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The "I want Birch Plywood but make it gorgeous" guide.
Picture this: you've just built a stunning cabinet, but it looks like it's still waiting to get dressed. Enter Decoply—our Melbourne-made answer to beautiful, ready-to-go plywood that doesn't need you to spend a weekend finishing it.
We take our Premium Birch Plywood and press high-pressure laminate (HPL) onto it at pressures that would make a submarine jealous. The result? A sheet that's strong where it counts and stunning where it shows.
Available in: 2400 x 1200mm sheets
Thickness options: 12mm, 18mm, 24mm, 30mm
Made: Right here in our Melbourne factory (we like to keep an eye on things)
Is Decoply for you?
Before we go any further, let's make sure you're in the right place.
Decoply is perfect if you're:
A shopfitter tired of explaining why your fit-outs look better than the competition. A furniture maker who'd rather spend time designing than sanding and sealing. A café owner who needs tables that can survive the brunch rush and still look good for the dinner crowd. A cabinet maker who wants that premium laminate finish without the laminate-over-particle-board compromise. Anyone who's ever thought "I wish this came pre-finished in a colour that doesn't look like a hospital corridor."
Decoply probably isn't for you if:
You need something for outdoor use (weather and HPL aren't mates). You're after raw timber aesthetics (check out our natural Birch instead). You need flexible or bendable sheets (Decoply holds its shape—that's the point).
Choosing your thickness
Not all projects are created equal, and neither are Decoply thicknesses.
12mm is the nimble performer. Light enough to handle solo, thin enough for applications where you need presence without the weight of a small planet. Great for smaller cabinet doors, lightweight furniture, and anywhere rigidity matters more than heft.
18mm is your workhorse. Shelving, cabinet carcasses, benchtops that see moderate use—this is the thickness that shows up, does the job, and doesn't complain. It's the "I know what I'm doing" choice for most furniture and cabinetry.
24mm starts getting serious. We're talking heavy-duty shelving, commercial applications, and surfaces that need to handle more than just a laptop and a coffee cup.
30mm doesn't ask questions—it holds whatever you throw at it. Retail fixtures, commercial counters, that one client who specifically requested "chunky." This is the thickness that means business.
What can you actually make with Decoply?
Shopfitting and retail
This is Decoply's natural habitat. The colour range means you can match virtually any brand palette, and the pre-finished surface means installation is faster and cleaner than site-finishing raw materials.
We've seen everything from minimalist boutiques to vibrant children's stores. The durability means your fit-out still looks sharp after years of customers leaning on counters and kids touching everything.
A wardrobe made entirely from Plyco's Raven Decoply by BM Hall Kitchens
Furniture and cabinetry
The big selling point here: no finishing required. You cut it, you edge it, you assemble it, you're done. No sanding, no sealing, no waiting for coats to dry, no worrying about dust landing in wet lacquer.
The Birch Plywood core means your furniture has genuine structural integrity—not the "hope nobody leans on this too hard" anxiety that comes with some laminated products.
Kidstar's learning tower made from our Mint Decoply
Tabletops and benchtops
The ultra-smooth HPL surface is practically made for horizontal applications. Kitchen counters, café tables, desks, workbenches—Decoply handles the daily abuse and wipes clean without complaint.
A note on heat: while Decoply handles normal use brilliantly, we'd still recommend trivets for hot pans. The laminate can handle a coffee cup, but it's not invincible against that one friend who puts scorching cookware directly on surfaces.
Wardrobe and closet systems
The combination of smooth finish (clothes glide, not snag), durability (handles the daily open-close-rummage cycle), and colour options (match your bedroom aesthetic) makes Decoply a solid choice for built-in storage.
Plyco's vibrant, pastel Mint Decoply leaves a memorable impression
Working with Decoply: the practical bits
Cutting: Standard woodworking tools handle Decoply without drama. For cleanest results, use a fine-toothed blade and cut with the laminate face up if using a track saw, face down if using a table saw. This minimises chipping on the visible surface.
Edging: The exposed Birch Plywood edge is actually a feature, not a bug—many makers leave it raw for that contemporary ply-edge aesthetic. If you prefer a seamless look, iron-on edging in matching colours is available, or you can apply solid timber lipping for a premium finish.
Joining: All standard joinery methods work. Screws hold beautifully in the Birch core (pilot holes recommended). Biscuits, dowels, pocket screws, and even good old glue-and-clamp all do the job. The laminate surface takes adhesives well if you scuff it first.
Cleaning and maintenance
Damp cloth. That's genuinely it for day-to-day cleaning. For stubborn marks, a mild detergent works fine—just avoid abrasive cleaners or scouring pads that could dull the surface over time.
Frequently asked questions
With the right blade and technique, chipping is minimal. Fine-toothed blades (60+ teeth for a 250mm blade) and proper feed rates keep edges clean. Some makers apply masking tape along the cut line for extra insurance.
For splashbacks and vanities that see occasional water, Decoply holds up well. For areas with constant moisture exposure, we'd recommend looking at other options. The Birch core is high quality, but it's still timber—prolonged water contact isn't ideal.
Melamine typically uses a particle board or MDF core with a lower-pressure laminate. Decoply's Birch Plywood core is stronger, holds screws better, and the HPL surface is more durable. You're paying more, but you're getting more.
An 18mm sheet at 2400 x 1200mm weighs approximately 32kg. Manageable for two people, awkward for one. The 12mm is noticeably lighter if weight is a concern.
Yes—check out our Cut to Size service. We'll cut your sheets to your specifications so you're not wrestling with full sheets or generating unnecessary offcuts.
Absolutely. We'd rather you fondle the product before committing. Sample packs covering all colours are available so you can see exactly what you're getting under your actual lighting conditions.
Specifications at a glance
|
Specification |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Sheet size |
2400 x 1200mm |
|
Thicknesses |
12mm, 18mm, 24mm, 30mm |
|
Core material |
Premium Birch Plywood |
|
Face material |
High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) |
|
Colours |
13 options (10 solid, 3 woodgrain) |
|
Made in |
Melbourne, Australia |
|
Suitable for |
Interior use only |
Ready to stop settling for boring boards?
Browse the full Decoply range in our online store—every colour, every thickness, all the specs you need to make a decision. And yes, we ship sample packs so you can see the colours in person before committing to a full sheet.
Got questions we haven't answered? Our team genuinely enjoys talking about plywood—some might say too much. Get in touch at info@plyco.com.au or call 1300-759-966.
