Grading of Hardwood Plywood for Cabinets

Standards

• Using standard grades enables carpenters and cabinet makers to know that the plywood they buy meets specifications for quality and durability. They can then use the correct tools and techniques to create the type of cabinet they desire. Plywood grading comes from the Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association. Founded in 1921, the HPVA is a member organization that represents the hardwood plywood, hardwood veneer and engineered hardwood flooring industries. Their members produce 90 percent of the hardwood plywood and veneer produced in North America.

Best Grades

• Grading for all types of plywood uses a combination of letters and numbers. The letters represent the face or front of the board, and are ranked A, B, C or D, from best to worst. The grades for the back part of the board go from 1 to 4 to designate the same quality. Grades A1, A2, B1 and B2 are considered the best two-sided products, where both sides are seen, such as on cabinet doors. Though the front is flawless, the back can show minor blemishes.

Other Grades

• A3, B3 and C3 are for cabinets that generally show only one side, but still require clean back sides. The backs can have some staining, scratches and other flaws. This grade of plywood is often used for shelves, drawer panels and end panels. For cabinets where the back side is never seen, A4, B4 and C4 are sufficient. The front part is clean, but the back may have open or filled knots, bad veneer seams or be of a different wood species than the front. These work for drawer bottoms, bar backs, end panels or the backs of wall-hung kitchen cabinets.

Woods

• Many hardwoods come in cabinet grade plywood. Western red alder, for example, boasts a generally uniform honey color, making it easy to finish. Birch is paler and fine-grained, often exhibiting a satin-like sheen. Cedar has a distinctive and desirable smell that can repel moths, making it useful as a cabinet liner. Cherry’s close grain ranges from light to medium-reddish brown, with transparent finishes bringing out its luster. Red oak shows patterns in reddish tan to brown. And walnut also has interesting patterns that vary from gray-brown to dark purplish-brown.