Marine plywood is a popular building material with admirable qualities of tonnage, moisture resistance and durability. plywood tends to associate itself with the use of boats and outdoor applications, but now more homeowners & professional interior designers are considering its value as a strong reliable substrate for high-performance floor systems.

Key Considerations when choosing marine plywood for flooring are:

• Structural Strength
• Moisture Resistance
• Suitability for your Residential / Commercial Flooring Applications

Strength and Performance of Marine Plywood

Marine plywood is manufactured using multiple sheets of hardwood veneers that are bonded together in layers with waterproof phenolic adhesives. The layering / lamination process creates crosslamination to provide exceptional dimensional stability & dimensional strength for the installation of high-performance flooring systems.

The unique construction of Marine Plywood allows for consistently high structural loads and protection of the flooring system from surface warping, sagging, and movement of the joints over time.

Therefore, Marine Plywood performs well:

• Under the weight of large pieces of furniture
• On a regular basis with heavy foot traffic
• Under the vibration of large quantities of equipment
• For both residential dwellings and light commercial installations

Moisture Resistant & Environmentally Stable

Marine Plywood has some of the best moisture-resistant properties available on the market today due to the waterproof bonding process of Marine Plywood. A waterproof bond on Marine Plywood reduces the potential for swelling, delaminating, and warping caused by water intrusion and/or moisture accumulation.

For flooring applications, Marine Plywood is a recommended flooring base material for:

• Kitchens
• Utility rooms
• Coastal areas
• Environments subject to moisture / humidity fluctuations

Compatibility with Floor Finishes

Marine Plywood can be used to a high degree with an Underlayment / Base Layer to many different types of floor finish products, including:

• Laminate Flooring
• Engineered Hardwoods
• Tiles
• Carpets

The SMOOTH surface finish of Marine Plywood allows for proper adhesion and levelness of a finished floor, producing a more consistent finished product.

Installation Considerations

Correct installation of Marine Plywood is critical to a high level of performance. Important installation factors include:

• Correctly installed space for expansion
• Moisture barriers
• Secure fasteners
• Correct thickness

Sealing exposed edges of Marine Plywood will add moisture protection and improve the likelihood of deterioration of the Marine Plywood over time.

When properly installed, the Marine Plywood Flooring system will create a very strong structural base that requires minimum maintenance and provides superior performance.

Cost / Value Comparisons

Generally Marine Plywood could cost more than standard grade Interior Plywood, however, because of its much longer expected life span, and fewer repair requirements due to its ability to withstand many different types of environmental conditions, Marine Plywood offers an excellent Life Cycle Value.

Therefore, an investment in Marine Plywood will provide long-term dependability in high-traffic and/or high moisture areas.

Conclusion

Marine Plywood is an excellent option when providing a strong Structural Base for a properly installed Flooring System. Marine Plywood has excellent Durability & Stability characteristics: Moisture Resistance & Compatibility with Finish Products.

To maintain consistent quality and performance for flooring systems, many contractors prefer to work with reputable manufacturers, such as Royale Touche, to obtain quality materials and consistent performance guarantees to provide high performing flooring systems in areas requiring high-demand flooring systems.