Characteristics Of Blockboard

Blockboard offers excellent screw-holding power and high strength; it is characterized by its hardness, sound absorption, and thermal insulation properties. Additionally, it has a low moisture content (typically between 10% and 13%), is easy to process, and has a wide range of applications.

While blockboard is more stable than solid wood planks, it is susceptible to moisture; therefore, care should be taken to avoid using it in kitchens or bathrooms.
Blockboard is manufactured using either manual or mechanical assembly methods. Manual assembly involves inserting wooden strips into the core by hand; this results in lower compression pressure, uneven joints, larger gaps, and poor screw-holding power. Such boards cannot be sawn or machined effectively and are suitable only for specific renovation sub-tasks, such as serving as a sub-floor base for solid wood flooring. In contrast, mechanically assembled boards undergo higher compression pressure, resulting in minimal gaps, a smooth surface, and uniform load-bearing capacity; they maintain a compact structure and resist deformation over long-term use.
Quality varies depending on the materials used; blockboard is classified into "Premium Grade," "First Grade," and "Qualified Grade" based on the quality of the core and surface materials. Some manufacturers label their boards as Grade A, Double-A (AA), or Triple-A (AAA); however, these are internal company designations that do not comply with national standards, and such labeling is no longer permitted on the market.
Blockboard is made from various wood species, such as poplar, birch, pine, and paulownia. Poplar and birch are considered the best choices, offering dense texture, moderate hardness, strong screw-holding power, and resistance to deformation. Conversely, paulownia is lightweight and soft, absorbs significant moisture, has poor screw-holding power, and is difficult to kiln-dry; boards made from it are prone to cracking and warping as moisture evaporates during use. Pine is hard and difficult to compress, resulting in poor joint integrity, weak screw-holding power, and a high tendency to deform.