Shed Construction: Cutting Plywood Boards with a Circular Saw

If you are planning on building a shed on your residential property, you should think about incorporating plywood into the structure. This timber product is engineered to provide considerable strength in construction. Also, the plywood surfaces are clean and beautiful, so they are suitable for walls, ceilings and other structures. Additionally, this material is relatively inexpensive in comparison to alternative construction products. Under ideal circumstances, you should hire an experienced contractor to handle the plywood and build the shed. However, if you are interested in DIY construction, you can perform some of the plywood construction work. Here are some guidelines on cutting plywood boards with a circular saw in preparation for installation:

Choose the Most Appropriate Saw Blade

You should select the right circular sawing blade for your plywood cutting work. Your choice will determine the edge finish of the boards and the speed of the cutting process. If you purchase or hire a circular saw, it will most likely be provided with the standard blade used in construction. This type of module will make fast and aggressive cuts, but the edges will not be free from splinters. If you would like to perform fine cuts with clean sides, you should switch the standard blade with a carbide-tipped alternative. Also, you should consider the tooth count on the saw. Blades with more teeth will give you a smoother cut.

Orient the Board Correctly

When cutting a plywood board with a circular saw, you should be careful about how you place the timber product on the work surface. This factor is important because one side of the board will have a smoother finish than the other. In simple terms, the circular blade cuts boards from below in upstrokes. When the saw exits the plywood, there will be some tearing on the upper side. Therefore, you should choose the face that you would like to be visible after installation. Then, place that face downwards before cutting. This practice will guarantee that the selected side will have a beautiful edge.

Support the Plywood

Finally, when cutting plywood for shed construction, you should ensure that you have a supporting surface. This process will keep the boards stable when working, preventing the cuts from getting skewed and the plywood from sustaining damage. You can obtain a supporting sawhorse for convenient handling of the work. Alternatively, you can place the plywood on rigid foam insulation panels. The foam will keep the plywood in place and absorb the force, ensuring clean cuts. 

Contact a plywood products company for more information and assistance. 


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