Particle Board Vs. Plywood for Countertops

Plywood

• Plywood is made out of five or more layers of wood that are laid with their grains in alternating directions. The result is a panel that is far more resistant to shrinking, swelling and warping than a similarly sized hardwood panel. Plywood can be purchased in a number of grades, from construction grade that is used for house sheathing to veneer grade, featuring fine hardwood surfaces, which is used for finished furniture. Any grade of plywood that features a solid surface with no missing knots or gaps is appropriate for a countertop.

Particle Board

• Particle board is made out of the leftovers from the manufacturing of other wood products. Some particle board is made out of chips, while other boards are made of sawdust. Particle board is made by pressing the wood together with a bonding agent in a high-pressure machine that forms the mix into flat sheets. Particle board can be used in the same way as plywood. Most particle board is substantially heavier than plywood, but for countertop applications this shouldn't be an issue.

Cost

• The main advantage of particle board over plywood is that it is less expensive. Because it is made out of chips and sawdust, the manufacturer gets its materials for particle board essentially for free, so it is able to sell it at a lower price than plywood. While plywood can cost anywhere from $20 to $70 a sheet at publication time, depending on its quality and the presence of veneer, particle board can be bought for $15 to $30 a sheet. Some particle board is sold with veneers and other coverings already applied, which increases its cost but saves the purchaser the work of applying the veneer.

Workability

• Both plywood and particle board are most easily used in a wood shop equipped with a large table saw. Full sheets can be unwieldy to handle, so a roomy shop and a large saw surface are helpful. Particle board is more prone to chipping than plywood, so a sharp blade is required. General-purpose saw blades do the job, but specialized saw blades that are designed specifically for either plywood or particle board will do a cleaner job on each material.

Water

• Plywood is more resistant to moisture than particle board. If you are building a countertop that will be used in a very damp environment or will be subject to large amounts of water, plywood is a better choice. When particle board is exposed to moisture, it absorbs it and swells. If it swells too much, whatever veneer is on it will begin to peel and delaminate, allowing more water in and making the problem worse.