Manufactured Timbers

• What is plywood made from?

  Thin layers of wood veneer
• What are the advantages of plywood?

  Strong, lightweight, resistant to splitting
• In which applications is plywood commonly used?

  Furniture, construction, and boat building
• What is MDF made from?

  Wood fibers compressed with resin
• What are the advantages of MDF?

  Smooth surface, ideal for painting, cheaper
• Where is MDF commonly used?

  Flat-pack furniture, shelving
• What is chipboard made from?

  Compressed wood chips mixed with resin
• What are the advantages of chipboard?

  Affordable, good for indoor uses
• What are the disadvantages of chipboard?

  Weak compared to plywood, swells with moisture
• In which applications is chipboard commonly used?

  Worktops, flat-pack furniture
• What is blockboard made from?

  Strips of wood sandwiched between veneers
• What are the advantages of blockboard?

  Stronger than chipboard, lightweight
• Where is blockboard commonly used?

  Doors, table tops
• What is hardboard made from?

  Compressed wood fibers into a dense sheet
• What are the advantages of hardboard?

  Cost-effective, smooth surface
• In which applications is hardboard commonly used?

  Furniture backing, flooring
• What are the general properties of engineered wood products?

  • Cost-effective alternative to solid wood
  • More sustainable as they use wood waste
  • Easy to work with but may lack aesthetic appeal