1/2" plywood for home wall

Doug S wrote: Ok this sounds cool. I'd go 2 layers 3/8. It sounds like you plan on installing one layer vertically (i.e. "standing them up" as we say in the business) and the other layer horizontally (i.e. "laying them down"). Here's some tips: Don't stand them up. They're really hard to bend. The sheets are easier to bend if you "lay them down", or in other words, the 8 foot axis of the sheet is perpendicular to the studs. Do both layers like this but stagger the joints between layers. Start the first layer with a full sheet, then on the second layer start with a cut (I'd go 4 foot by 3 foot wide). This way there is never a joint going the whole way through both layers. Why? It will be stronger and the curve will be more natural and consistent. Definitely glue between layers. I would even use a ratchet strap to cinch the sheet down tight to the curve before screwing it if I had to. It's tricky sometimes screwing sheets to a radius- I've done it and sometimes you have to try different tricks to get it tight to the framing, and the joints straight and tight. It's not as easy as you'd think. Sounds like cool project! I hope this helps and if you need any advice you can PM me. Good luck!

The standard size for home walls is 3/4" (~18mm). I'd recommend taking a look at the wall building guide at sheetmaterialswholesale.co.uk  if you haven't already. I'm no structural engineer but I'd guess 12mm would flex too much. Also would also be too thin to take t-nuts properly for bolt-on holds.

I thought 1/2" has the downside of spinner holds because the wall flexes. How big of a wall are you making that the cost of 1/2" vs 3/4" makes any difference? 

You'll get way more bang for your buck saving money searching for cheaper holds. 

What if I already had a bunch of 12mm plywood?  Would I be stupid to use it? 

I have 20+ sheets of leftover 12mm cabinet-grade birch plywood from building our shop.  I'd like to put a 24' x 8' wall in that shop, and it seems silly to go out and buy 3/4" CDX (especially when it's $30/sheet right now) when I have stacks of leftover 12mm plywood sitting in the corner. 

Could I adjust the framing or something similar to make up for the missing 7mm of plywood, or should I just suck it up and spend another ~$250 to get the sheets of 3/4 ply I'll need? 

Andrew Hoehn wrote:

What if I already had a bunch of 12mm plywood?  Would I be stupid to use it? 

I have 20+ sheets of leftover 12mm cabinet-grade birch plywood from building our shop.  I'd like to put a 24' x 8' wall in that shop, and it seems silly to go out and buy 3/4" CDX (especially when it's $30/sheet right now) when I have stacks of leftover 12mm plywood sitting in the corner. 

Could I adjust the framing or something similar to make up for the missing 7mm of plywood, or should I just suck it up and spend another ~$250 to get the sheets of 3/4 ply I'll need? 

you can double up sheets and screw them together every 12 inches on a grid pattern (you can alternate screwing from both sides if there is any concern about durability). It will be heavy to mount by yourself