Is Plywood Safe?: Remodeling 101 - Remodelista
It’s a fact: Here at Remodelista, we are partial to plywood, and it seems as though our readers are as well. And while our plywood posts are always very popular, we do get a fair share of comments from concerned readers about the detrimental effects of formaldehyde off-gassing in plywood, which naturally prompted us to find out more. Photograph by Cesar Rubio. When Bay Area architect Nick Noyes was commissioned to design this modern cabin in Healdsburg, Cailfornia, he discovered that the owners had access to a family-owned plywood factory in Alabama. Plywood is a manufactured wood panel that is made by gluing thin sheets of wood veneer together. The wood grain of each layer is rotated relative to the adjacent layers up to 90 degrees (cross-graining), providing the material with its strength and stability. Image via Wel Building Supplies. Many adhesives used to glue the layers of plywood veneers together contain urea-formaldehyde. Why does formaldehyde come with a health warning? Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling and colorless gas that induces both short-term and long-term health issues. Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde, typically seen in workers in industries that make formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products (as well as lab technicians, some health care professionals, and funeral home employees), has been shown to cause cancer. Plywood makes for neutral and streamlined kitchen cabinets; see Kitchen of the Week: Eclectic English Kitchen, Color Included for more. What does it mean for our homes and how can we protect ourselves? According to the Center for Disease Control, “The issue of formaldehyde exposure in homes is long standing. Formaldehyde is frequently used in plywood... ...particle boards, fiberboard, resins, glues, and several other construction components, including the insulation of many homes.” With this in mind, formaldehyde in small concentrations is a normal part of our environment. Anyone concerned with the level of formaldehyde in their home can measure it with a formaldehyde test kit which can be found on the internet or by contacting someone in your area who conducts VOC (volatile organic compound) testing. Plywood is much appreciated for its versatility. Up until a few years ago, the standard advice for the formaldehyde wary was use an exterior-grade plywood for all projects, because the glue used in these plywoods is phenol formaldehyde, which off-gasses at a much lower level than urea formaldehyde. Is formaldehyde-free plywood readily available? PureBond, one of the leading developers in the United States of formaldehyde-free plywood, uses a proprietary food-grade, soy adhesive that is also non-toxic, LEED green building certified, and competitively priced. Photograph by Meredith Swinehart. In Fill the Void: A DIY Plywood Bookcase, Remodelista editor Meredith Swinehart takes us through the steps she went through to build this formaldehyde-free, plywood bookcase, gaining much needed storage while filling an awkward space in her rented apartment. Plywood is not just for walls and furniture; we also love the idea of using it as clever budget flooring. See 10 Favorites: The Unexpected Appeal of Plywood for other inventive ways of using it. What to know about living with formaldehyde in your environment: