Plywood Grades

There are five main plywood grades. These grades describe the appearance and plywood strength. A lower grade can mean that the plywood does not resist punctures or hold nails very well. This can lead to an easier time cutting the plywood. The higher grades, however, are fairly strong. Each panel consists of various layers of veneer. Plywood is similar to chipboard, in that adhesives and pressure are used to form the board. Its strength can be increased if the veneers are placed opposite grained. This will not only cause it to be stronger over all, but also prevent cutting the plywood through if it is used as a work table.

The Five Main Grades

The grades run from A, which is the highest, to D. The reason there are five grades in total is because the C grade has two grades: C grade and C plugged grade.
The grades specify how many knots and patches and other imperfections the plywood can have. Most plywood is described by more than one grade.

Basic Rule: First Grade - First Side... Second Grade= Opposite Side

The first grade describes the face panel while the second describes the back panel (i.e. B-C grade means the front is B grade and the back is C grade).

Plywood Grades
A- Grade: Grade A is smooth. It can be painted and has a limited number of patches.

B- Grade: The B grade is solid, and has a few more knots and may even have very minor splits.
C- Grade: Grade C allows for limited splits and discoloration or sanding effects, provided the plywood strength is not affected. C plugged grade plywood is an improved version of C grade. The difference is that the splits and cracks are not as big as those found on C grade.
D- Grade:Grade D plywood features knotholes of up to three inches across the grain and even some cracks. This grade of plywood should never be used outdoors, as when it gets wet it will swell and break down.

Finply—A Grade Of Its Own

Finply is what manufacturers call Finnish plywood. It is generally more durable and attractive than regular plywood. While many plywood products are inexpensive, finply actually costs quite a bit. It can be combined with aluminum to make very modern looking furniture. Many woodworkers consider the high quality finply boards so special that it gets like a kind of grade on its own.

Tips to Buying North Carolina Furniture

1. You can buy furniture, rugs and accessories from the stores on this website without coming to North Carolina. However, if you are planning to come to North Carolina remember to bring swatches or color samples of furniture, drapes, fabrics, paint or wallpaper that you will need to color match. If swatches aren't available, take good color pictures & bring them with you.



2. If you are buying furniture for a whole room or entire house, bring a floor plan of each room (include window, door & ceiling measurements) to help you select furniture with the correct dimensions. Measure other pieces of furniture in the room to ensure that your new furniture will be compatible in scale.

3. If necessary, take hall measurements, door measurements and ceiling measurements. If you are buying furniture that will go upstairs in a two or three story house, bring measurements of the hall and stairway so that you can make sure any furniture that you buy can be carried up your stairway.

4. Decide on the furniture style that you like. You can bring pictures of furniture that you like from your favorite home furnishings magazines.

5. With todays eclectic styles of decorating, many people use different types and finishes of wood in the same room. Select interesting pieces of furniture that complement each other and reflect your taste. If you have oriental and/or decorative rugs that you will be using, make certain that the fabric that you choose for upholstery will complement the colors and design of your rug.

6. To make small rooms look bigger, select furniture and accessories with colors that closely match the walls and floors. Also, reduce the number of pieces of furniture in the room and add reflective surfaces such as mirrors and glass-top tables.

7. To make a large room look smaller and more intimate, position furniture away from the wall and use taller pieces such as an entertainment center, armoire or screen. Use rugs, patterned upholstery fabrics and printed wallpaper to give the area a warm and more comfortable feeling.

8. When shopping for upholstered furniture, try to get the facts about the basic construction: springs, frames, padding, cushions and fabric. Always test furniture that will be used for seating by doing just that: sit on it! Consider how well the chair fits your particular body build. The height of the arms, the pitch of the back and the support under your knees should feel right for your body.

9. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes on your shopping trip.