Over the years, wood has become a prominent material for decoration and construction purposes.
With advancements in the demand of human beings, there have been multi-facet developments in the wood industry.
Plywood and HDHMR are two well-known types of wood available in the consumer market. They are considered interchangeable terms.
However, there is a stark contrast in the maintenance, features, and advantages of Plywood and HDHMR.
Key Takeaways
- Plywood consists of multiple layers of wood veneers glued together, whereas HDHMR is a high-density fiberboard made from wood fibers and resin.
- HDHMR exhibits greater moisture resistance and durability than plywood.
- Plywood offers better flexibility and is easier to work with for carpentry projects than HDHMR.
Plywood vs HDHMR
Plywood is an engineered wood product made by gluing together thin layers of wood veneer with the grains of each layer perpendicular to the adjacent one. HDHMR (High-Density High Moisture Resistance) is a type of engineered wood product that has a higher density and better moisture resistance.
Plywood is a type of engineered wood that is composed of glueing several layers of plies. The most common categories of Plywood are either manufactured from Hardwood or Softwood.
The quality of plywood differs considerably depending upon the source or origin of the wood. Plywood has both commercial and household applications.
Plywood materials can be dusted with a dry cloth and must be protected from moisture and sunlight.
HDHMR refers to an advanced and improved version of Plywood. HDHMR is sourced from waste wood materials HDHMR is an ideal option to create robust and sturdy woodwork.
This High-Density High Moisture Resistant board has enhanced screw and withdrawal strength. The wood has a ready and smooth surface that can be coloured using several gradient colours.
HDHMR materials can be cleaned by using lukewarm water and it is advised to clean spots instead of the whole area.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Plywood | HDHMR |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Plywood is sourced from wood veneer. | HDHMR is sourced from forest wood waste and fiber chips. |
| Structure | Plywood has non-uniform and low density. | HDHMR has high density and uniformity across its surface. |
| Durability | Plywood is less durable than HDHMR. | HDHMR is more durable than Plywood. |
| Infestations | Plywood is more prone to termite infestations. | HDHMR is less prone to termite infestations. |
| Water Resistance | Plywood is not resistant to water. | HDHMR offers high water resistance. |
What is Plywood?
Plywood is a material that originates from the plies of wood veneer. These thin layers or plies are held together by glue.
The wood grain of each adjacent layer is rotated up to a right angle to one another. Plywood is a part of the family of manufactured boards.
Other members of this family are medium density fibreboard, particleboard, and oriented strand board.
There are different types of Plywood available in the market. These include Softwood, Hardwood, Tropical, Aircraft, Decorative, Flexible, and Marine among others.
While Softwood is manufactured from cedar, spruce, pine or fir, Hardwood is manufactured from the wood of dicot trees. Tropical Plywood is sourced from mixed hardwood species of tropical timber.
Marine Plywood is sourced from durable face and core veneers. Decorative or overlaid Plywood is made from several species of trees, including oak, maple, shorea, ash, and mahogany.
There are some other types of Plywood available in the market as well. Some of these are moisture-resistant Plywood, pressure-treated Plywood, and sign-grade Plywood.
Some common uses of Softwood Plywood are to make floors, walls, and rooms in household constructions, vehicle internal bodywork, fencing, concrete shuttering panels, and packages and boxes.
On the other hand, some uses of Hardwood Plywood are container floors, wind turbine blades, scaffolding materials, and furniture.
The density and uniformity of Plywood are rather unimpressive. Therefore, each type of Plywood has its respective practical applications.
What is HDHMR?
HDHMR stands for High-Density High Moisture Resistance Board. HDHMR is sourced from forest wood waste and fibre chips and brought together through a homogenous manufacturing process.
The production of HDHMR involves the compression of fibre chips to form a single layer. This in turn removes small wood content.
The outcome of the manufacturing process is high-density moisture, resistant board. HDHMR is particularly used for the apt density it offers.
HDHMR offers high resistance to both water and heat. It also showcases a high tensile strength.
Over the years, the superior quality and multiple applications of HDHMR have brought significant changes in the Indian interiors industry.
HDHMR has been one of the most sought after replacements for Plywood.
The company that brought HDHMR into the market is Action Tesa. Surprisingly, HDHMR soon became one of the most popular choices for woodwork in both professional and household settings.
The most immediate advantage of HDHMR is that it is significantly water-resistant with no core gaps. It offers innovative applications and cost-effective panelling solutions.
The most prominent applications of HDHMR are in kitchen shutters, door shutters, desks and lockers, gyms, hospitals, packing industry panels, cafeteria, office and residential areas, and outdoor fixtures.
HDHMR is an environmentally friendly product manufactured from waste wood.
Therefore, it is not only an innovative choice for woodwork but also environmentally safe to manufacture.
Main Differences Between Plywood and HDHMR
- Plywood experiences more wear and tear than HDHMR.
- Plywood is a less preferred choice by interior designers and homemakers as compared to HDHMR.
- Some prominent Plywood brands are Greenply and Duro. On the other hand, the most famous HDHMR brand is Action Tesa.
- While Plywood requires less maintenance, HDHMR offers a smooth finish and as higher density and uniformity.
- A demerit of Plywood is that it has a low density and low uniformity. On the other hand, a disadvantage of HDHMR is that it is heavier as compared to other construction materials.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plywood#Structural_characteristics
- https://www.woodkraftkitchen.com/plywood-vs-hdhmr/
Last Updated : 15 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
