T1-11 Siding: Specifications and How to Import from Brazil

T1-11 (also written T111 or Texture 1-11) is a grooved plywood siding panel that has been a staple of North American residential construction for decades. It is used on house exteriors, barns, sheds, garages, and outbuildings across the US and Canada. Brazil is one of the leading exporters of T1-11 to the US market.

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What is T1-11?

T1-11 is a structural panel siding product — plywood with vertical grooves machined into the face at regular intervals. The grooves create a board-and-batten visual effect without the labour of installing individual boards. The panel is used as both structural sheathing and finished exterior cladding in one layer.

Key characteristics:

• Grooved face (vertical grooves only)
• Structural plywood panel — provides racking resistance
• WBP exterior phenolic glue bond
• Ready to prime and paint on installation

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Specifications

Specification	Standard value
Typical thickness	9.5mm (3/8"), 11mm (7/16"), 15mm (19/32")
Sheet size	1220×2440mm (4×8 ft)
Groove pattern	4" o.c. (on centre) or 8" o.c.
Groove width	Approx. 3mm (1/8")
Groove depth	Approx. 6mm (1/4")
Species	Pinus elliottii / Pinus taeda
Glue bond	WBP Exterior Phenolic
Surface	Rough-sawn texture face (brushed or sanded options)
Grade standard	APA Rated Siding / PS1-09

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Groove patterns

4" o.c.: Grooves every 4 inches across the panel width. Creates a narrower board appearance. Most popular for residential housing.

8" o.c.: Grooves every 8 inches. Creates a wider board appearance. Common for agricultural buildings and sheds.

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CARB P2 and formaldehyde compliance

T1-11 exported to the US must comply with CARB P2 / TSCA Title VI formaldehyde emission standards. All T1-11 produced by our Brazilian mills for the US market is certified by an EPA-approved third-party certifier (Bureau Veritas, SGS, or Intertek).

Documentation provided:

• CARB P2 / TSCA Title VI compliance certificate
• Third-party emission test report
• Mill-specific CARB certificate

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How to import T1-11 from Brazil

Lead time: 4–6 weeks production + 12–16 days transit to Gulf of Mexico ports (Houston, New Orleans).

Container loading: A standard 40'HC container holds approximately 800–1,000 sheets of 9.5mm T1-11 (4×8 ft), depending on stacking configuration.

MOQ: 1 FCL 40'HC. The 40'HC is the standard container for T1-11 due to panel size.

Pricing: FOB Paranaguá. Contact us for current pricing — rates vary with Brazilian exchange rate and production volume.

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Documentation package

Every T1-11 shipment from EBP includes:

• Commercial invoice + packing list
• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Origin (Brazil)
• Phytosanitary certificate (MAPA)
• ISPM 15 heat treatment certificate
• CARB P2 / TSCA Title VI compliance certificate
• FSC transaction certificate (if FSC grade ordered)

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T1-11 vs domestic US alternatives

Brazilian T1-11 competes primarily with domestically manufactured pine and LP SmartSide siding panels. The comparison for importers and distributors:

Attribute	Brazilian Pine T1-11	Domestic Pine T1-11	LP SmartSide
Material	Solid pine plywood	Solid pine plywood	Engineered wood fibre
CARB P2 / TSCA	Certified	Certified	Certified
FOB price	Competitive — see below	Domestic pricing	Higher
Lead time	4–6 weeks + transit	Stock available	Stock available
MOQ	1 FCL 40'HC	Case quantities	Case quantities
WBP glue bond	Phenolic exterior	Yes	Not applicable

Brazilian T1-11 is best suited to distributors, lumber yards, and contractors ordering in container quantities — typically 800–1,000 sheets per load. For job-site orders of a few hundred sheets, domestic supply remains more practical.

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Pricing factors for importers

T1-11 pricing varies with:

1. Brazilian real (BRL) to USD exchange rate — all Brazilian timber FOB prices are derived from BRL production costs. A weaker BRL means more competitive USD pricing.
2. US softwood tariff (HTS 4412.31, 8% MFN) — this is the landed duty. Brazilian pine is not subject to anti-dumping — unlike Chinese plywood carrying 25%+.
3. Ocean freight — Paranaguá to Gulf Coast: typically USD 1,200–1,800 per 40'HC depending on market conditions.
4. Panel thickness — 9.5mm (3/8") is the lowest cost; 15mm (19/32") carries a premium.

Request our current proforma for all-in landed cost calculations delivered to your port of entry.

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Common first-order questions

Can you supply 4" and 8" o.c. groove patterns on the same container? Yes — provide the split at time of order.

Do you supply T1-11 in a rough-sawn face? Yes — rough-sawn texture face is standard. Brushed or sanded options are available on request.

Is primer paint applied at the factory? No — panels are supplied bare, ready for priming and painting on site. This matches standard North American site practice.

Can T1-11 be shipped with other plywood grades on the same container? Yes — mixed containers (T1-11 + CDX sheathing, T1-11 + A/B) are common and quoted on the same proforma.

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Painting and site finishing

T1-11 should be primed and painted before installation and on all cut edges after trimming. The standard finishing sequence:

1. Prime all faces and edges — 1 coat exterior-grade oil-based primer on the face, back, and all edges before installation
2. Install with a 1/8" gap at horizontal joints to allow for panel movement
3. Top coat — 2 coats exterior latex or oil-based paint after installation; Brazilian pine holds paint well across seasonal movement cycles
4. Re-coat schedule — inspect every 5–7 years; re-apply top coats as needed

Factory-applied primer is not standard on Brazilian T1-11 export product. Panels arrive bare and ready for site priming.

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Related reading

T1-11 Plywood Grade Specifications · How to Source Pine Plywood from Brazil for the US Housing Market · CARB P2 Pine Plywood for US Importers · WBP vs MR Plywood · Pine Plywood

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