Chipboard

Chipboard, also called low-density fibreboard or particleboard, is a thick fibre ‘paper’, naturally made from recycled small timber strips mixed with resin. Chipboard resembles cardboard in various ways. Typically, it is a kind of non-corrugated cardboard, implying that it lacks dishevelled fluting between the two layers which creates the hollow in corrugated cardboard.

What Is It Used For?
Chipboard has a wide range of uses. The most common applications are making a secure base layer for flooring (e.g., laminate, vinyl, solid wood, or engineered timber). Chipboard is also used for creating cost-efficient flooring – mostly in areas where aesthetics is not that crucial such as a loft space used for storage.

Here are some other uses of chipboard sheets:
·       Kitchen cabinets
·       Kitchen worktops
·       Flatpack furniture
·       Insulation
·       Home accents for interiors (e.g., mouldings and trims around doors and windows)
·       Furniture elements (e.g., wardrobe backs, drawer bottoms)
·       Packaging
·       Soundproofing and absorption (e.g., music venue flooring and walls)

Grades
·       P1 – Used for general purposes such as joinery and basic building work.
·       P2 – Not load-bearing and can be used in the construction of cabinets.
·       P3 – Not load-bearing and is moisture resistant.
·       P4 – It is load-bearing only for dry conditions.
·       P5 – It is moisture resistant and load-bearing. It is preferred for chipboard floorboards.
·       P6 – It is load-bearing and heavy-duty for dry conditions.
·       P7 – It is moisture resistant, load-bearing, and heavy-duty.