Construction timber · permanent wet-exposure plywood
Marine plywood
Marine plywood is an engineered panel built for permanent water exposure and high humidity, with phenolic bond and high-density tropical hardwood. Stocked in Riyadh **at thicknesses of 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 25 mm in 122×244 cm sheets**, certified to BS 1088 (UK) and IS 710 (India) for kitchens, bathrooms, and pools.
What is marine plywood?
Marine plywood is an engineered panel built for permanent water exposure and submersion, with phenol-formaldehyde bond, BWR (Boiling Water Resistant) treatment, and high-density tropical hardwood plies. Manufactured to BS 1088 (UK) and IS 710 (India), it is the working specification for kitchens, bathrooms, and pool surrounds where standard WBP plywood fails.
The structural difference between marine plywood and standard WBP is **the absence of voids and knots inside the panel**. Every internal ply must be solid, with no gap a water film could exploit. This drives up production cost but prevents internal rot — the failure mode of WBP in continuous-water service.
Marine plywood density of 620–680 kg/m³ is the highest among tropical plywoods. Sheets are typically built from selected red meranti or dense keruing, with higher ply counts than WBP at the same thickness — adding stiffness and resisting swell-induced surface deformation.
Why is marine plywood used in construction?
Marine plywood is the only acceptable option for surfaces in permanent water or repeated submersion: bathroom subfloors under tile, under-sink kitchen casework, pool surrounds, and commercial kitchen surfaces. In these contexts, standard WBP rots within 6–12 months, while marine plywood survives 8–10 years.
BS 1088 mandates a 72-hour boiling-water test: a marine sheet must show no delamination or dimensional distortion after 72 hours of boiling. Standard WBP passes 24 hours only — beyond which plies begin to separate. This single difference is the engineering guarantee for permanent-water applications.
On Red Sea and Jeddah coastal hotel projects, ambient humidity exceeding 70% requires marine plywood for any interior application near pools, beaches, or bathrooms. The added cost is justified against the cost of replacement when standard plywood fails in a coastal climate.
What are the specifications of marine plywood?
Marine plywood ships at 122×244 cm in thicknesses 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 25 mm, density 620–680 kg/m³, phenolic resin with BWR treatment. The sheet passes the BS 1088 72-hour boiling test and supports up to 6 form-pour cycles. Certifications: BS 1088, IS 710, WBP, BWR.
| Product name | Marine BWR plywood |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Malaysia · India |
| Wood species | Red meranti / dense keruing |
| Layer count | 5 – 13 plies (above standard WBP) |
| Thicknesses (mm) | 6 · 9 · 12 · 15 · 18 · 25 |
| Sheet size (cm) | 122 × 244 |
| Density (kg/m³) | 620 – 680 |
| Bond type | Phenol formaldehyde + BWR treatment |
| Boiling test duration | 72 hours (BS 1088) |
| Reuse cycles | Up to 6 form-pour cycles |
| Voids and knots | None — required by BS 1088 |
| Certifications | BS 1088 · IS 710 · WBP · BWR |
What are the construction applications of marine plywood?
Marine plywood serves five primary applications: under-sink kitchen casework (18 mm), bathroom subfloors under tile (12–15 mm), pool and water-feature surrounds (18–25 mm), wet facades (18 mm), and underlayment over underfloor heating (12 mm). Most-ordered thicknesses are 12 mm and 18 mm.
- 01
Under-sink kitchen casework (18 mm)
Cabinet base and walls under dishwashers and sinks. Daily exposure to leaks and thermal evaporation kills standard WBP within 2 years; marine plywood survives 8–10 years.
- 02
Bathroom subfloors under tile (12–15 mm)
As a tile-set substrate over an existing slab — provides a flat, water-tight surface in villas raising floor levels without new concrete pour.
- 03
Pool and fountain surrounds (18–25 mm)
In resorts and hotels, used for finishing pool edges and indoor fountain plinths. The 25 mm thickness handles continuous foot-traffic loads.
- 04
Wet facades (18 mm)
On coastal builds in Jeddah, Red Sea, NEOM, used as interior cladding in spaces with persistent humidity exceeding 70%.
- 05
Substrate over underfloor heating (12 mm)
In premium villas with hydronic underfloor heating, sits between heating pipes and parquet. The high density carries heat without shrinking.
What is the difference between marine plywood and film-faced phenolic plywood?
Marine plywood is built for permanent water-exposure surfaces, while film-faced phenolic plywood is built for multi-cycle concrete formwork. Marine has no exterior film and accepts direct adhesion; film-faced has a black phenolic film that prevents concrete bonding. Pricing overlaps but the use cases are entirely distinct.
For structural formwork, specify film-faced for its 10–15 pour cycles and the smooth concrete face it produces. For under-sink and bathroom installations, specify marine plywood — it accepts adhesives and finishes and survives continuous water contact. Substituting one for the other ruins performance in either direction.
| Attribute | Marine | Phenolic film-faced |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Natural wood, accepts adhesion | Black phenolic film, anti-stick |
| Bond resin | Phenolic + BWR treatment | Phenolic WBP |
| Voids and knots | None — required by BS 1088 | Variable — irrelevant under film |
| Reuse cycles | Up to 6 | 10–15 |
| Continuous water exposure | Designed for it | Not recommended long-term |
| Typical use | Kitchens, baths, pools | Tower formwork, infrastructure |
| Price/sheet | SAR 110–260 | SAR 95–220 |
How do I choose the right marine plywood thickness?
Thickness maps to application: 9–12 mm for bathroom wall cabinetry, 12–15 mm for bathroom subfloors under tile, 18 mm for under-sink kitchen casework, 25 mm for pool surrounds. Support spacing exceeding 40 cm requires moving up one thickness grade.
For applications with frequent submersion (under-sink, bathroom subfloors), specify 18 mm minimum to limit long-term distortion. For wall-only applications (bathroom wall cladding), 12 mm is sufficient.
For pool and fountain edges, 25 mm is mandatory because dynamic water loads and continuous foot traffic require a stiff surface that does not deflect under live load. The high density of marine plywood complements thickness in delivering this stiffness.
How is marine plywood stored and installed?
Marine plywood stores flat on bearers 15 cm off the ground in a dry, shaded area. Installation uses corrosion-resistant fasteners (stainless steel or hot-dip galvanised) at 20 cm spacing, with a polyurethane or epoxy edge sealer applied to all cut edges to close pores that would otherwise let water enter the panel.
Before installation in fully submerged applications, brush epoxy primer over all cut edges to seal exposed pores. Skipping this step causes panel failure within 12–18 months even with a BS 1088 mill certificate. Edges are the single weak point in marine plywood.
For bathroom subfloor under tile, leave a 2 mm expansion gap between sheets, cover the joint with mesh tape and flexible adhesive, then apply a waterproofing membrane before tile thinset is applied.
Does marine plywood meet Saudi Building Code requirements?
Marine plywood meets SBC 201 structural requirements and ships with BS 1088 (UK marine plywood standard) and IS 710 (Indian equivalent) mill certificates. Each shipment carries a third-party 72-hour boiling-test report — the accepted proof of performance for water-exposure applications.
For Vision 2030 hotels and resorts on the Red Sea coast, we provide third-party batch-specific test reports with a 7–10 day turnaround. This documentation is required on projects governed by international engineering specifications referencing BS 1088.
Which Saudi projects use marine plywood?
Marine plywood ships into Red Sea, NEOM, and Jeddah hotels and resorts, villas with pools in Hittin and Al Malqa, commercial kitchens in international hotels, government hospitals and schools, and aquatic recreation centres. Applications focus on kitchen and bath casework and pool-edge finishes.
- Red Sea and NEOM hotels and resorts — bathroom and wet cabinetry in luxury suites.
- Premium villas in Hittin, Al Malqa, Al Yasmin — kitchens, bathrooms, and pool-edge work.
- Commercial kitchens in international hotels — storage cabinetry and steam-exposed counter areas.
- Government hospitals and schools — group bathroom finishes and service-room casework.
- Aquatic recreation centres and indoor pools — pool surrounds and adjacent wet surfaces.
What are common questions about marine plywood?
Under standard conditions (good ventilation, edges sealed with epoxy primer), marine plywood lasts **8–10 years** in under-sink kitchen casework. Standard WBP fails in the same application within 18–24 months — the price premium is justified by service life.
Not recommended for direct rain and UV exposure. For exterior decking, specify **WPC composite, certified outdoor synthetic decking, or fibre-cement panels**. Marine plywood is engineered for interior water exposure, not for rain and UV.
BS 1088 is the original UK standard for marine plywood; IS 710 is the Indian equivalent with **near-identical requirements**. Both mandate 72-hour boiling tests and void-free construction. BS 1088 is more common in UK and international specifications, IS 710 in Indian-origin production.
Yes — marine plywood accepts **oil-based and water-based paints, plus natural and engineered veneers** with the same prep as standard tropical plywood. Sand with 120-grit then wipe with a damp cloth before application. For bathrooms, prefer marine-grade varnish.
**50 sheets** is the effective minimum given the higher per-sheet value. Smaller quantities are picked up from our Olaya yard. For large projects, full container shipments from Port Klang at 1,000 sheets and 4–6 weeks lead time deliver a 10% discount.
We supply marine plywood with **oak or marine teak veneer** on special order at 100-sheet minimum and 4 weeks lead time. This option suits luxury bathrooms and resort cabinetry. Premium adds SAR 60–100 per sheet by veneer species and thickness.
Yes — BS 1088 plywood was originally engineered for **small and medium boat hulls** before fibreglass replaced it. We still supply small Jeddah and Dammam boatbuilders alongside construction-industry customers.
What products relate to Marine plywood?
Selections that complement the work in Saudi construction projects.
Need a quote on marine plywood for your project?
Send a quantity list with thicknesses, the delivery site, and the application zone (kitchen, bathroom, pool). We respond with a formal quote within 4 working hours — unit price, total, and BS 1088 certificates included.