Timber, plywood and laminates; though they are all made of the same raw material (wood), they are certainly not the same and have different applications. Here is a look at some of the similarities and differences of these products.

Timber is a general term for wood, often used interchangeably. For many, though, the word brings to mind forests full of uncut trees, so for the sake of this article, let’s say “timber” is uncut or unprocessed wood. Lumber is the more commonly used term for wood that has been cut done and processed in a sawmill. After being milled, the wood is either processed on site, or sold to manufacturers of wood and paper products.

Many people think that plywood and laminates are the same thing, but that is not the case. Plywood is made of many thin sheets of lumber (processed wood) stacked on top of each other and laminated with a bonding agent. Laminates are bonded wood particles or sawdust covered with a very thin sheet of wood; the most common use for laminate wood is flooring. Laminate wood flooring is less expensive than hardwood flooring and is easier to care for.

Timber, plywood and laminates are essential materials in many modern building processes. Even if you aren’t a lumberjack or a carpenter, knowing at least a little bit about these products may come in handy, especially if you see a remodelling project in your future. Unfortunately, there are some not-so-reputable contractors out there who may try to take advantage of people’s lack of product knowledge.