Fiberboards or fiber cement boards are gaining popularity in the furniture market. More and more people are preferring it over plywood for some of the constructions. It is considered the most convenient option when it comes to fast and efficient build. However, not everyone knows about fiberboard and how it is different from plywood.
Read this article to learn about fiber boards and their usage.
What is a fiberboard?
Fiber cement boards are engineered wood composed of cellulose fibers, wood chips, sand, softwood flakes, recycled material, sawdust, and cement. Portland cement along with glass fiber mesh is used on their surface. All these materials are bonded using a synthetic resin under heat and pressure and then compiled into rigid sheets.
Their composition makes them resistant to water, termites, and fire making them a perfect choice for constructing long-lasting furniture. Fiberboards can be used with or without plywood.
How are fiberboards made?
In fiberboards, raw materials such as cellulose fibers, wood chips, sand, softwood flakes, recycled material, sawdust, and cement are gathered and chopped into fine pieces. Further, the metallic impurities are eliminated using a magnet. After this fibers are blended with synthetic resin and wax.
Further, they are compressed into a defibrillator machine under high pressure and heat to make them usable. Next, they are compressed into rigid sheets to make a fiberboard. The USA was the first country to manufacture fiber boards in the 1960s. It was mainly employed in the construction industry for manufacturing cabinets and furniture.
Types of fibreboard:
There are different types of fiberboards available in the market namely: Low-density fiberboard, high-density fiberboard, and medium-density fiberboard.
Low-density fiberboard:
Low-density fiberboard or cement board is popularly called particle board. It is mainly used as an underlay in various areas of the house such as the bathroom or kitchen and for manufacturing furniture. Among all three the density of the particles of a low-density fiberboard ranges between 160-450 kg/m³ which makes it less strong. These fiberboards are prone to humidity and thus not used for exterior purposes. Moreover, they are less expensive.
Medium-density fiberboard:
The density of this fiberboard lies between 600-800 kg/m³. It is one of the most used fiberboards among the three. It is used in construction projects and the furnishing industry both. Engineered flooring and laminates are manufactured using medium-density fiberboard. Medium-density fiberboard breaks easily because of its weight. Moreover, they are not resistant to water thus any contact with water should be strictly avoided.
High-density fiberboard:
High-density fiberboard is popularly known as hardboard and has a density range between 600-1450 kg/m³. It is one of the hardest, most durable, and most solid among all three. It is also used in manufacturing furniture, flooring, and construction projects because of its durability and strength. It is quite expensive but ensures high quality.
Benefits of fibreboard:
Fiberboards have various benefits which include:
- Holds the paint effectively
- Eco-friendly composition
- Robust and stable support for the final finish.
- Easy to handle and lightweight
- Helps increase the serviceable life of the final finish.
- Excellent thermal and acoustic improvement.
- Quick and easy to install
- Impact and thermal insulation in one product.
- High load-bearing capacity and weight resistance.
- Inexpensive product.
Disadvantages of Fiberboards:
Fiberboard also has some disadvantages:
- Not durable in comparison to wood
- Consume more time to install as compared to real wood.
- Requires more nails when installing
- Weak as compared to real wood.
Wrap up-
The bottom line is that despite the fiberboard being an affordable and eco-friendly material, some of its components such as urea-formaldehyde, if not treated properly, can be hazardous. This is because urea-formaldehyde is a carcinogenic substance. However, good quality fiberboard can be more affordable than plywood. If you are looking for premium quality fiberboard for your furniture then you can visit CenturyPly for the most amazing and best quality products.
