Every construction site has its own truth serum. It is not a lab test. It is not a brochure. It is not even the site engineer’s confidence. It is the moment when concrete is poured, vibrated, cured, and finally demoulded. That is when materials are exposed for who they really are.
On paper, many shuttering materials look impressive. On site, only a few survive. Two such materials that are often compared today are PVC shuttering board and film faced plywood. Both promise smooth finish. Both claim durability. Both are sold as improvements over regular construction plywood.
But when the dust settles and the slab comes out, one usually performs better than the other. And beyond that, there is a third category that quietly outperforms both. High quality plastic shuttering sheets like WoWBoards.
Let us walk through this comparison not as marketers, but as people who have stood on site, watched boards swell, heard supervisors complain, and seen contractors calculate losses quietly.
Understanding the Contenders
Before choosing sides, let us understand what we are comparing.
Film Faced Plywood
Film faced plywood is essentially construction plywood with a resin or phenolic film laminated on the surface. The film improves surface smoothness and offers some resistance to moisture.
It is widely used because it feels like a safer version of plywood. Familiar but upgraded.
PVC Shuttering Board
A PVC shuttering board is made primarily from PVC material. It is water resistant, termite resistant, and does not absorb moisture like wood.
PVC boards entered the market as a reaction to plywood failures in wet and humid conditions.
Plastic Shuttering Sheets like WoWBoards
This is where the story evolves further. WoWBoards are not generic PVC boards. They are engineered plastic shuttering sheets made from recycled plastic and designed specifically for construction loads and repeated use.
They are not plywood with a film. They are not thin PVC sheets. They are a complete formwork solution.
Performance Factor 1: Water and Moisture Resistance
Let us start with the biggest villain on site. Water.
Film Faced Plywood and Moisture
The film on film faced plywood does a decent job initially. Water does not easily penetrate the surface. But construction sites are not gentle places.
Edges get damaged. Screw holes appear. Small scratches form. Once water enters through these points, the core wood begins to absorb moisture.
The result is swelling, edge damage, and eventual delamination. The film remains, but the plywood underneath weakens.
Even waterproof plywood eventually succumbs to repeated curing cycles and humidity.
PVC Shuttering Board and Moisture
PVC boards do not absorb water. This is their biggest advantage over plywood. They remain dimensionally stable even in wet conditions.
However, many PVC boards available in the market are designed more for interior applications than heavy RCC shuttering. Their performance depends heavily on formulation and thickness.
WoWBoards and Moisture
WoWBoards are plastic shuttering sheets engineered for continuous exposure to water. They do not absorb moisture, swell, or soften. Even after repeated curing cycles, they remain unchanged.
On sites with heavy rain, high humidity, or coastal conditions, this stability becomes a major advantage.
Performance Factor 2: Structural Strength and Load Bearing
Shuttering is not just about surface finish. It is about holding wet concrete safely.
Film Faced Plywood
Film faced plywood has decent initial strength. But as moisture enters the core, strength reduces. After a few uses, boards start flexing more under load.
This is often when contractors increase props or reduce spacing, which adds cost and complexity.
PVC Shuttering Board
PVC boards vary widely in strength. Some perform well in lighter shuttering applications. Others struggle under heavy slab or beam loads.
The challenge with generic PVC boards is inconsistency. Not all PVC boards are designed for formwork pressure.
WoWBoards
WoWBoards are designed specifically as plastic shuttering sheets for RCC work. Their load bearing capacity is tested and predictable.
They retain strength over repeated uses, unlike plywood which degrades over time. This reliability allows engineers to design formwork systems with confidence.
Performance Factor 3: Surface Finish Consistency
This is where contractors and clients notice the difference immediately.
Film Faced Plywood
The first few pours look good. Smooth surface. Clean finish.
But as the film wears out or peels at corners, the finish becomes inconsistent. Some areas look smooth. Others look rough. Touch up work increases.
PVC Shuttering Board
PVC boards generally provide a smooth finish. However, cheaper variants can develop surface marks or lose smoothness over time.
WoWBoards
WoWBoards maintain surface smoothness because the material itself is smooth throughout. There is no surface coating to wear off.
Concrete does not stick. Demoulding is clean. The finish remains consistent even after many repetitions.
This consistency is one of the main reasons builders stop counting how many times they have used WoWBoards.
Performance Factor 4: Reusability and Life Cycle
This is where real economics come into play.
Film Faced Plywood
Typical reuse cycles range from 8 to 15 if handled well. In humid conditions, it is often less.
Beyond that, swelling, delamination, and film damage make the board unusable.
PVC Shuttering Board
PVC boards generally last longer than plywood. But life varies depending on quality.
WoWBoards
WoWBoards are known to last several dozen cycles with proper handling. Their performance does not drop sharply with time.
When cost per use is calculated, WoWBoards often outperform both film faced plywood and generic PVC boards.
Performance Factor 5: Handling and Site Practicality
Film Faced Plywood
Heavy. Absorbs moisture. Requires careful storage. Vulnerable to termites.
PVC Shuttering Board
Lighter than plywood. Easy to handle. Termite resistant.
WoWBoards
Optimised weight for strength. Easy to cut and handle. Resistant to termites, water, and site abuse.
They integrate easily into existing formwork systems without requiring major changes in practice.
The Sustainability Angle
Film faced plywood is still wood based. Trees are cut. Waste plywood is difficult to recycle.
PVC boards may or may not be recyclable depending on formulation.
WoWBoards are made from recycled plastic. Waste plastic becomes a durable construction product. At end of life, boards can be recycled again.
For builders increasingly conscious of sustainability and compliance, this matters.
So Which Performs Better on Site?
If the comparison is strictly between PVC shuttering board and film faced plywood, PVC usually performs better in moisture resistance and durability.
But when the comparison includes high quality plastic shuttering sheets like WoWBoards, the answer becomes clearer.
WoWBoards combine:
- Moisture resistance of PVC
- Strength suitable for RCC shuttering
- Consistent surface finish
- Long reuse life
- Sustainability through recycled material
They are not just a better option. They are a more complete one.
Why Builders Move Beyond Film Faced Plywood
Builders who start with film faced plywood often do so because it feels familiar.
But familiarity does not equal performance.
As sites face more environmental stress, tighter timelines, and higher finish expectations, the limitations of plywood become obvious.
This is when plastic shuttering becomes the next step, not an experiment.
Conclusion: The Site Decides, Not the Brochure
On site, materials are judged brutally. There is no marketing. Only performance.
Film faced plywood performs better than regular plywood. PVC boards perform better than plywood in moisture.
But plastic shuttering sheets like WoWBoards perform better than both because they are designed for the realities of construction, not adapted from other uses.
If you want shuttering that stays consistent, safe, and economical across projects, the choice is clear.
Upgrade to WoWBoards and Build With Confidence
If you are deciding between film faced plywood and PVC shuttering boards, consider going one step further.
Choose WoWBoards, the plastic shuttering sheets engineered for durability, finish consistency, and sustainability.
Build better slabs. Reduce rework. Eliminate swelling. And stop worrying about shuttering failures.
The site will thank you.