I want to put up a shelf for a microwave, which I guess weighs around 10 kg.
In the UK plywood is marketed as either "structural" or "unstructural". Is "unstructural" a good choice for this application, or should I use structural plywood?
The microwave is I'd say typical microwave size in the UK: about 48 cm side by 36 cm deep. The shelf will be the size of the microwave. I'm guessing I'd use 18 mm thick ply, but I imagine that might depend on the type of ply.
The shelf will be supported by two metal brackets (which have bracing struts that form a triangle). The brackets will be positioned at or within a cm or two from the location of the feet on which the microwave stands, so as to minimize the bending moment on the shelf.
Best Answer
From my reading, unstructural is not ok in damp/wet or areas with temperature changes. Microwaves put out a decent amount of heat and moisture, so I would not use it in this application.
Personally, I like to use solid wood for shelving as it is pretty cheap (pine) and you can normally get it in a size/length very close to what you need.