If you’re looking for a material to use for your next DIY project, you may have considered using natural wood or plastic boards as your construction material. While both materials have their benefits and disadvantages, the best one for your project depends on your needs. So, which is better for your DIY woodwork projects?
This article compares PVC boards and real wood and helps you decide the best material for your next DIY project.
Why Should You Use PVC Boards?
PVC boards are made from a synthetic material called polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Hence, they’re often cheaper, more durable, and more versatile than real wood.
However, PVC boards don’t have the same aesthetic benefits as real wood. PVC boards are often used for commercial and interior design projects. Moreover, they require little to no maintenance, and are used as insulation. To learn more, here’s a quick beginner’s guide to insulation boards!
(Speaking of design projects, check this furniture design software that you to illustrate your ideas before constructing your project.)
Advantages Of Using PVC Boards
- PVC boards can withstand frequent wear and tear and can last for many years.
- PVC boards are often cheaper than natural wood and can save you money on your DIY project.
- PVC doesn’t swell or lose its structure when it comes in contact with water. This is due to its composition, making it an excellent water resistance material. This is a great quality for both your indoor and outdoor DIY projects.
- You can use any type of carpentry machine when working with PVC boards.
- PVC boards are highly resistant to scratches. In addition, light, heat, moth, vibration, noise, or acid don’t affect PVC boards.
Disadvantages Of Using PVC Boards
- Using PVC boards doesn’t offer the same aesthetic benefits as natural wood. Many people use real wood for their projects because they like its appearance.
- PVC boards are less stain resistant than natural wood.
- PVCs are brittle. As such, they have a high wastage rate during installation.
Why Should You Use Real Wood?
Unlike PVC and common boards, wood comes from trees and is an organic material. Thus, it has some advantages and disadvantages that PVC boards don’t.
Natural wood comes in many different types, including oak, teak, pine, redwood, and cedar. Each type of wood has unique qualities and benefits, so it’s essential to know which kind of wood you’re using for your next DIY project.
Here are some of the most common natural woods:
Hardwood
Hardwood is a type of wood that comes from deciduous trees that lose their leaves every year. This type of wood is often used for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry.
Also Read: Is Your Basement Ready For Hardwood Flooring?
Softwood
Softwood comes from coniferous trees that keep their needles year-round. It’s commonly used for making plywood since this type of wood is easy to work with.
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Advantages Of Using Real Wood
- The most significant advantage of using natural wood for your next DIY project is its aesthetic benefits. Natural wood comes in many different types, each with its unique appearance, color, and grain. Some types of natural wood, such as cherry and mahogany timber, are naturally beautiful.
- Natural wood offers a lot of flexibility when working it. You can cut and modify it into whatever size you need.
- Painting natural wood is easy. It absorbs paint and caulk easily and can give you a smooth finish.
- Real wood is a renewable material, so you don’t have to worry about the pollution.
- You don’t have to predrill your nail holes like PVC boards. You can easily nail them without worrying about cracking.
- Wood doesn’t stain easily; even if it does, it’s easy to clean.
Disadvantages Of Using Real Wood
- The most significant disadvantage of using natural wood for your next DIY project is that it’s often more expensive than PVC boards. As such, it can add to your project’s overall cost.
- You’ll also need specific tools for every type of natural wood you use for your project. For example, a table saw to cut it.
- Natural wood requires careful regular maintenance.
- It may not be suitable for many applications due to its durability issues.
- Natural wood can easily warp, bend, decay, and crack if it’s not properly seasoned and treated with preservatives.
Which Is Better For Your DIY Project?
When choosing the best material for your next DIY project, you should consider the one that works best for your project’s design and function. When comparing PVC boards and natural wood, you must consider how they’ll be used in your project.
While natural wood comes with a few aesthetic advantages, PVC boards offer many practical benefits that natural wood doesn’t—such as durability and low maintenance. When deciding which material is best for your next DIY project, it’s necessary to consider which benefits are most important for your project and design.
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