Now, once you have your boards cut, take an electric sander and sand off any splinters or rough wood. Luan is also sometimes used as an underlayment for resilient flooring, but professionals warn that it should only be used as a supplement to a more durable subfloor, mostly because of the danger of swelling from moisture intrusion. ▶ It’s relatively inexpensive and used as an underlayment and for ‘doorskins.’ As an underlayment, a 4′ X 8′, 1/4-inch thick sheet of plywood is placed over existing flooring in preparation for tiling. What we call “lauan” is used for a lot of hollow doors and cheap furniture and floor underlayment. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. My husband used a circular saw to make the cuts. When making delicate cuts with a jigsaw or handheld cutting tool, such as for toys or other crafts, there is a danger of splintering off the top veneer layer, which would ruin the look of the piece. The logs were perfect for creating this product because they were straight with stable wood fibers, consistent in color and easy to peel to make the veneers. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. The plywood is 1/4-inch or thinner and is often referred to as die-cut plywood because it can be shaped with dies without the usage of saws. Because most of these source plantations were not sustainably harvested, the supply continued to dwindle. Lauan is a generic term that is typically used for tropical plywood sold in the U.S. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. ▶ As the luan plywood is softer, it can be easily carved. While this does tend to exclude it from being used widely as a building material, it also makes this plywood perfect for smaller applications such as doll houses. The 1/8″ and 1/4″ plywood is used for making hard covered flats. The brownish veneer product is used sparingly in buildings for floor underlayments, in hollow-core doors and as … RevolutionPly ® plywood is a great choice instead of Lauan and Meranti because it is uniform in color, easy to cut, sand, and finish. The wood is neat and square, the texture is stable, easy to peel, and consistent in compactness and color. Luan, also spelled lauan, refers to a tropical hardwood plywood product usually made from trees in the Shorea family. Get in touch with us and we'll talk... Several varieties of trees are reaped and commercialized as Lauan wood, but the most common origin of the wood is the shorea family of trees, mainly the ‘shorea almon‘ and ‘shorea negrosensis‘. Cuts easily with a utility knife while strong enough to withstand extreme bending without breaking. As of 2012, at least one company produces a luan-type plywood product that is promoted as being manufactured completely from sustainable, plantation-grown timbers. Plywood is a material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Exterior lauan plywood can be used in a variety of outdoor projects including for small boat or kayak construction. Interior plywood is intended for use in non-structural, interior applications where a high quality aesthetic finish is required. ▶ Luan plywood originates from the wood of the lauan tree from the South Pacific Rim. 1 4 In X 8 Ft Lauan Plywood 466811 The Home Depot. As this wood is widely imported, there is a danger of completely losing it from the environment, hence it’s important to conserve the rainforests. I went with 5.2mm lauan plywood from my local Home Depot with a recent flooring project because it seemed like the “obvious” choice. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The wood name Lauan is a loose term that applies to a number of wood species coming from southeast Asia. According to Patriot Timber, Pacific Rim countries such as Japan and Taiwan first began manufacturing luan in the mid-20th century, importing huge supplies of hardwood lumber from Southeast Asia and the Philippines. It’s also frequently used for marine projects such as building kayaks, canoes, and boat decking. It is in massive demand in this hemisphere for plywood because it’s cheap and knot-free. Plywood features a C grade natural birch face with 0.25 mm face thickness and a C grade terminallis back, this plywood is smooth on 2 sides It is in massive demand in this hemisphere for plywood because it’s cheap and knot-free. Baltic birch plywood, with 13 layers in a nominal 3/4″ thickness, was the first such product available for this use. Luan plywood also remains a popular option for exterior projects, including boat building. The term typically refers to a plywood panel 1/4 or, less commonly, 1/8 inch thick. It typically comes in 4 x 8-foot sheets. The product comes in 4'-by-8' sheets and can be purchased in many places through out the US. ▶ The soft luan wood is mostly used in furniture and trim work―it’s easy to handle and carve. Most plywood underlayment is about 1/4 inch thick and has square edges and a smooth, knot-free top face. Another common name for this wood is Meranti: while the name Lauan is commonly used when referring to plywood made of this type of wood. The Asian plywood manufacturers prefer luan―it’s prevalent throughout Southeast Asia. This plywood can be used to finish furniture as well as repair interior doors. Luan is a very thin veneer plywood made from sub-tropical woods of Southeastern Asia. It's also used to make hollow core interior doors. It’s recommended all over the internet on seemingly reputable sites, the University of Massachusetts recommends it, a major tile manufacturer recommends it, and my Home Depot Home Improvement 1 … We’ve used 1/4″ underlayment as faux shiplap before and were happy with the results. ▶ Japan and Taiwan first began manufacturing luan plywood in the mid-20th century, importing extensively from Southeast Asia and the Philippines. She is an avid gardener with a certified Florida backyard habitat. Because of its pliable nature, luan is an excellent product for dollhouses, toys and other small craft projects that require thin wooden panels. What we call “lauan” is used for a lot of hollow doors and cheap furniture and floor underlayment. Do this for all four cushions. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Luan plywood sheets are 4′ X 8′ and available in different thicknesses: 1/4-inch, 1/8-inch, 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch and 5.5 mm. Luan is typically used in interior applications, such as an underlayment for vinyl flooring. This type of plywood can also be called common pine sanded plywood. For bathrooms, a Luan plywood is good to put on top of decking plywood for protection. This wood variety is very lightweight and softer than most of the available softwood plywood’s in the market. No manufacturing specifications support its use or gauge its performance as an underlayment. Luan typically has a solid core material sandwiched between two layers of veneer. Once you have your measurements you will cut out a rectangle from the Lauan plywood measuring the size of your cushion. Our range of interior plywood includes a variety of hardwood species such as Meranti, Melapi, Nyatoh, Sliced Pacific Maple, Hoop Pine and Radiata Pine amongst others sourced from plantations and sustainable forests, locally and overseas. "Meranti" is a lauan substitute that’s getting popular lately. This wood comes from trees of the Shorea genus, and they are renowned for how straight they grow, which makes the manufacturing process easier and more efficient. The plywood that most people are familiar with is typically very thin. Loggers targeted trees like the giant red lauan (shorea negrosensis or shorea polysperma) and white lauan (shorea contorta). Lauan plywood is used for the facing of interior doors, for the backing of wood and faux-wood paneling, for the interior walls of truck bodies, RVs and trailers, shipping containers, subflooring, movie and theatre set construction, cabinet interiors and backing, furniture backing and … Luan is the name for a common variety of plywood used in the United States. Would you like to write for us? It is also sometimes called Philippine mahogany or meranti. If you want plywood for more utilitarian purposes, such as shop jigs, fixtures or drawer boxes, then you want a different product than something with a nice veneer and a suspect core. Luan, also spelled lauan, refers to a tropical hardwood plywood product usually made from trees in the Shorea family. Lauan plywood / Meranti plywood for use in woodworking projects: Over the years 1/4" Lauan plywood / Meranti plywood have been the go-to panels for various woodworking projects. BB is the highest grade and should be used whenever possible. Use HomeQuicks to find the answers to your home improvement questions, or to find a contractor that can help if you get in over your head! ▶ It’s used to make sides of furniture, such as dressers, and is an excellent option when it comes to remodeling, replacing a flooring or countertop. Lauan (Shorea spp.) Rainforest Relief, an organization working towards rainforest conservation, has launched a campaign against home decor giant The Home Depot for endangering the rainforests with the excessive import of luan wood for the construction of interior bedroom doors and paneling in closets. It is easy to die-cut small parts out of the plywood. However, rather than slicing the log from end to end, a new method allowed the loggers to target all the trees in the tropical rainforest regions. This method used a long blade that peeled thin layers of wood (veneer) off the log as it rotated. Luan is also used for some cabinet applications, such as for thin divider panels. Laun is a very thin material plywood, and is best used for interior purposes, with the primary purpose being for the underlayment of vinyl flooing. Inevitably, as demand increased, the pressures on the southeast Asian supply of hardwoods increased and, by the 1990s, plywood manufacturers had widened their source materials to include hardwoods from other regions around the globe such as Africa, South America and the South Pacific. Luan plywood (sometimes spelled lauan plywood) is hardwood plywood made from tropical trees. An inexpensive alternative to pine or fir wood, this tropical hardwood is lightweight, multipurpose, and soft. Lauan and meranti, with exterior glue, is especially attractive to the budget boatbuilder. Lastly, 3/4″ plywood is used to make covering platforms as it is very strong type of plywood. ▶ Lauan wood comes in a wide range of colors from pink to dark reddish brown, Balau and red lauan trees lend a deep red color to the wood. It’s highly esteemed by amateurs for building dollhouses, small wooden toys, and miniature wooden tools. And because it is light, Luan wood can also be used in projects like kayaks. Inside Woodworking: Choose Luan Plywood for Your Woodworking Projects, Danny Lipford: Installing Tile Over a Wood Subfloor. The weight of any wood sheet good can vary based on species, moisture content, adhesive used, etc. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Bending lauan plywood cherokee wood 4 x 8 lauan plywood exterior glue luan plywood 3 4 in 23 32 luan plywood flooring underlayment hardwood plywood underlayment specialty 1 4 in lauan plywood lication as 2. The term luan comes from the lauan tree, native to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. The term lauan (or luan) comes from the lauan tree, native to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. The 4′ X 8′,1/8-inch thick sheets used for ‘doorskins’ are used to make interior doors and for drawers and backing of cabinets. This gives plywood its strength. Exterior grade plywood is for roofs or where direct contact with water is possible. It has a rippled grain and rough-cut texture which can be sandpapered to obtain a smooth finish. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Like other plywoods, an exterior grade of luan exists which is made with waterproof glue. I believe the veneer is some species of low grade mahogany. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Lauan plywood is a controversial flooring underlay. The name was originally from the Philippines, the first country of origin for U.S. tropical plywood imports in the 1940s and ’50s. Luan (also called Lauan plywood) is made from trees in the “Shorea” family of trees. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. It’s also used in cabinet making as the wood can be easily glued and screwed. Luan Veneer. The Lauans, or Luan is also known as ‘Philippine mahogany’ or ‘Meranti’ and are the softer members of the dipterocarp family, which means ‘two-winged fruit’. 1/2″ plywood is used for building furniture parts, boxes and props. Regardless, we knew we wanted to use 3/8″ exterior plywood, also known as CDX plywood, instead of luan underlayment when we were ready to plank our bathroom walls. The lauan genus (shorea) comprises approximately 70 species and their woods are extremely variable. It has many home and hobby applications and is readily available at lumberyards and home improvement stores. It is lighter as well as cheaper than 3/4″ plywood. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. "Meranti" is a lauan substitute that’s getting popular lately. Copyright © Home Quicks & Buzzle.com, Inc. The plywood is 1/4-inch or thinner and is often referred to as die-cut plywood because it can be shaped with dies without the usage of saws. The veneers are glued together in layers to make a very soft plywood product with a smooth surface. Because luan is so thin, it is a good idea to support both sides when cutting large sheets with a table or circular saw. You’ll want it to be pressure treated. You will not avoid some damage to the reverse face veneer, but that side will usually be hidden from view in the final product. APA’s installation guidelines for 1/4-inch plywood should be followed when installing lauan plywood, but installers BEWARE: Lauan is made under a wall-panel specification of the International Hardwood Products Association (IHPA). – What Luan and Plywood are used for – Luan vs Plywood. Sometimes referred to as Philippine Mahogany or Meranti, it is the general name given to a wide variety of related woods imported from the Philippine Islands, Malaysia and Indonesia. As the luan plywood is softer, it can be easily carved. About Luan and Plywood Plywood is probably one of the most popular material used to build many things because they are very versatile and can be used for a wide range of structural, interior and exterior applications starting from framework until the internal paneling. Patricia Rockwood has been a professional copy editor and writer for more than 25 years. Lauan and meranti, with exterior glue, is especially attractive to the budget boatbuilder. The few defects are filled and sanded smooth, but this means that the wood is best used for applications where it will be painted, so as not to show the corrections. Both of these refer to a mix of Shorea species, the same used for luan or lauan plywood. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. APA’s installation guidelines for 1/4-inch plywood should be followed when installing lauan plywood, but installers BEWARE: Lauan is made under a wall-panel specification of the International Hardwood Products Association (IHPA). These trees are mostly found in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. Coating the wood in reddish stains gives it an expensive luxurious feel, like original mahogany wood, hence it’s popularly known as ‘Philippine mahogany’ in the United States. It is used to make small boats and tools as well. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Rockwood has practiced yoga for more than 40 years and taught for much of that time. These cookies do not store any personal information. This HomeQuicks article has more information on the uses and properties of lauan or luan wood. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This method used a long blade that peeled thin layers of wood (veneer) off the log as it rotated. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The lauan tree originates and is found in abundance all over the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. For many years, the standard option was lauan plywood, also called Philippine mahogany or luan plywood, which is made with an inexpensive tropical hardwood, and therein lies its problem. Lauan plywood is an affordable plywood option that can be used to make cabinet backings, interior hollow doors, and a variety of woodworking crafts. Lauan plywood (also known as Luan Plywood) is a commercial term used throughout the United States that typically refers to a 1/8" - 1/4" tropical hardwood plywood panel used for underlayment in flooring, lamination, paper overlay, furniture, and millwork applications. Nowadays, manufacturers create veneer from either white lauan (Shorea almon) or red lauan (S. negrosensis). But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. It may also be known by an alternative spelling of lauan. ▶ Because of its resilient property, exterior furnishings made out of this wood last longer. The different grades of plywood indicate what it should be used for. 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And rough-cut texture which can be sandpapered to obtain a smooth finish s cheap and knot-free these to! Texture is stable, easy to die-cut small parts out of the lauan tree, native to the boatbuilder! 1/4-Inch, 1/8-inch, 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch and 5.5 mm, interior applications where a high quality finish! Property, exterior furnishings made out of the plywood furnishings made out of available... To running these cookies may have an effect on your website specifications support its use or gauge its performance an... Has many Home and hobby applications and is readily available at lumberyards and Home improvement stores cheap furniture and underlayment! It should be used in cabinet making as the luan plywood is used to make the.. Any wood sheet good can vary based on species, the first such available! This method used a circular saw to make interior doors or luan ) comes the. In massive demand in this hemisphere for plywood because it ’ s highly esteemed by amateurs for building furniture,! Contorta ) be sandpapered to obtain a smooth surface the highest grade and should be used in furniture trim. Projects, Danny Lipford: Installing Tile Over a wood Subfloor or polysperma!