Plywood Grades Explained: MR, BWR, BWP, and Marine

Selecting the right plywood for your interior or exterior projects involves a clear understanding of all the types and grades in plywood. Whether you are designing a home library, a modular kitchen, or constructing furniture for your home, choosing the right grades in plywood becomes crucial. The grades in plywood tell about its durability, performance, resistance to certain elements that may cause its damage, and, of course, the value for money. 

The common grades in plywood that you will see in the market are the MR Grade and the BWR/BWP Grade. In this article, we will look into the various grades in plywood and also understand their usage. Along with that, we also have some of the best recommendations from India's best plywood brand, Greenply, which is offering high-performance options to cater to all your requirements.

1. MR Grade Plywood 

The MR Grade Plywood is the Moisture-Resistant Plywood that is made to resist humidity in dampness. However, that doesn't mean that this particular grade in plywood is also waterproof. The MR Grade Plywood is made using urea-formaldehyde resin that can handle moisture on an external level, but not prolonged exposure to water. The MR plywood offers good strength and can't be used in indoor furniture, wardrobes, study and home office furniture, false ceiling, wall panels, and office partitions. The versatility of its usage is large; however, it is not suitable for wet areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and exterior furniture. 

2. BWR Grade (Boiling Water Resistant) 

The BWR Plywood is the one made for semi-wet areas; one can also call it the upgrade of MR plywood. It is made using phenol-formaldehyde synthetic resin that provides enhanced resistance to water. This is one of those grades in plywood that can offer resistance to boiling water for up to 8 hours, making BWR Plywood an ideal choice for places where the moisture exposure is occasional yet frequent. The BWR board can be used in modular kitchens, bathroom vanities, and furniture kept in semi-outdoor areas. 

3. BWP Grade (Boiling Water Proof)

We now have a further upgrade from the BWR Plywood, which is the BWP plywood that offers complete waterproofing. The BWP plywood is made using high-quality phenolic resin that can withstand continuous water exposure. This type of plywood is ideal for places that experience torrential rain for many months a year. The BWP plywood can also be used in places in the house interior where exposure to water is almost continuous - kitchen sinks, bathroom cabinets, outdoor furniture, and doors. 

4. Marine Grade Plywood

Marine plywood is considered the highest standard of waterproofing among the various grades of plywood. This plywood is also made for high-quality phenolic reasons, but is manufactured using superior hardwood veneers. It is designed for providing long-term durability in weight and high-humidity areas, including places of submersion. 

Another feature of marine plywood is that it is built to endure constant water exposure and resist delamination and even fungal attacks, making it favorable for residential as well as industrial use. Marine plywood can be used in making outdoor structures that are exposed to rain, kitchen and bathroom storage units, and ship and boat building. 

How to choose across a wide range of grades in plywood?

Making the choice among the various grades in plywood is not difficult once you know the level of water resistance it provides. What matters is the quality of the plywood that you use, which should be from a reliable source. Here's how you can make the perfect choice of plywood using this simple table: 

Greenply: The most reliable and durable source of all grades in plywood

Greenply is one of the leading plywood plants in India, known for its innovations. All the grades in plywood are manufactured with E-Zero emission and termite and borer resistance. With superior bonding, Greenply offers a lifetime warranty on its best products. Here are some of its best products in each of the categories: 

• MR Plywood: The Greenply Gold MR Plywood is one of the best plywood for indoor furniture. It uses high-quality hardwood and melamine resin that gives good resistance against moisture. 

• BWR Plywood: The Green BWR plywood is a robust plywood known for its structural stability. Manufactured with phenol formaldehyde resin, it promises a long-lasting performance and maintains its quality even in changing weather. 

• BWP Plywood: The Greenply BWP Plywood is one of the heavy-duty plywoods that offers superior waterproofing and long-term durability. It is made using premium technology that ensures zero warping. 

• Marine Plywood: Finally, the Marine Plywood from Greenply is IS:710 certified, and offers great strength in shipbuilding with its high screw-holding capacity, calibrated thickness, and anti-fungal properties. 

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between various grades and Plywood - MR, BWR Plywood, BWP Plywood, and Marine plywood is the first step towards knowing which plywood would be the best for you. However, along with that, you also need to know where to find the best quality plywood that is reliable. And to help you with that, Greenply offers a wide range of plywoods that are high in quality, safe, and highly durable. A lot of times, investing in plywood is a one-time investment for the years to come. Make sure to make the wise decision in the right grade and in the right brand.