Platform Wood - Deck Sheets, Stage Platforms, Project Cargo

What is platform wood?

Platform wood is a general-purpose wood sheet-deck product: thick plywood or solid-plank sheets, typically 4 feet by 8 feet (standard sheet-good dimension) up to 8 feet by 12 feet (custom), used as deck boards, platform surfaces, work-area flooring, oversized-load bases, scaffolding decking, movie-set flooring, trade-show booth platforms, and anywhere a large flat wood surface is needed quickly and economically.

Platform wood sits between dimensional lumber (sawn 2-by-4s, 2-by-6s, etc.) and finished sheet goods (sanded plywood, OSB). The product is engineered or sawn to carry foot traffic, vehicle traffic, equipment traffic, or static loads across a flat surface - without being a finished-grade product. Platform wood is a work-grade product: strong, flat, easy to install, and economical.

Common end uses: temporary flooring over existing surfaces (construction job sites), event and trade show booth platforms, movie and television set construction, portable stage decks for touring events, work platforms around industrial equipment, truck-bed decks for truck conversion, oversized-load platform bases, and scaffolding deck boards.

Platform wood grades we supply

Standard construction-grade plywood sheets

3/4-inch, 1-inch, and 1-1/8-inch structural plywood in 4-by-8 and 4-by-12 sheets. CDX grade for job-site use; sanded underlayment for finish-adjacent use. Pricing per sheet or per truckload.

Platform-grade LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and glulam

For long-span and high-load platform applications, LVL or glulam deck boards offer higher stiffness per inch than plywood. Common sizes are 1-3/4-inch by 11-7/8-inch and up to 1-3/4-inch by 24-inch.

Sawn plank platforms

2-by-6, 2-by-8, 2-by-10, and 2-by-12 kiln-dried softwood planks for solid-plank platform construction (truck beds, deck surfaces, stage flooring).

Movie-set and theatrical-grade platform

For theatrical and film-set construction we supply fire-rated plywood (Class A or Class B) in 4-by-8 and custom sizes. Full certification documentation available.

ISPM-15 for export platforms

For export project cargo requiring a platform base (crated machinery, generator transport, oversized-load shipments to overseas destinations) we supply ISPM-15 heat-treated and IPPC-stamped platform wood.

Platform wood for oversized loads and project cargo

Oversized industrial equipment often ships on a platform-wood base built to drawing: 4-by-8 or 4-by-12 structural plywood over heavy timber runners (6-by-6 or 8-by-8 Douglas fir), with blocking and bracing on top. The platform is the structural base; the equipment rides on top. For truck transport the platform rides on a flatbed; for rail transport the platform rides on a flatcar; for ocean transport the platform rides inside an ISO flatrack or in breakbulk shipping.

We build platform-base assemblies from engineered drawings for transformer, generator, HVAC equipment, mining equipment, and project cargo. The platform typically includes integrated lifting lugs or tie-down points.

Platform wood for events and set construction

Trade show booths, portable stages, and film-and-television set construction consume platform wood in large quantities. For trade show booth platforms we supply 3/4-inch sanded plywood on 2-by-4 framing for a 100-square-foot booth that assembles with screws in an hour. For portable stage decks we supply 1-inch plywood on 2-by-6 framing for stages rated to 150 pounds per square foot of live load. For film-and-television set construction we supply fire-rated plywood with full certification.

Programs are quoted per event (one-time build, breakdown, disposal) or per season (standing inventory, reused across multiple events, repaired between events).

Platform wood for truck bed and equipment deck conversions

For truck bed replacement, equipment deck surfaces, and work-truck conversions we supply pressure-treated 2-by-6 and 2-by-8 kiln-dried plank in truck-bed-length cuts, or structural plywood sheet in truck-bed-width cuts. Platform wood for truck beds typically runs 1-inch thick for medium-duty trucks and 1-1/8 inch for heavy-duty.

For agricultural equipment deck surfaces (feed truck beds, grain truck floors) we supply oak or hardwood plank for high-abrasion applications.

What to send us for a platform wood quote

Send us: application (event, construction, project cargo, truck bed, scaffolding, movie set), total square footage or linear footage needed, thickness and grade preference (or let us recommend), special requirements (fire-rated, ISPM-15, pressure-treated), and ship-to state. Standard reply same business day for in-stock material; custom cuts and ISPM-15 add 2 to 5 business days.

Industries we supply platform wood to

Common specs

Related wood products

Decision guides

Not sure which product fits? These side-by-side comparisons walk the choice:

Frequently asked questions

What thickness of plywood for a stage platform?

For a portable stage rated to 150 pounds per square foot of live load, 3/4-inch CDX plywood on 2-by-6 framing at 16-inch on-center is typical. For a stage rated to 200+ psf (crowd dancing, heavy equipment) use 1-inch plywood on 2-by-6 at 12-inch on-center. For custom stage engineering we quote to drawing.

Can platform wood be reused across events?

Yes - with care. Platform wood used indoors with foot traffic and screw assembly typically lasts 10 to 30 event cycles. We quote platform-wood programs for repeat event production that include inventory, repair, and replacement.

Do you supply fire-rated platform wood for film and television sets?

Yes - Class A and Class B fire-rated plywood with full certification documentation. Lead time is typically 7 to 15 business days for mid-size orders; 1 to 5 days for in-stock inventory. Fire-rated plywood costs 1.5 to 2 times standard CDX.

What is the difference between CDX plywood and sanded underlayment?

CDX is construction-grade: a C-grade face and D-grade back with X-grade (exterior) glue. Used where appearance does not matter. Sanded underlayment has a smooth face for finish-adjacent use (where another material covers it). For most platform-wood applications CDX is sufficient; use sanded underlayment only when a smooth top surface is required.

Can platform wood support vehicle traffic?

Depends on thickness and framing. For light-vehicle traffic (ATV, forklift) 1-inch CDX on 2-by-6 at 12-inch on-center is a starting point. For medium-vehicle traffic (dump truck, work truck) use 1-1/8 inch CDX on 2-by-8 at 12-inch on-center. For heavy vehicles we recommend LVL or glulam deck.

What is the typical lead time?

For in-stock CDX plywood: 1 to 3 business days from PO, same-day in Florida. For custom cuts: 3 to 7 business days. For LVL and glulam deck: 7 to 15 business days. For fire-rated plywood or ISPM-15 export: 5 to 10 business days.

Do you supply engineered drawings for custom platform designs?

For large project cargo platform assemblies, yes - we work with structural engineers to produce stamped drawings for transformer, generator, and oversized-load platform bases. Drawings are quoted separately from material.

Can platform wood be pressure-treated for outdoor use?

Yes - pressure-treated plywood and plank for outdoor exposure and ground contact. Pressure treatment adds 20 to 40 percent to material cost. For truck beds, outdoor stages, and marine environments pressure-treated is standard.

What hardwoods do you supply for high-abrasion truck beds?

Oak and ash are the common hardwood species for feed-truck beds and grain-truck floors. Hardwood plank costs 3 to 5 times softwood plank but lasts 3 to 10 times longer in high-abrasion applications. We supply in standard 2-by-6 and 2-by-8 cuts.

Can platform wood be used indoors over existing flooring?

Yes - standard application for construction job sites, event floors, trade show booths. 3/4-inch CDX laid directly over existing finish floor with proper underlay (foam or felt) protects the finish floor and provides a working platform. We quote with and without underlay.

Updated 2026-10-07