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Plywood is of course one of the most popular building materials out there. This is for good reason, as it comes in many varieties, each of which is best used for a select number of specific projects. Today, we are here to examine one particular type of plywood known as BCX plywood.
When it comes to building houses and other similar constructions, this is one of the most popular and commonly used types of plywood. Let’s figure out what this type of plywood is, what makes it good and bad, and what it is most commonly used for it.
What Is BCX Plywood?
Before we get into talking about the grades, pros and cons, and more, let’s first figure out what exactly BCX plywood is. Now, first and foremost, it is plywood, which means that it is a type of engineered wood.
Plywood is made by taking anywhere between three and seven layers of wooden veneers, stacking them on top of each other so that each layer is perpendicular to the last, and then gluing and pressing them together. BCX plywood may be made out of a variety of tree types, including both hardwood and softwood.
With that being said, Douglas fir is often the most common type of wood for this material. BCX plywood is generally best used for interior purposes, although if it is covered or pressure treated, it may also be used for exterior purposes.
BCX Plywood Specifications: What Sizes and Grades Does It Come In?
In terms of the size, BCX plywood comes in all of the standard sizes that other types of plywood come in. When it comes to the thickness, the most common thicknesses for BCX plywood include ¾”, ⅝”, and ½”. In terms of dimensions, 4 x 8’ and 5 x 5’ are some of the most common.
Now, in terms of the grade of BCX plywood, it does not come in any grades other than BCX. If you aren’t familiar with the plywood grading system, this is exactly what those three letters in the name stand for.
There are four grades of plywood, which include, A, B, C, and D. A is the highest grade of plywood that has no knots, holes, or gaps, while D is the lowest grade of plywood, which may have plenty of holes and knots.
The first letter there, the B, indicates that the face side of this plywood is B grade, and the second letter, the C, indicates that the backside of this plywood is C grade.
We then have the letter X, which stands for exterior, which means that exterior grade glue is used to adhere everything together. Generally speaking, this glue should be totally waterproof. Therefore, this plywood is a mid-range material. It’s not the best, although it definitely has its purposes.
Advantages of BCX Plywood
Now that we know exactly what BCX plywood is, let’s figure out what its advantages are.
1. It’s Relatively Easy to Work With
One of the advantages of BCX plywood is that it is generally fairly easy to work with. It’s not the easiest type of plywood to use, although it does saw apart pretty easily, meaning it shouldn’t rip or tear out too much when sawing it. On that note, it does also hold onto nails and screws fairly well.
2. It’s Rather Easy to Sand and Paint
Although the backside, the C side, is a bit more difficult to work with than the front, the B side, BCX plywood is still fairly easy to sand, stain, and paint. It doesn’t have a very rough grain pattern, and therefore takes on paint fairly well. You can typically complete a paint job with just one or two layers of paint.
3. It Comes in Various Thicknesses
Something else that makes this specific type of plywood advantageous is the fact that it does come in a variety of thicknesses. Of course, sometimes you need thinner pieces of plywood and sometimes thicker ones. This plywood comes in all of the common sizes you would need for most jobs.
4. It Can Be Made of Soft or Hardwood
Something else that you may like about BCX plywood is the fact that it can be made out of hardwood or softwood. There are many varieties to choose from, and which type of wood you go with will determine the overall look of it. For example, if you need more structural integrity, go for BCX plywood that is made with hardwood.
5. It Generally Looks Appealing
Although it does depend on the specific type of wood used, most people do think that BCX plywood looks quite nice, which is why it is often used for interior purposes.
6. It’s Quite Durable and Strong
Although it’s not the strongest type of plywood out there, this material is rather durable. For this reason, it can bear a bit of weight and is also fairly flexible. Therefore, it can be used for things like subflooring and wall sheathing. It does have a good deal of durability.
7. It Is Moisture Resistant
Due to BCX plywood being made with exterior grade adhesive, it is fairly moisture resistant. Now, it is not 100% waterproof, especially not when large amounts of moisture are involved for prolonged periods of time. However, if BCX plywood is pressure treated, it can become virtually waterproof.
8. It’s Fairly Resistant to Pests and Fungus
When BCX plywood is pressure treated, it does become fairly resistant to both fungus and pests, which adds to its durability factor.
Disadvantages of BCX Plywood
Now that we know what is good about BCX plywood, let’s figure out what its disadvantages are.
1. It’s Not 100% Waterproof
One of the disadvantages of this type of plywood is that it is unfortunately not 100% waterproof. Now, in its original form, it is very water-resistant, so it does work for outdoor purposes. However, that being said, if it is pressure treated, it should be more or less 100% waterproof.
2. There Are More Durable Types of Plywood
Although BCX plywood is fairly durable and can bear a bit of weight, it’s certainly not the most durable out there. There are much higher grades of plywood that have fewer gaps and holes in them, as well as types of plywood that are much denser. When it comes to load-bearing applications, it’s not the number one choice.
3. It Can Be Inconsistent
Because one side of this plywood is made with B grade veneers and the other with C grade, it can be somewhat inconsistent. Some pieces may have a lot of holes and gaps, as well as knots, which could be problematic.
4. The “C” Side Doesn’t Look Great
When it comes to aesthetic purposes, the C side of BCX plywood doesn’t look the best, and may take a lot of work to get it looking good enough to be used for interior applications.
5 Common BCX Plywood Uses
There are a handful of common uses for this material, so let’s take a quick look at a few of them.
1. Subflooring
Perhaps the most common use of BCX plywood is subflooring. It’s quite strong, extremely moisture resistant, and should last for a long time, which makes it a great choice for areas that may encounter a lot of foot traffic.
2. Wall Sheathing and Interior Walls
Due to its strength and moisture resistance, this plywood can also be used for exterior wall sheathing where it will then be covered by stucco, brick, or another exterior layer. It may, on occasion, also be used for interior walls.
3. Roof Underlayment
Because of the factors mentioned above, BCX plywood may on occasion also be used for roof underlayment, as it holds up well and is a pretty durable choice.
4. Sheds, Fences, and More
When it is pressure treated, this material is more or less waterproof, which means it can be used for things like fences, sheds, patios, and more.
5. Furniture and Cabinetry
Although it’s not the number one choice, some people may also use BCX plywood for a select few pieces of furniture or cabinetry.
Summary
You should now have all of the information that you need about BCX plywood to decide whether or not you want to use it in your next project.
For more information, you might also want to read about how BCX plywood compares with ACX and CDX.
