If you are looking to build a backyard shed, ACX plywood is undoubtedly your best bet in terms of construction material. This type of plywood is made of high-grade ‘A-type’ plywood on one side and a lower-grade ‘C-type’ on the other, and the two sides are attached by using a weather-resistant glue. ACX plywood is better than other types of wood primarily because it is extremely strong and durable. Here is what you need to know about it.
What is ACX Plywood and How is it Made?
ACX plywood is a high-grade plywood made not from a species of tree but from veneers, which are thin sheets of peeled wood grain. Veneers are typically stacked together with each layer’s grain perpendicular to the adjacent two layers. The ‘A’ in ACX plywood refers to the side of the wood that is considered the ‘front’ — and that can sometimes be sanded — while the ‘C’ designates the ‘back’ face. The ‘C’ side is usually not visible and is lower-grade (rougher) than the front side. However, this side — which would face inwards — can contain small voids or patches and seams that are visible. The panel or ‘grain’ of plywood located on the outside of the veneer layers typically has an odd number of plies.
Finally, the ‘X’ stands for the waterproof exterior adhesive that improves the quality of the plywood and protects it against weather occurrences like rain. Only glue found in exterior plywood is waterproof, however. The adhesive contained in interior plywood is tested under high humidity, which makes interior plywood more durable than its exterior counterpart.
Benefits of ACX Plywood
One of the main benefits of ACX plywood is its durability. Unlike solid wood, plywood’s grains are marked by uniform strength in any direction. Thus, plywood can usually resist heavy blows and wear and tear. This type of plywood also does not split as easily as solid wood because of the cross-layered structure that makes it stronger and higher-grade. Even if you try to drive a screw or nail through plywood, it will not split along the edges.
ACX plywood is also extremely weather-resistant. The ‘X’ in ‘ACX’ refers to a waterproof glue that makes this type of wood less prone to damage from adverse weather conditions like rain.
Other advantages of this type of plywood include its lightweight nature, the fact that it comes in large sizes, and its aesthetically pleasing look that makes it virtually indistinguishable from real solid wood. ACX plywood also fits curved surfaces easily and smoothly. Like most plywoods, it is also eco-friendly because it uses less wood than solid wood products, so timber is conserved.
Best Uses of ACX Plywood
ACX plywood is ideal for outdoor projects like sheds, which need durable floorboards and outside covering. However, it is also generally great for rooms that are frequently exposed to moisture. ACX Douglas Fir Plywood, for example, is often used for projects that require both durability and a professional look, including wall building and flooring — especially because it is often more expensive than other types of plywood. Among the thicknesses Douglas Fir Plywood comes in are ¼-inch, ⅜-inch, ½-inch, ⅝-inch, and ¾-inch.
ACX Radiata Pine Plywood, for instance, is a particularly smooth and virtually defect-free type of plywood that is typically used for structures that need to be laminated for a more high-quality look. This type of plywood is perfect for projects like cabinets and shelving that require sanding or painting.
ACX plywood is not as ideal for other outdoor projects like decks and porches, however. (CCA-treated wood is typically better for these types of structures.) It is also not as effective as Marine-Grade Plywood for building boat hulls and other boat parts.
Seeking More Information About ACX Plywood
Contact the experienced professionals at Curtis Lumber & Plywood in Springfield, Virginia to learn more about ACX plywood, including its costs, sizes, advantages, and uses. Founded in 1957, Curtis Lumber is an independently-owned and operated wholesale lumber distributor that specializes in both plywood and treated products and services lumber dealers throughout Virginia and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Our employees will always strive to locate an item for you if they do not have it in stock, and can furnish direct trailer load shipments or pull orders to the piece for special projects. Curtis Lumber also offers guidance on how to build environmentally safe or ‘green’ structures, whether for home renovations or for simpler projects. We also answer our phones, so be sure to call us today! Whether you are asking a question or requesting a consultation, we will answer you in a timely fashion.
