Plywood face grades

Plywood can be ordered with face veneers suitable for the intended application. The face grades available are:

• A - a high quality appearance grade suitable for clear finishing.
• S - a decorative face veneer that permits natural timber characteristics such as knots.
• B - a grade that provides a suitable substrate for high quality painted finishes.
• C - a non-appearance grade with solid surface; i.e. all open defects are filled.
• D - a grade that can have open defects and is normally used as a back veneer.

Thus for a clear finished aesthetic application requiring one viewed surface, AD grade plywood would be specified.

Structural plywood normally has C and D grade faces, but can be special ordered with higher quality face veneer.

Reference: Plywood Association of Australia brochure: "Featuring plywood in buildings".

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Timber Research Unit
Department of Architecture
University of Tasmania