Comparison Plywood vs HDF vs Block Board
Raw Material
Plywood

Plywood board is made by glueing the thin sheets of wood layers at high pressure. It is easily availbale in the local market has very good strength. It is very widely used in making furniture and for other purposes. There are three styles of plywood available as follows:
  • Interior plywood
  • Exterior plywood
  • Shuttering grade plywood

HDF

HDF is High Density Fiberboard and is similar to particle board and medium-density board but it is much denser and stronger.  It is made by compressing wood fibers mechanically.

Block Board

Blockboard is a type of board made by wooden pieces inserted between ply of hardwood which bonded together under a high pressure and temperature. 

Style/Finishing
Plywood

Plywood is used in both for home as well as for commercial purpose and it is less expensive and flexible. This can be used for home décor, paneling, roofing, lining, flooring, and furniture. The plywood does not have grains so it is finished with paint. In case you wish wood grain finish and polish style then you would need to put veneers or teak ply on it 

HDF

HDF is a much stronger board compared to MDF and it gives a smooth and uniform surface wherever it is applied. HDF does not have any grain and it can be finished by applying paint on it. If you want wood grain finishing then you would need to put a veneer or teak ply on the HDF board  

Block Board

Block board does not have any grain and it can be finished by applying paint on it. If you want wood grain finishing then you would need to put a veneer or teak ply on the block board  

Maintenance
Plywood

Plywood due to its structure is inherently more resistant to termite, moisture but if you finish it with veneer and polish then the same can be damaged by moisture. 

HDF

To protect HDF the steps below should be taken.
  • Make sure that the board does not  get in touch with water as it can damage it.
  • Clean the board with a clean soft cloth to remove the dust. 
  • Do not mop with damp cloth. 
  • Once you finish the HDF with paint or veneer wood then the maintenance steps for those finishes should be followed accordingly.

Block Board

To protect block board the steps below should be taken.
  • Make sure that the board does not  get in touch with water as it can damage it.
  • Clean the board with a clean soft cloth to remove the dust. 
  • Do not mop with damp cloth. 
  • Once you finish the block board with paint or veneer wood then the maintenance steps for those finishes should be followed accordingly.

Advantages
Plywood

  • Plywood is a strong wood made from many thin layers of peeled wood glued together so it has more strength compared to block boards, MDF and HDF.
  • Plywood is free from shrinking and warping.
  • Plywood is cheaper compared to other options with similar strength

HDF

  • HDF comes with a smooth surface.
  • HDF is High density board has more strength compared to MDF and Particle board
  • Great solution for indoor and outdoor furniture, wall paneling,  furniture, room partitions, and doors. 

Block Board

  • Block boards are light in weight and comes with a high strength. 
  • Easy to handle and work with. 
  • Used for all site applications, furniture and door manufacturing with high utility. 

Disadvantages
Plywood

Buy plywood from a good vendor otherwise lower quality plywood may peel into layers after extensive use 

HDF

HDF is the best board when compared with particle board and MDF. Still a lot of carpenters prefer wood block board compared to HDF as they are more confident about the nail holding capabilities of natural wood whose blocks are used to build the block board

Block Board

Comparatively expensive.

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