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Do Command Strips Work on Plywood?

Do Command Strips Work On Plywood

Command is a common hanging strip brand used to decorate. They are very sturdy and come off your walls cleanly. They can be applied to many different types of surfaces, including varnished wood. One type of wood is plywood. Do Command strips work on plywood?

If you have smooth and or varnished plywood, you can safely put Command strips on your wood. Command strips do not work well on rough surfaces and can cause rips, tears, and damage to walls. As long as you have smooth and or varnished plywood, you will not have any issue using Command strips.

The rest of this article will cover if Command can be used to hang items on plywood, what affects the effectiveness of Command on plywood, how to properly use Command on plywood, limitations of Command on plywood, and alternative methods for hanging items on plywood.

Can Command Strips Be Used to Hang Items on Plywood?

Plywood is a type of material made from thin layers of wood veneer. It comes in large sizes and is most commonly used for cabinets and shelves.

The type of plywood you see cabinets and shelves made out of is A-grade plywood, which means the plywood is smooth and sanded.

Thanks to most plywood having smooth surfaces, you can put Command strips on structures or walls made of plywood.

Command strips work best on varnished wood, but smooth wood will do the job as well. It’s rough surfaces you need to look out for. Make sure your plywood has no knots.

As long as your plywood is a smooth surface, you can use Command strips to hang items on it. The Command strips will stick to the surface properly, and you can put decorations or other items up. 

Command strips work best with temporary decorations such as string lights during the holiday season, or lightweight objects like a small painting. You can also use Command hooks to hang up bags, jackets, and other items on plywood surfaces.

What Affects the Effectiveness of Command Strips on Plywood?

The biggest factor is the smoothness of the surface you’re applying the Command product to. This applies to all surfaces, not just plywood.

If you have a rough surface, such as textured wallpaper or brick walls, the Command product will not work.

Plywood is the same way. You should make sure you have A-grade plywood, or at least consider sanding and or varnishing the surface.

If you have rough plywood with lots of knots in it, the Command strip is less likely to stick, and it won’t be able to hold the same weight as normal.

The smoothness of the surface and the object are the two biggest factors in a Command strips’ effectiveness. If you have a rough surface and a rough object you’re hanging, the strips won’t be very effective.

How to Properly Use Command Strips on Plywood

To properly use Command products on plywood, you have to follow the instructions closely. Before you go to put the Command strip on, you should make sure the surface is clean and dusted.

Grime and dust will impact the effectiveness of the Command strip.

From there, you need to peel off the back of the strip and press it against the wall. Make sure you line up where you want the strip before you peel the back off.

When you’re confident with the placement, then you can proceed to take off the strip and put it on the wall.

After placing it on the wall, hold onto it for at least ten seconds. Press it against the wall for a short amount of time to ensure that it will stick.

At the end of the ten second mark, you can let go and double-check the placement.

Once you’re happy with it, you can start hanging decorations. If you are not happy with it, you can remove it. Remove it slowly and carefully since Command strips are very strong. Do not rip it off all at once.

Removed Command strips do not have the same effectiveness as fresh ones. If you need to remove a Command strip, discard it as soon as you peel it off the wall and get a new one to continue the hanging process.

Limitations Of Command Strips On Plywood

The main limitation Command has is the weight it can carry. Regardless of the surface, keep in mind that Command strips can only hold up to fifteen pounds.

Anything beyond that will cause tearing and damage. Try to stay away from the maximum weight.

Along with that, Command strips are best used for decorations. If you’re looking to hang shelves, not only will they be too heavy, but the strips are not the best choice.

Sturdier objects and or objects with strange shapes will require more Command strips to hang.

Just like how Command strips are not the best on rough surfaces, they’re not the best for rough objects either. If you are hanging up an object that has a texture not good for Command strips, it’s best to look into alternatives.

Alternative Methods for Hanging Items on Plywood

Any brand of adhesive or strips is great for hanging lightweight objects. These strips won’t cause damage to the plywood. There won’t even be a mark left behind.

However, if you don’t want strips, or you’re hanging heavy objects, you should look into alternatives like plastic anchors.

Plastic anchors are better for heavier objects because they can support between thirty and eighty-five pounds worth of weight per fastener.

They are very easy to use and also very accessible. You can get them off of Amazon or at a local home improvement company.

If you’re looking for something lighter, you should try molly bolts. These bolts are a bit harder to use than plastic anchors, but they’re good for lighter loads that Command strips can’t handle.

Molly bolts can do light to medium weight items since they can hold up to fifty pounds.

Like the plastic anchors, molly bolts are easy to find. Look on Amazon or at a local home improvement store.

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