Board materials. What to choose?

In choosing board material for wooden products, it is important to consider factors such as wear and tear, price, water resistance, and handling. Plywood, particle board, and MDF offer lower resistance to wear and tear, but are also more affordable and easier to handle. On the other hand, solid wood offers high durability, but is more expensive and difficult to handle. OSB balances affordability with moderate resistance to wear and tear, and moderate water resistance. The below table provides a general comparison, and specific products may vary.

Board MaterialWear & TearPriceWater ResistanceHandling
PlywoodModerateLow-ModerateLowEasy
Particle BoardLowLowLowEasy
MDFLow-ModerateLow-ModerateLowEasy
Solid WoodHighHigh-Very HighModerateDifficult
OSBHighLow-ModerateModerateEasy

Note: The above table provides a general comparison and specific products may vary.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wood-person-working-industry-6790823/