Plywood & Lumber for TV and Film Set Construction in Miami

Miami’s Production Industry Is Booming — and Set Builders Need a Reliable Source

Miami has established itself as one of the most active production markets in the United States. Between the permanent studio infrastructure in Doral and Miramar, the volume of network and streaming productions that film on location in South Florida, and the growing advertising and commercial production ecosystem, there is consistent year-round demand for set construction materials.

Set builders and scenic carpenters work differently from general contractors. Schedules are compressed, design changes arrive mid-build, and the material needs on any given production can shift overnight. A supplier who can fill a large S4S order same-day, or deliver pallet quantities of birch plywood on 24-hours’ notice, is not just convenient — it’s a production necessity. This guide covers the three categories of materials set builders need and how to source them efficiently in Miami.

The Three Categories Set Builders Need

Set construction can be organized around three primary material categories, each with different performance requirements and typical specifications:

1. Structural framing lumber (S4S boards): The skeleton of every set — walls, flats, platforms, risers, and frames.
2. Finish panels (birch plywood): The visible surfaces — walls, furniture faces, prop bases, and decorative elements.
3. Platform and staging panels (CDX plywood): The structural decking for raised platforms, stages, and load-bearing horizontal surfaces.

Understanding which material goes in which application, and why, saves money, reduces waste, and prevents the embarrassing situation of using a $120 sheet of Baltic birch for subfloor work that CDX would handle perfectly at a fraction of the cost.

S4S Boards for Set Framing

S4S (surfaced four sides) dimensional lumber is the backbone of set construction. Unlike rough-sawn lumber, S4S boards arrive dimensioned, smooth, and ready to cut without any milling. For set construction, this matters because production schedules don’t allow time for milling and drying lumber before building.

Common S4S applications in set construction:

• 1×4×16 boards: The standard “stud” for theatrical flat construction. A 1×4 stud wall uses far less material than a 2×4 framed wall while achieving adequate structural rigidity for a set that won’t be bearing live loads. Sixteen-foot lengths allow full-height builds without splicing.
• 1×6 and 1×8: For wider flat frames, furniture prop bases, and set dressing elements that need a broader surface.
• 1×10×12: Wide platform frames, built-in furniture structures, and any set element requiring a substantial flat shelf or horizontal surface.
• 2×4 and 2×6 framing: For sets requiring structural rigidity equivalent to building construction — heavy stunts, overhead rigging attachment points, and multi-story builds.

S4S boards from International Plywood & Lumber are available in pine, poplar, and other species in standard dimensional sizes. Pallet quantities can be filled same-day from our Doral inventory on most common sizes.

Birch Plywood for Set Finishes

When a set surface will be seen on camera, birch plywood is the go-to finish panel for set builders. Birch’s tight grain, consistent face veneer, and smooth surface make it ideal for painted set walls, furniture pieces, and decorative elements that need to read cleanly on screen.

• 1/4″ birch plywood: The workhorse of set facing. Lightweight, flexible enough to conform to curved surfaces, and easily painted. Used for wall paneling on lightweight flats, cabinet faces, and any large-format painted surface where weight matters.
• 3/4″ birch plywood: For furniture pieces, prop bases, shelving, and any set element that will bear weight or receive physical interaction from talent or crew. 3/4″ birch takes paint cleanly, can be stained for natural wood looks, and routes well for detail work.
• B/BB grade birch: The standard specification for set work — B face (good, minor defects), BB back (sound, more defects permitted). When the back won’t be visible, B/BB provides the right face quality at a lower cost than B/B or better.

Baltic birch (Russian or European birch) and domestic birch plywood serve different needs. Baltic birch has void-free cross-ply construction that makes it superior for CNC routing and prop fabrication. For large-format painted set walls, domestic birch or paint-grade maple is typically more economical.

CDX for Platforms and Stages

Raised platforms and staging are a constant in set construction — audience risers, performance stages, split-level sets, and working surfaces that need to support performers, equipment, and sometimes significant point loads from rigging or props.

For structural platform decking, 3/4″ CDX plywood is the standard specification across most production environments. The reasons CDX beats OSB for set floors:

• Structural performance: CDX has better nail and screw holding than OSB, important for attaching decking to framing in a way that can be assembled and disassembled repeatedly.
• Edge stability: CDX edges are less prone to swelling and chipping than OSB edges when platforms are built, struck, and stored — sets are rarely single-use.
• Weight: CDX and OSB are comparable in weight at 3/4″, but CDX panels are more dimensionally consistent, which matters when building platforms to precise height specifications.
• Paintability: When the platform top surface will be visible (many set floors are painted), CDX provides a better paint surface than OSB’s rough face.

Fire Code Considerations for Miami Studios

Miami-Dade and Broward county fire codes, as well as production company and studio insurance requirements, may require fire-rated treatment (FRT) for lumber and plywood used in permanent or semi-permanent set installations inside studio buildings. The requirements vary by jurisdiction, facility, and the scope of work.

Before specifying materials for a studio build, confirm with the production company’s safety coordinator or the facility’s fire marshal whether FRT panels are required. International Plywood & Lumber can source FRT-rated CDX and framing lumber when the spec calls for it — but confirming the requirement in advance prevents last-minute material changes that disrupt the build schedule.

Ordering for a Production Schedule

Production schedules don’t always give the art department the luxury of two-week lead times. Set construction often runs on a compressed schedule — a production may receive final set design approval on a Monday with a first shoot day two weeks out. Here’s how to structure your material ordering for a production build:

• Call early for large orders: For pallet quantities of S4S or birch plywood, a 48-hour heads-up ensures your material is staged for same-day or next-day delivery without pulling from open stock that another customer may need.
• Confirm sizes and grades: Specify exactly what you need — 1×4×16 S4S pine, 1/4″ birch B/BB 4×8, 3/4″ CDX. Ambiguous orders create delays.
• Build a buffer into your material list: Production sets change. Order 10–15% more than your initial cut list anticipates, especially on S4S boards where a last-minute design addition can strand your build crew if you’re short by a hundred pieces.
• Ask about same-day availability: We maintain significant inventory at our Doral location. For urgent adds during a build, same-day pickup or delivery is often available on common sizes.

Trade Account for Production Companies

Production companies and scenic shops doing regular work in Miami benefit from a dedicated trade account. A production trade account provides consistent pricing across multiple projects, net terms that align with production billing cycles, a single supplier relationship for all lumber and panel needs, and the account history to facilitate quick credit decisions on new projects.

Setting up a trade account takes one phone call. We understand that production companies operate under time pressure — account setup is fast, and once you’re established, placing large orders takes minutes.