What Exactly is MR plywood and BWR plywood?
When searching for plywood and plywood products, most of us must have heard of the terms MR plywood and BWR plywood at least once.
Moisture Resistant Plywood, commonly known as MR plywood, is a type of plywood used for shelves, cabinets, and furniture manufacture. They are often colloquially called commercial plywood.
On the other hand, Boiling Water Resistant Plywood, commonly known as BWR plywood, is a superior grade of plywood that is water-resistant and can survive boiling water spills. They are best suited for areas prone to high moisture.
BWR Plywood & MR Plywood: Why should you choose them?
Just as the name indicates, plywood are thin layers of wood plies (veneers) glued together to form a composite material.
Ever since the ancient Egyptians designed the first version of plywood by gluing thin layers of wood together, we have realized that plywood is much more advantageous and adaptable than regular wood.
Thousands of years and many innovations later, elite companies like Afyun have elevated plywood’s qualities, achieving market penetration, even in rural India.
Wondering why you should choose them?
Here are a few reasons:
- Plywood is very easy to work with. They can be easily cut, screwed together, and calibrated compared to old, traditional wood.
- Availability of various plywood grades that are designed to be the best in its class, giving better results. E.g., MR plywood is designed to be moisture resistant, BWR plywood is designed to be Boiling Water Resistant. Fire retardant plywood is designed to resist fires. These are qualities that traditional wood can’t even dream about!
- It is stronger than traditional wood because of its cross-laminated structure.
- Plywood holds its shape and does not warp like regular wood due to the strength of multiple plies.
- Last but the best; it’s cheaper than traditional wood! Yes, you heard that right. Plywood minimizes wastage of wood, thereby costing much lesser than solid wood.
Now that we know what plywood is and why you should choose them, let us understand Boiling Water Resistant plywood and Moisture Resistant plywood in detail and their manufacturing process.
Most people confuse between these two types of plywood. Customers often fall victim to contractors and woodworkers, who sell MR Plywood as BWR plywood at a higher cost. The major difference between the two is the type of adhesive used in each.
Usually, brands use urea-formaldehyde resin for MR grade plywood, while a superior phenol-formaldehyde resin is used in the manufacture of BWR grade plywood.
In essence, these are grades that are mandated by the government of India, and brands have to meet the preset requirements to be certified as each grade. This is why certified brands have ISI logos on their plywood. These logos certify the grade and genuineness of the plywood.
In the case of BWR plywood and MR plywood, look for the ISI 303 logo assuring the quality of the product.
BWR grade plywood – What you should know before purchase?
- BWR is a grade of plywood that can resist boiling water up to a certain extent.
- They are good choices for areas that are prone to water spillages and high moisture, especially for the construction of kitchen counters.
- BWR plywood are also suitable for semi-outdoor uses, for the manufacture of lawn chairs, garden tables, and for furniture in areas such as the terrace and the balcony.
- BWR plywood are superior to the MR plywood and is much more weather-resistant, which warrants their slight premium on price.
- At Afyun, our top-notch manufacturing process renders our Boiling Water Resistant plywood, borer, and termite-proof!
- BWR plywood can also resist moisture from water seepage in the walls, which can potentially cause rotting and warping of your furniture.
- The Indian standard specification for BWR grade plywood is 303.
MR grade plywood – Things you need to know before purchase?
- Moisture Resistant Plywood can resist the low to medium presence of moisture but cannot resist harsh conditions like what the BWR plywood can.
- They are commonly referred to as commercial ply due to their widespread availability and lower costs.
- They are suitable only for interiors of homes and offices, away from moisture and water sources like the kitchen sink, washbasins, and seepage-prone walls.
- They are inferior to BWR plywood and cannot be used for outdoor furniture in any instance.
- If you are on a budget and want the best value for money, you can’t go wrong with Afyun MR Plywood.
- Just like its sibling, The Indian standard specification for MR grade plywood is 303.
Bonus tip: When looking to purchase plywood, make sure that the ISI mark on your plywood is genuine by noting down the CM/L number under the mark and entering it into the Bureau of Indian Standard’s website. If the number matches the manufacturer- your plywood is genuine!
At Afyun, we use 100% Gurjan timber for the manufacture of our BWP&MR grade plywood. Our 3 step treatment process ensures that the plywood is non-hazardous and safe, even for your little ones!
The top-notch treatment also helps in increasing the durability and strength of our plywood, making it the industry favorite.
We then implement our unique press technology, which comprises of:
- Cold press of veneers
- Hot-press of the cold-pressed veneers
- Cold press of face veneers
- Hot-press of face veneers
This press technology is what allows us to maintain precision and maintain uniform density throughout the ply, delivering the structural balance our customers so love!
We are eco-friendly too!
If you thought we only produced the best MR plywood and BWR plywood in the industry, wrong you are!
We give back to the environment by reducing wastage, utilizing all the wood that enters our facility, and collaborating with farmers all over Southern India to re-establish greenery!
Now that you know all there is to know, right from the source of manufacture, you can rest easy and look for all the right things to ensure that your Afyun plywood purchase is genuine.
Stop waiting and start buying!
Go to your nearest dealers and ask for Afyun MR plywood & BWR plywood to give wings to your dreams now!
