Many immediately think of ‘no rot’ when comparing Coosa reinforced foam panels to traditional plywood. However, Coosa board is a stand-out product against plywood for many reasons—even, if not especially so, for bottom line benefits. ‘No rot’ is undoubtedly a significant cost-benefit consideration for choosing Coosa board over plywood—but definitely not the sole one. Here are other ways Coosa board surpasses plywood in cost efficiency over time. 

Cost-Benefits to Coosa Board

It’s well-known that Coosa board offers ‘no rot’ properties for improved performance across the board compared to plywood. Unlike plywood, Coosa board is not prone to rot or deterioration. It also does not need to be encapsulated like wood for water protection, which presents cost-savings during installation. But that’s just the beginning of cost-benefits for those in the marine, transportation, refrigeration, and construction solutions markets. 

Weight Reduction

Coosa board’s lighter weight compared to plywood provides more flexible uses and applications for OEMs and contractors.  With Coosa panels weighing around 40% less than plywood, the weight savings provide nice energy efficiency gains in final performance (a nice cost-savings plus to be sure).

Deterioration Resistant

In addition to essential ‘no rot’ properties, Coosa board also resists mold growth and insect infestation, which have a penchant to plague plywood. It also offers the benefit of behaving like plywood in preparation: It cuts similar to plywood, with the added benefit of not requiring specialized equipment or other needs besides safety precautions like fiberglass dust coverings. Additionally, Coosa board binds extremely well when paired with the right adhesive. 

Coosa board also offers excellent use in base construction. The bottom four feet of construction is in constant contact with wet conditions: snow and ice, leaf debris, puddling, and sprinklers—to name a few. Using coosa board in select areas close-to-ground provides immense value as it has the strength to resist otherwise adverse conditions. 

Long-term Investment 

Coosa board is an investment upfront, but offers extensive value over time. While traditional plywood may need frequent replacement, you won’t have to worry about Coosa board for years to come. It’s long-term value is unmatched; opting for plywood to save a little money on the front end will likely end up costing more in the long run. 

As a real-world testament to this, we see extensive, regular interest for aftermarket repair. Many choose Coosa board after the fact—seeking a solution for rotted out plywood. With Coosa board, you can build it right the first time for complete peace of mind. 

Additionally, Coosa board often has a penchant to reduce warranty claims, and helps manage, and even mitigate, risk for OEMs. Coosa board is a time-tested and lasting product that offers no compromise on quality by the abrasive forces of age. 

Specialized Application Potential

For specialized markets, Coosa board excels. For instance, it provides twice the insulation factor of plywood for key thermal and insulation properties in refrigeration, like what’s routinely required in refrigerated rail cars or reefer vans. 

In addition, unlike some variations of treated plywood, Coosa board is non-corrosive to fasteners. Some treated plywood contains more copper, which can corrode non-stainless fasteners. Coosa board, on the other hand, does not harbor such aggravating properties. Coosa board can also be exterior finished and/or laminated just like wood to protect the product from UV rays. 

Retains Integrity When Wet

Moisture migration is a significant downside to plywood. Coosa board doesn’t face this challenge. In fact, Coosa board retains its physical properties significantly more than plywood when exposed to prolonged moisture or marine environments. When left to wet conditions, plywood, and key attributes of it like flex, deteriorate considerably. Conversely, Coosa board remains structurally sound even when subject to wet environments. 

Our Offerings

Coosa Composites caters to those who want to work with a premium product that not only offers ongoing cost-benefit, but is perfect for their particular application requirements. Ask us about our products and how our advantage can help out with your applications!