A P A P R O D U C T G U I D E

A P AThe Eng ine e r ed Wood As so c i a t i on

SANDED PLYWOOD

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Wood is good. It is the earth’s natural, energy efficient and renewable building material.

Engineered wood is a better use of wood. It uses less wood to make more wood products.

That’s why using APA trademarked plywood, oriented strand board and APA EWSglued laminated timbers is the right thing to do.

A few facts about wood.■ We’re not running out of trees. One-third of the United States land base –731 million acres – is covered by forests. About two-thirds of that 731 million acres issuitable for repeated planting and harvesting of timber. But only about half of the landsuitable for growing timber is open to logging. Most of that harvestable acreage also isopen to other uses, such as camping, hiking, hunting, etc.

■ We’re growing more wood every day. American landowners plant more thantwo billion trees every year. In addition, millions of trees seed naturally. The forestproducts industry, which comprises about 15 percent of forestland ownership, isresponsible for 41 percent of replanted forest acreage. That works out to more than onebillion trees a year, or about three million trees planted every day. This high rate ofreplanting accounts for the fact that each year, 27 percent more timber is grown than is harvested.

■ Manufacturing wood products isenergy efficient. Wood products madeup 47 percent of all industrial rawmaterials manufactured in the UnitedStates, yet consumed only 4 percent ofthe energy needed to manufacture allindustrial raw materials, according to a 1987 study.

■ Good news for a healthy planet. For every ton of wood grown, a young forestproduces 1.07 tons of oxygen and absorbs 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide.

Wood. It’s the right product for the environment.

D O T H E R I G H T T H I N G R I G H T ™

A P AThe Eng ine e r ed Wood As so c i a t i on

Percent of Percent ofMaterial Production Energy Use

Wood 47 4

Steel 23 48

Aluminum 2 8

NOTICE:The recommendations inthis guide apply only topanels that bear the APAtrademark. Only panelsbearing the APA trademarkare subject to theAssociation’s qualityauditing program.

RATED SHEATHING

EXPOSURE 1SIZED FOR SPACING32/16 15/32 INCH

000PS 1-95 C-D PRP-108

THE ENGINEERED

WOOD ASSOCIATIONAPA

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CONTENTS

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Typical APA Sanded PlywoodTrademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Product Features . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Finishing Recommendations . . .13

Care and Handling . . . . . . . . .14

Additional Information . . . . . . .14

About APA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

anded plywood is a structural plywood

panel with face and back plies that are

sanded smooth in the manufacturing

process. The panels have three or more cross-

laminated layers of wood veneer, each layer

consisting of one or more plies. Face plies are

B-grade or better veneer as defined in U.S.

Product Standard PS 1-95 for Construction

and Industrial Plywood.

The high grade of face and back veneers and the

smooth sanded surface make sanded plywood the

preferred panel for a variety of applications

where appearance is important. And, because

sanded plywood is a structural product, it also

offers the advantages of high strength and stiff-

ness values, dimensional stability, impact resis-

tance, fastener-holding ability, and workability.

This brochure from APA – The Engineered Wood

Association describes the specifications of sanded

plywood, panel characteristics, typical applica-

tions, and finishing recommendations. Sample

trademarks are also included.

S

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TYPICAL APA SANDED PLYWOOD TRADEMARKS

Typical Back Stamp

Typical Edgemark

SPECIFICATIONS

Grade DesignationsMost sanded plywood grades are identi-fied by the veneer grade used on theface and back of the panel, for example,A-C, B-D, etc. (See Table 1.)

Veneer grades define veneer qualityaccording to natural unrepaired growthcharacteristics and allowable numberand size of repairs permitted duringmanufacture. (See Table 2.) Veneergrades in descending order of quality areA, B, C-Plugged, C and D.(1) The mini-mum grade of veneer permitted inExterior plywood is C. Use of D-gradeveneer for sanded grades is limited tobacks and inner plies of Exposure 1 orInterior panels.

Sanded plywood has B-grade or betterveneer on one or both sides. Panels withB-grade or better veneer on both sidesusually carry the APA trademark on thepanel edge. Otherwise, the trademark is stamped on the back of the panel.Typical APA sanded plywood trademarks(edgemarks and backstamps) are illus-trated and explained at right.

Exposure Durability ClassificationsSanded plywood is produced in threebasic exposure durability classifications:Exterior, Exposure 1 and Interior.

Exterior panels are made with a fullywaterproof bond and are designed forapplications subject to permanent exposure to the weather or moisture.

Exposure 1 panels have a fully water-proof bond and are designed for appli-cations where long delays may beexpected prior to providing protection,or where high moisture conditions maybe encountered in service. Exposure 1

Panel Size and ThicknessStandard sanded plywood dimensionsare 48 by 96 inches, although somemanufacturers are equipped to producelonger and wider panels. Common thick-nesses are 1/4, 9/32, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32,1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, and 3/4 inch.

How to OrderTo order sanded plywood, designate thethickness, APA trademark, grade, Groupnumber, exposure durability classifica-tion, dimensions, and number of pieces.For example:

3/4" APA A-C, Group 1, Exterior, 48" x 96", 100 pcs.

(1) Some manufacturers also produce an essen-tially clear N-grade (natural finish) veneer availableonly by special order.

(2) Panels 3/8-inch thick or less are identified byface species because they are chosen primarily for appearance and used in applications wherestructural properties are not critical. Panels thickerthan 3/8 inch are identified by face species if Cor D backs are at least 1/8-inch thick and arenot more than one species group number higherthan face species.

panels are made with the same exterioradhesives used in Exterior panels.However, because other compositionalfactors may affect glueline performance,only Exterior panels should be used forpermanent exposure to the weather.

Interior panels lacking additional glue-line information in their trademarks aremanufactured with interior glue and areintended for interior applications only.

Species GroupsPlywood can be manufactured from over70 species of wood under U.S. ProductStandard PS 1-95 for Construction andIndustrial Plywood. These species aredivided according to strength and stiffness into five groups – Groups 1through 5. Group 1 species are thestrongest and stiffest, Group 2 the nextstrongest, and so on. (See Table 3.)

The Group number in the APA trade-mark of sanded plywood refers to thespecies used for face and back veneers.When face and back veneers are fromdifferent species, the higher Groupnumber is used.(2)

4

Face veneerSpecies Group number

Exposure Durability ClassificationBack veneer

Mill numberProduct standard

Face veneer Species Group number

Exposure Durability ClassificationBack veneer

Mill number

Product standard

EXTERIOR

A-C

000PS 1-95

THE ENGINEEREDWOOD ASSOCIATION

APA

23/32 INCHGROUP 1

A-B • G-1 • EXPOSURE 1-APA • 000 • PS1-95

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5

TABLE 1

GUIDE TO APA SANDED PLYWOOD GRADES(1)(2)

APA A-A Use where appearance of both sides is important for interiorTypical Trademark applications such as built-ins, cabinets, furniture, partitions; and

exterior applications such as fences, signs, boats, shipping containers, tanks, ducts, etc. Smooth surfaces suitable for painting. EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS: Interior, Exposure 1, Exterior. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

APA A-B For use where appearance of one side is less important but Typical Trademark where two solid surfaces are necessary. EXPOSURE DURABILITY

CLASSIFICATIONS: Interior, Exposure 1, Exterior. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

APA A-C For use where appearance of only one side is important in exteriorTypical Trademark or interior applications, such as soffits, fences, farm buildings, etc.(3)

EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATION: Exterior. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 9/32, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

APA A-D For use where appearance of only one side is important in interiorTypical Trademark applications, such as paneling, built-ins, shelving, partitions, flow racks,

etc.(3) EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS: Interior, Exposure 1. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 9/32, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

APA B-B Utility panels with two solid sides. EXPOSURE DURABILITY Typical Trademark CLASSIFICATIONS: Interior, Exposure 1, Exterior. COMMON

THICKNESSES: 1/4, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

APA B-C Utility panel for farm service and work buildings, boxcar and truck Typical Trademark linings, containers, tanks, agricultural equipment, as a base for

exterior coatings and other exterior uses or applications subject to high or continuous moisture.(3) EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATION: Exterior. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 9/32, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

APA B-D Utility panel for backing, sides of built-ins, industry shelving, slipTypical Trademark sheets, separator boards, bins and other interior or protected

applications.(3) EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS: Interior, Exposure 1. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 9/32, 11/32, 3/8, 15/32, 1/2, 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

Continued on next page

A-A • G-1 • EXPOSURE 1-APA • 000 • PS1-95

A-B • G-1 • EXPOSURE 1-APA • 000 • PS1-95

B-B • G-2 • EXPOSURE 1-APA • 000 • PS1-95

EXTERIOR

A-C GROUP 1

000PS 1-95

THE ENGINEEREDWOOD ASSOCIATION

APA

EXTERIOR

B-C GROUP 1

000PS 1-95

THE ENGINEEREDWOOD ASSOCIATION

APA

EXPOSURE 1

B-D GROUP 2

000PS 1-95

THE ENGINEEREDWOOD ASSOCIATION

APA

EXPOSURE 1

A-D GROUP 1

000PS 1-95

THE ENGINEEREDWOOD ASSOCIATION

APA

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6

TABLE 1

CONTINUED

APA MARINE Specially designed plywood panel made only with Douglas-fir or western larch, and highly restrictive limitations on core gaps and face repairs. Ideal for boat hulls and other marine applications where bending is involved. Also available with HDO or MDO faces. EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATION: Exterior. COMMON THICKNESSES: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4.

APA B-B PLYFORM CLASS 1 APA proprietary concrete form panels designed for high reuse. Sanded both sides and mill-oiled unless otherwise specified. Class I, the strongest, stiffest and more commonly available, is limited to Group 1 faces, Group 1 or 2 cross-bands, and Group 1, 2, 3, or 4 inner plies. (Plyform Class II, limited to Group 1, 2 or 3 faces under certain conditions and Group 1, 2, 3 or 4 inner plies, may also be available.) Also available in HDO for very smooth concrete finish, in Structural I, and with special overlays. EXPOSURE DURABILITY CLASSIFICATION: Exterior. COMMON THICKNESSES: 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4.

Minimum Number of Minimum Number ofGrade Thicknesses Plies Layers(4)

APA A-A

APA A-B 1/4, 9/32, 11/32, 3/8 3 3

APA A-C

APA A-D 15/32, 1/2 4 3

APA B-B

APA B-C

APA B-D19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 3/4 5 5

1/4, 3/8 3 3APA MARINE

1/2, 5/8, 3/4 5 5

(1) Exterior sanded panels can also be manufactured in Structural I (all plies limited to Group 1 species) and Structural II (all plies limited to Group 1, 2 or 3 species).Check availability before specifying.

(2) For information on touch-sanded plywood (such as Underlayment), contact APA.

(3) For nonstructural floor underlayment in areas to be covered with thin resilient (non-textile) floor covering, or other applications requiring improved inner-plyconstruction, specify panels marked “plugged inner plies” (also may be designated “plugged crossbands under face” or “plugged crossbands (or core)” or “meetsunderlayment requirements”).

(4) A layer is a single veneer ply, or two or more plies laminated with grain direction parallel in each ply.

MARINE • A-A • EXT-APA • 000 • PS 1-95

PLYFORM

000PS 1-95

THE ENGINEEREDWOOD ASSOCIATION

APA

EXTERIOR

B-B CLASS 1

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TABLE 3

CLASSIFICATION OF SPECIES

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5

Apitong

Beech,American

BirchSweetYellow

Douglas-fir1(1)

Kapur

Keruing

Larch,Western

Maple, Sugar

PineCaribbeanOcote

Pine,SouthernLoblollyLongleafShortleafSlash

Tanoak

Cedar, Port Orford

Cypress

Douglas-fir2(1)

FirBalsamCalifornia

RedGrandNoblePacific

SilverWhite

Hemlock,Western

LauanAlmonBagtikanMayapisRedTangileWhite

Maple, Black

Mengkulang

Meranti,Red(2)

Mersawa

PinePondRedVirginiaWestern

White

SpruceBlackRedSitka

Sweetgum

Tamarack

Yellow-Poplar

Alder, Red

Birch, Paper

Cedar,Alaska

Fir, Subalpine

Hemlock,Eastern

Maple,Bigleaf

PineJackLodgepolePonderosaSpruce

Redwood

SpruceEngelmannWhite

AspenBigtoothQuaking

Cativo

CedarIncenseWestern

Red

CottonwoodEasternBlack

(Western Poplar)

PineEastern

WhiteSugar

Basswood

Poplar,Balsam

(1) Douglas-fir from trees grown in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana,Wyoming, and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia shall be classed as Douglas-fir No. 1. Douglas-fir from trees grown in the states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and NewMexico shall be classed as Douglas-fir No. 2.

(2) Red Meranti shall be limited to species having a specific gravity of 0.41 or more based on greenvolume and oven dry weight.

TABLE 2

VENEER GRADES

N Smooth surface “natural finish”veneer. Select, all heartwood or allsapwood. Free of open defects.Allows not more than 6 repairs,wood only, per 4 x 8 panel, madeparallel to grain and well-matchedfor grain and color.

A Smooth, paintable. Not more than18 neatly made repairs, boat,sled, or router type, and parallel tograin, permitted. Wood or syn-thetic repairs permitted. May beused for natural finish in lessdemanding applications.

B Solid surface. Shims, sled or routerrepairs, and tight knots to 1 inchacross grain permitted. Wood orsynthetic repairs permitted. Someminor splits permitted.

C Improved C veneer with splits lim-ited to 1/8-inch width and knot-holes or other open defects limitedto 1/4 x 1/2 inch. Wood or syn-thetic repairs permitted. Admitssome broken grain.

C Tight knots to 1-1/2 inch.Knotholes to 1 inch across grainand some to 1-1/2 inch if totalwidth of knots and knotholes iswithin specified limits. Synthetic orwood repairs. Discoloration andsanding defects that do not impairstrength permitted. Limited splitsallowed. Stitching permitted.

D Knots and knotholes to 2-1/2-inchwidth across grain and 1/2 inchlarger within specified limits.Limited splits are permitted.Stitching permitted. Limited to Exposure 1 or Interior panels.

Plugged

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Sanded plywood also can be attached to steel or aluminum with mechanicalfasteners. These commonly include self-drilling, self-tapping screws andhardened helically threaded nails which can be power or hand driven.

WorkabilityThe ease with which sanded plywoodcan be cut, drilled, routed, jointed,glued, fastened and finished with ordi-nary tools and basic skills is another ofits many advantages.

Support panels firmly with the best sideup when hand sawing or when using aradial-arm or table saw. Cut with thebest side down when using a portablepower saw.

Plywood also can be die cut andstitched. Thicknesses up to and includ-ing 3/8 inch can be die cut with littledifficulty. Some experience and special-ized techniques are necessary to cutthicker panels. Grades with a minimumof defects provide the smoothest cut andExterior panels are preferred to Exposure1 or Interior panels. Fabric or plasticmaterials can be stitched to panels up to3/8-inch thick with industrial sewingmachines. Ultimate test values in excessof 100 pounds per lineal inch have beenachieved with fabrics stitched to1/4-inch-thick plywood.

AvailabilitySanded plywood is made by numerousAPA member manufacturers and isavailable in virtually every region of thecountry. Some grades, thicknesses andspecies are more commonly manufac-tured than others. Check with yoursupplier for local availability of the manysanded grades, thicknesses and species.

along the grain with changes in mois-ture content. In plywood, the tendencyof individual veneers to swell or shrinkis greatly restricted by the relative longi-tudinal stability of the adjacent plies.

Plywood also is dimensionally stable inthe plane of the panel when subjectedto changing temperatures.

Impact ResistancePlywood improves on wood’s well-known ability to absorb shock. Evenwhen supported on only two edges, itscross-laminated construction and largepanel size distribute impact loads.Impact load distribution is even greaterwhen the panel is supported along allfour edges.

Chemical ResistanceExterior plywood exhibits excellentresistance to a wide range of chemicals,making it ideally suited for a number of demanding industrial applications.Plywood’s strength is not significantlyaffected by organic chemicals, neutraland acid salts, or by most acids andalkalies in the pH range of 3 to 10. Thechemical resistance of the phenolic resinglues used in Exterior plywood is atleast as good, and generally better, thanthe wood itself.

Exposure 1 plywood has about thesame chemical resistance as Exterior,but is not recommended for long-termexposure to moisture except in caseswhere some localized separation ofveneers is acceptable.

Fastener-Holding AbilityDue again to its cross-laminated con-struction, sanded plywood possessesexcellent nail-holding ability. Nails canbe placed near panel edges withoutsplitting the panel.

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PRODUCT FEATURES

APA trademarked sanded plywood offersnumerous advantages as a structural and aesthetic construction material,including:

AppearanceThe high grade of sanded plywood faceor face and back veneers provides abeautiful finish-quality surface for allkinds of applications, from cabinets andbuilt-ins to soffits and paneling. Andsince it is sanded at the mill, little or noadditional sanding is required for mostapplications.

Strength and StiffnessBy cross-laminating layers of woodveneer, sanded plywood provides anexcellent strength-to-weight ratio andexhibits superior stiffness along both thelength and width of the panel. Whilesanded plywood, particularly thinnerpanels, is frequently used for appear-ance applications where structural prop-erties are of little importance, it shouldbe noted that sanded plywood is astructural material for which designstresses and section properties havebeen calculated and published. Thesedata permit the product to be used for awide variety of engineered constructionand industrial applications where designvalues are required.

Dimensional StabilityPlywood’s cross-laminated constructionalso provides superior dimensionalstability, or resistance to warping orbuckling in the plane of the panel whenexposed to moisture. Wood tends toshrink much more across the grain than

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APPLICATIONS

ConstructionAPA sanded plywood finds numeroususes in both residential and nonresiden-tial construction, and for both newconstruction and remodeling projects.

Typical construction applications includesoffits, stair treads and risers, cabinetsand built-ins, shelving, paneling, andaccent panels. Sanded plywood, withspecial inner-ply construction for resis-tance to indentation and punctures fromconcentrated loads, is ideal as an under-layment base for thin resilient floor cov-erings and high performance floor orroof deck coatings.

Sanded plywood is widely used forpaneling, accent walls, counter tops andfronts and other interior applications incommercial structures. Easy to stainattractively, plywood in these applica-tions contributes the warmth and nat-ural beauty of real wood while meetingproject cost constraints.

Sanded plywood is an ideal choice forcabinets, built-ins, shelving and similarapplications for the same reasons – goodlooks and reasonable cost. Panels are alsocommonly used as a backing for otherfinish materials in these and other appli-cations. For walls, for example, plywoodserves as an excellent backing for wallcoverings such as rare hardwoods, vinylsurfaces and decorative fabrics.

Materials HandlingAPA sanded plywood is widely used fora number of materials handling applica-tions, including pallets, slave pallets,pallet bins and tanks, liquid tanks,crating, shelving and cable reels.

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Sanded plywood is particularly wellsuited for materials handling applica-tions where damage to the commodityor material being shipped or stored canbe minimized by a smooth surface. Forexample, bins designed to handle softfruits or vegetables are commonly madeof sanded plywood. Similarly, smoothsanded plywood pallet decks can reducedamage to goods that might otherwisebe torn or snagged by more abrasive orsplinter-prone pallet decks.

TransportationSanded plywood’s smooth surface andstructural properties make it an excel-lent lining for trucks, trailers, vans and railcars.

Sanded plywood linings are resistant tosplitting, puncturing and impact dam-age. They are durable. And their smoothsurface makes them ideal for sliding andskidding palletized and loose-loadedfreight. Snag-free panel surfaces reducecostly damage to boxed and baggedgoods and possess high resistance toprolonged friction and abrasion.

Unless specific or unusual use require-ments are anticipated, 1/4- or 3/8-inchsanded plywood serves admirably forsidewall truck linings. As added protec-tion against fork tine damage, scuffpanels are often installed over the bottom two feet. Thicker panels arerecommended for front end linings,intermodal or piggy-back van front wallconstruction, and railcar linings.

Sanded plywood also is widely used inrecreational vehicles because it deliverssuperior strength and stiffness withoutsacrificing weight considerations.

10

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AgricultureAPA sanded plywood has a long historyof use on the farm and for all kinds ofagricultural applications. In addition tobins and crates where, as discussedabove, sanded plywood can help reducedamage to soft fruits and vegetables, it isalso used extensively for farm servicebuildings, animal shelters, granularstorage bins, and various agriculturalequipment applications.

Manufactured ProductsNumerous industries use sanded ply-wood for all kinds of manufacturedproducts and products made for sale.Among these are store and office fix-tures, display cases, furniture, cabinets,signs, cable reels, ducts, doors, workbenches, storage units, bookcases, toys,and boats.

Sanded plywood for such applications iseasy to work with, lends strength anddurability, and provides an excellentsurface for finish materials such as plasticlaminates or other coverings.

For boats and other marine applicationswhere resistance to the elements andstructural integrity is particularly critical,a special Marine grade sanded panel ismanufactured. Marine grade is a spe-cially designed panel made only withDouglas-fir or western larch, and withhighly restrictive limitations on coregaps and face repairs. It is especially wellsuited for boat hulls and other applica-tions where bending is involved. Marineplywood may be difficult to obtain insome areas. Check with your supplierbefore ordering.

11

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Concrete FormingWhile any grade of Exterior sandedplywood can be used for concrete form-work, B-B Plyform is specifically madeand recommended for formwork appli-cations. B-B Plyform is a proprietaryproduct made only by members ofAPA – The Engineered Wood Association.The product provides numerous reusesand is available in two classes: Class Iand Class II. Class I is stronger, stifferand more commonly available.

Do-It-Yourself ApplicationsThere are few materials more widelyused or ideally suited for miscellaneoushomeowner and do-it-yourself applica-tions than APA sanded plywood. Theuses to which it can be put are limitedonly by the imagination and woodwork-ing skills of the user.

Typical do-it-yourself applicationsinclude workbenches, tool and toyboxes, desks and tables, other furnitureof all kinds, outdoor storage buildings,patio shelters, fences, and countlesshome repair and maintenance projects.

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FINISHING

RECOMMENDATIONS

Interior ApplicationsA wide variety of finishes are available forsanded plywood used in interior applica-tions. The most common are describedbelow. Always use finishes formulatedfor wood and follow the finish manufac-turer’s recommendations for best results.For interior (and exterior) applications,little or no sanding of the mill-sandedplywood surface is advised before appli-cation of the finish, to avoid unevenhighlighting of hard and soft grain areason the surface of the panels.

Natural Finishes. Various clear finishesand oils can be used on sanded ply-wood to provide the ever-popular realwood appearance. For the most naturaleffect, use two coats of a clear penetrat-ing sealer. This type of finish resistssoiling and allows easy cleaning. Somesealers can be tinted or used with lightstains to add color and to produce avariety of attractive effects. Other clearfinishes can also be used. Many finishmanufacturers recommend that a sealerbe used before applying a film-formingclear finish such as varnish.

Color Toning. Repairs and grain irregu-larities in sanded plywood can be pleas-antly subdued by color toning. Tones oflight gray, brown or tan go well withwood colors and provide the best mask-ing. Two color toning techniques arerecommended. The easiest method usesa heavy-bodied non-penetrating sealercontaining non-hiding pigments, andcompanion stains for color. Tint a smallamount of the sealer with stains until

require only one coat. However, lightercolored latex stains usually require astain-resistant undercoat to preventdiscoloration of the finish by extractives.

Paints are available in a full range ofgloss levels, including flat, semiglossand gloss. The flat finishes are generallymore difficult to clean when soiled.

Exterior ApplicationsSanded plywood is not recommendedas an exterior siding on most buildings.However, it is frequently used for soffitsand miscellaneous other exterior uses.For these applications, acrylic latexhouse paints are recommended.

House paints require at least two coats,a primer and topcoat. Primers are for-mulated specifically for controlled pene-tration, optimum bonding to thesubstrate, and minimal extractive stain-ing. Some acrylic latex systems use oilor oil-alkyd primer followed by theacrylic latex topcoat. Other systems useone or two coats of a stain-blockingacrylic latex primer and generally offersuperior performance. In any case,select companion products that aredesigned to be used together and prefer-ably from the same manufacturer. Twotopcoats will provide significantimprovement in the life and perfor-mance of the finish.

Edge Treatment. All edges of plywoodpanels used for exterior applicationsshould receive edge protection to mini-mize the effects of moisture absorption.Use the same exterior house paintprimer for the edges that will be used on the face.

the desired tone is obtained on a panelsample. Then mix the same proportionsof stain and sealer in sufficient quantityfor the entire job and apply by brush orspray. After drying and light sanding,apply a coat of clear finish to give thedesired luster.

Where more control of the panel colordifferences is desired, begin by whiten-ing the surface with pigmented resinsealer or diluted interior white under-coat. Wipe off before becoming tacky todisplay the grain desired. Then apply aclear resin sealer, allow to dry, and sandlightly. Next, apply a light stain, pig-mented sealer or tinted undercoat andwipe to the desired color depth.

After drying and light sanding, apply acoat of satin varnish or brushing lacquerto provide luster and durability.

Semitransparent Stains. Semitranspar-ent stains are highly recommendedwhere both color and show-through ofthe grain and natural wood characteris-tics are desired. When light colors areused, only oil-based semitransparentstains are recommended. These helpprevent discoloration of the finishcaused by natural water-soluble com-pounds (called extractives) in the wood.

Solid-color Stains and Paints (IncludingEnamels). These colored finishes, espe-cially paint, are opaque and maskrepairs and wood grain patterns. Paintstypically provide a smoother surfacethan solid-color stains.

Paints are available in either oil base orwater base (latex). Both normally requiretwo coats, a primer or undercoat and atopcoat. The oil-based and darker col-ored latex solid-color stains often

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CARE AND HANDLING

Like all building materials, sanded plywood should be properly stored,handled and installed to assure superior in-service performance.

Protect the edges and ends of panels.While minor damage to panel edges andends won’t affect the structural capabil-ity of the panel, it can add to in-placerepair costs. Place panels to be movedby forklift on pallets or bunks to avoiddamage by fork tines.

Panels to be transported on opentruckbeds should be covered with stan-dard tarpaulins. For open railcar ship-ment, use “lumber wrap” to avoidextended weather exposure.

Store panels whenever possible under aroof, especially if they won’t be used soonafter received. Keep panels away fromopen doorways and weight down the top

ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION

For sanded plywood design data oradditional application information, writeAPA – The Engineered Wood Association,P.O. Box 11700, Tacoma, Washington98411-0700, for any of the followingpublications, or contact the nearest APAfield office listed on the back cover.

Plywood Design Specification, Form Y510

Design/Construction Guides: Residential & Commercial, Form E30;Concrete Forming, Form V345

Industrial Use Guides: Materials Handling, Form M200; Slave Pallets, Form S225; Transport Equipment, Form G210

Handy Plan Catalog, Form Y630

panel in a stack to avoid any possiblewarpage from humidity. If moistureabsorption is expected, cut steel bandingon panel bundles to prevent edge dam-age. Use at least three full-width supportsalong the eight-foot length of thepanel – one centered and the others 12 to 16 inches from each end.

If panels must be stored outside, specialcare should be taken to support andcover them. Stack panels on a levelplatform supported by 4 x 4 stringers or other blocking. Never leave panels or the platform in direct contact withthe ground.

Cover the stack loosely with plasticsheets or tarps. Anchor the covering atthe top of the stack, but keep it openand away from the sides and bottom toassure good ventilation. Tight coveringsprevent air circulation and, whenexposed to sunlight, create a “green-house” effect which may encouragemold formation.

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15

ABOUT APA

APA – The Engineered Wood Association is a nonprofit trade association whose member millsproduce approximately 75 percent of the structural wood panel products manufactured inthe United States, and a significant percentage of panels produced in Canada.

Founded in 1933 as the Douglas Fir Plywood Association and widely recognized today asthe voice of the structural wood panel industry, APA performs numerous functions andservices on behalf of panel product users, specifiers, dealers, distributors, schools, universi-ties and other key groups.

Among the most important of these functions is quality auditing. The APA trademarkappears only on products manufactured by APA member mills and is the manufacturer’sassurance that the product conforms to the standard shown on the trademark. That stan-dard may be an APA performance standard, the Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-95 forConstruction and Industrial Plywood or Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-92, PerformanceStandard for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels. APA maintains four quality testing laborato-ries in key producing regions, and a 37,000-square-foot research center at Associationheadquarters in Tacoma, Washington.

But quality validation is only one of APA’s many functions. The Association also:

■ Operates the most sophisticated program for basic panel research in the world.

■ Maintains an international network of field representatives to assist panel product users,specifiers, dealers, distributors and other segments of the trade.

■ Conducts informational buyer and specifier seminars and provides dealer and distributorsales training.

■ Publishes a vast inventory of publications on panel grades, applications, design criteriaand scores of other topics.

■ Advertises and publicizes panel product systems and applications in national trade andconsumer magazines.

■ Works to secure acceptance of structural wood panel products and applications by codeofficials, insuring agencies and lending institutions.

■ Develops and maintains performance and industry product standards.

■ Conducts in-depth market research and development programs to identify and penetratenew panel markets in the U.S. and abroad.

■ Works in conjunction with other wood product industry organizations on solutions to problems of common concern.

Always insist on panels bearing the mark of quality – the APA trademark. Your APA panelpurchase or specification is your highest assurance of quality. It is also an investment in themany trade services and programs that APA undertakes on your behalf.

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S A N D E D P L Y W O O DP R O D U C T G U I D E

We have field representatives in most major U.S. cities and in Canada who can helpanswer questions involving APA trademarked

products. For additional assistance in specifyingAPA engineered wood products, get in touch with

your nearest APA regional office. Call or write:

WESTERN REGION7011 So. 19th St. ■ P.O. Box 11700Tacoma, Washington 98411-0700

(253) 565-6600 ■ Fax: (253) 565-7265

EASTERN REGION2130 Barrett Park Drive, Suite 102Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-3681

(770) 427-9371 ■ Fax: (770) 423-1703

U.S. HEADQUARTERS AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETING DIVISION

7011 So. 19th St. ■ P.O. Box 11700Tacoma, Washington 98411-0700

(253) 565-6600 ■ Fax: (253) 565-7265

PRODUCT SUPPORT HELP DESK(253) 620-7400

E-mail Address: help@apawood.org

(Offices: Antwerp, Belgium; Bournemouth,United Kingdom; Hamburg, Germany; Mexico City,

Mexico; Tokyo, Japan.) For Caribbean/LatinAmerica, contact headquarters in Tacoma.

The product use recommendations in this publica-tion are based on APA – The Engineered WoodAssociation’s continuing programs of laboratorytesting, product research, and comprehensive fieldexperience. However, because the Association hasno control over quality of workmanship or the con-ditions under which engineered wood products areused, it cannot accept responsibility for productperformance or designs as actually constructed.Because engineered wood product performancerequirements vary geographically, consult yourlocal architect, engineer or design professional toassure compliance with code, construction, andperformance requirements.

Form No. K435E/Revised June 1999/0100

www.apawood.org@Web Address:

A P AThe Eng ine e r ed Wood As so c i a t i on

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