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 type of non-corrugated cardboard, implying that it lacks corrugated fluting between the two layers, which creates the hollow in corrugated cardboard.

What is Chipboard?

To get a better understanding of what chipboard is, it is worth breaking down how the panels are made.

• The chipping process: This process produces chipboard wood strips with uniform sizes that are then dried. Drying ensures that the chips maintain the right moisture content. Then, the chips are screened to sort them into different sizes.
• The glueing process: This is when the chipboard comes together. The process uses a resin treatment, which glues the wood chips together.
• Pressing: At this step, the chipboard is pressed under high temperature and left to cool. The final product after the cooling process has a solid bond.

After cooling, the board is trimmed and sanded to size and smoothness. Some of them are laminated, melamine-faced, or veneered to improve appearance and make them easy to use.

What is Chipboard 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
• 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)

Types of Chipboard

Here are the main types of chipboard you can find on Sheet Materials Wholesale, to fit all your specialised projects:

Underfloor Heating Chipboard

These pre-routed or machined chipboards come with grooves to accommodate underfloor heating pipework. The routing helps distribute heat evenly and allows the pipes to sit flush and keep the floor even.

Acoustic Flooring

Based on overlay or deck boards, these chipboards are designed to reduce sound transference. They often have special layers and, at times, cement-based tops to help deaden sound in flats, multi-storey buildings, upstairs rooms, or where building regulations demand it.

Melamine-Faced Chipboard

These are chipboards with resin-impregnated melamine facing (one or both sides). They come ready to use and decorate without further finishing and are utilised in furniture, shelving, kitchens, cabinets, etc.

8×4 Chipboard

This is the most common standard sheet size used for general sheeting work, including joinery, partitioning, shelves, furniture, etc. Buying the standard size offers value, reduces waste, and is easier to work with.

Fire-Retardant Chipboard

Fire-retardant options are treated to resist igniting or slow fire spread. Our options combine fire performance with Euroclass B  and a P5 moisture rating to protect your walls and help your builds be safe and up to code.

Moisture-Resistant Chipboard

‘Moisture resistant’ chipboards are designed to withstand humidity and moisture better than a standard board. They are often graded on the P-scale for moisture resistance (especially P5) and find applications in floors, lofts, kitchens, and other minimally exposed settings.

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.

P2 Chipboard

P2 chipboard is ideal for interior furniture and fixtures in dry conditions, and moisture exposure is limited. It has a smooth surface, excellent for veneering or laminating to add decorative appeal to furniture.

P5 Chipboard

P5 is a flooring-grade chipboard that is appropriate for load-bearing uses where there is fluctuating moisture because of extreme humidity. P5 chipboard is typically used for flooring.

P6 Chipboard

P6 is high-density chipboard with a well-sanded exterior. It is also perfect for laminating or coating for dry conditions. It is commonly used in making load-bearing walls, floors, and roofs.

Chipboard Edging Tape Products

To keep your chipboards performing at a high level, we stock edging materials that are often glued and ironed on to cover the raw edges of a panel.

We also have veneer and wood-look edging strips that come in at 22mm wide x 50m long and about 0.5 to 0.6mm in thickness.

Benefits

Here are the key benefits of using chipboard boards:

• They are uncomplicated and therefore effortless to use.
• Cutting chipboard is easy. You can trim the sheet to fit in awkward areas like cupboards and stairs.
• Chipboards are affordable.
• It is easy to use nails, screws, and adhesives with them.
• All sides are perfectly grooved, which allows every piece to interlock securely, creating a reliable connection. Adding glue will add strength to the connection and prevent the chipboard flooring from squeaking.

Chipboard quality will vary depending on where you buy it. Sheet Materials Wholesale offers top-notch quality products at a pocket-friendly price.

FAQs

What are the main uses of chipboard?

Chipboard is used for a wide range of applications, including furniture, flooring, insulation, packing materials, and arts and crafts.

How is MDF different from chipboard?

Chipboard is a lower-cost type of wood made from larger wood chips and resin, with a rough surface and low density. MDF, on the other hand, is high-quality, made from finer wood fibres and resin, and offers a smooth surface that takes paint well.

How long can chipboard last?

That depends on the type, but with great care, you can use chipboard for more than a decade or two. Reinforce it with the proper protections and ensure it is properly installed for the best performance.