Particleboard Sheets & Utility Panels

Windsor Plywood carries standard interior particleboard in common thicknesses including 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, and 3/4 inch in standard 4x8 panels. Industrial and furniture grades are available for shelving, cabinetry substrate, countertop underlayment, and general interior panel applications.

Particleboard is manufactured from wood particles and chips bonded with resin under heat and pressure. MDF (medium-density fibreboard) is manufactured from finer wood fibres, producing a denser, heavier panel with a smoother surface. Particleboard is lighter and less expensive than MDF but has a coarser face surface, lower screw holding strength, and less consistent density through the panel thickness.

Particleboard is used for cabinet box construction, shelving, countertop substrate under laminate, flooring underlayment, and as a substrate for melamine-faced panels. It is an economical substrate for applications where a surface finish will be applied and where the panel will not be exposed to moisture.

Standard particleboard swells significantly when exposed to moisture, losing strength and structural integrity. It is not suitable for applications with any moisture exposure including areas under sinks, in bathrooms, or in exterior applications. Moisture-resistant (MR) particleboard with water-resistant resin is better suited for kitchen and bathroom applications, but is still not waterproof.

Coarse-threaded screws designed for particleboard and MDF provide the best holding strength in particleboard. Fine-threaded screws strip out more easily. Confirmat screws are a European standard for cabinetry assembly in particleboard and provide excellent pull-out resistance. For edge connections, drill pilot holes and use construction adhesive in addition to mechanical fasteners for improved joint strength.