot | 50 lbs |
| 1/2” Plywood (15/32) | 1.42 per square foot | 40.6 lbs |
| 3/8” Plywood (11/32) | 1.12 per square foot | 35.84 lbs |
| 1/4” Plywood | 0.69 per square foot | 22.08 lbs |
Plywood sizes can range depending on what type of wood is being used, the grade of the plywood, and what it is being purchased for. Depending on your exact needs, will determine which plywood sizes would work best for your business and supply chain.Remember that, the loss of thickness that naturally occurs during the plywood manufacturing process.
Plywood is just one small piece of the puzzle of getting products to where they need to go. Vinawood has over 40 years of experience being a leading supplier in the packaging industry. We provide standard-size and custom pallets for our customers in multiple industries. Along with crates and integrated industrial packaging.
Working with Vinawood can help you get the most out of your transportation packaging. Reach out to our team of knowledgeable and experienced staff to see how we can help you today.
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