RTD plywood stands for "Resistance Temperature Detector" plywood, which is an engineered wood product primarily designed for walls and roof sheathing. It is a type of plywood that has been specifically designed to prevent delamination, which refers to what happens when plywood veneers come apart. The letters "RTD" do not refer to the grade of plywood, but rather to an improvement in the manufacturing process that makes it stronger and more resistant to moisture damage than traditional CDX plywood.

RTD plywood is extremely water-resistant and can withstand prolonged exposure to moisture. It is made by gluing multiple thin layers of hardwood veneer, such as walnut, birch, maple, or oak, with high-quality, water-resistant glue, and the entire structure is put through high pressure and heat to ensure proper bonding between all the layers. The cross-grain structure of RTD plywood strengthens the plywood because individual veneer layers are placed perpendicular to each other and bonded with glue under high pressure.

RTD plywood is ideal for residential and light construction, and every piece meets the highest grading standards for strength and appearance. It is less likely for the layers to come apart, which prevents long-term issues for contractors who don’t want callbacks from upset homeowners. There are two distinct categories of RTD plywood: Exposure 1 rated or Exterior rated panel.

In summary, RTD plywood is a type of plywood that has been engineered to prevent delamination and is more resistant to moisture damage than traditional CDX plywood. It is made by gluing multiple thin layers of hardwood veneer with high-quality, water-resistant glue and is ideal for residential and light construction.