How to identify good plywood?

Plywood can be a great choice for many projects. The key to finding good plywood is looking for the grade that best suits your needs. Plywood grades are based on the number of plies, appearance, and exposure to weather, so you should look for plywood with a higher number of plies and better appearance and durability if it will be exposed to the elements. You should also check the quality of the gluing used to hold the plies together.

Look for a consistent level of glue at the joints, since poor glue can lead to delamination. If the plywood is going to be used in an interior application, then look for plywood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Both organizations certify lumber as being responsibly sourced from sustainable forests.