Full Answer
What is an OSB board?
OSB has been around since 1963 and unlike similar products, the strips of wood in each layer are placed strategically rather than randomly to give it strength and it can have up to 50 layers of wood in total!
What is the difference between OsB2 and osb3?
OSB is so strong in fact that it is now used for about 70% of all floor, wall and roof sheathing in North America and there are two different types of OSB, OSB2 and OSB3. OSB2 is great for structural, non-load bearing projects in dry conditions whereas OSB3 performs better for structural, load bearing use and for use in humid conditions.
What does OSB look like from the side?
From the side, OSB has the appearance of giant cornflakes pressed together to form structural panels in sizes similar to plywood, such as 4-foot by 8-foot. From the front or back, OSB is flat and sometimes has a waxy feeling. Floor covering (or finish floor) is the term for the topmost, eventual floor—the floor that you walk on and see.
What is an OSB subfloor?
OSB subfloor is mostly serving as a base under the finish floor (hardwood, engineered wood, vinyl tile, etc.) and even below the underlayment, in some cases.
What is the difference between osb2 and osb3 board?
As from the mechanical properties point of view (MOR, MOE, internal bond) there is no difference between OSB 2 and OSB 3, it is the swelling rate that makes the difference between the panels and limits the domain of use for each type of board: Internal use in dry conditions (RH ≤ 65%) for OSB 2 → service class 1.
What is OSB board used for?
OSB is extensively used for wall sheathing, floor underlayment, roof cover and I-joist in both commercial and residential building. OSB also is used in furniture, reels, trailer liners and recreational vehicle floors. Figure 3 shows siding and I-joist application of OSB in building construction.
Is OSB board stronger than plywood?
Osb is stronger than plywood in shear. Shear values, through its thickness, are about 2 times greater than plywood. This is one of the reasons osb is used for webs of wooden I-joists. However, nail-holding ability controls performance in shear wall applications.
Is OSB better than MDF?
OSB is considered to be stronger than MDF. OSB is suitable for structural projects and withstands water, moisture, and weather conditions better than MDF. However, MDF is more versatile and easy to work with than OSB and preferred for projects requiring a smooth finish.
Is OSB wood waterproof?
OSB is strong and water-resistant. This type of construction makes OSB is an incredibly strong material. In many instances, it is rated for load bearing applications (depending on the OSB grade). This type of board is an excellent material for use in waterproofing systems, be they roof, sub-floor or wall.
Can I use OSB instead of plywood?
Industry voices from panel manufacturers or their main trade group—APA – The Engineered Wood Association—say that there's no real difference between the two panels: OSB's and plywood's structural characteristics are equivalent, and they can be used interchangeably.
What happens if OSB board gets wet?
Your framing lumber and the oriented strand board (OSB) are going to be fine. The glues used to make OSB are water-resistant because the manufacturers know that virtually no one can build a home that won't get wet before the roof and siding is applied.
Why is OSB so expensive?
OSB is expensive because it takes a long time to expand lumber mills and increase their supply output.
Which is more water resistant OSB or plywood?
Plywood is porous and is susceptible to damage when exposed to water for longer time. OSB is not water resistant and hence cannot be used for exterior projects.
What is an alternative to OSB?
In addition to OSB, builders can choose plywood, fiberboard, rigid foam, diagonal boards, and fiberglass-faced gypsum panels. If you're a dyed-in-the-wool OSB user, it might be time to consider some of the available alternatives to OSB.
Is OSB good for furniture?
Intended Use As previously mentioned, OSB and Plywood are made in panels used for wall sheathing, flooring, roofing, and furniture. They are both utilized for their lightweight strength and durability.
What is cheaper than OSB?
All three types of rigid-foam insulation, to include expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and polyisocyanurate can be used as substitutes for OSB in sheathing exterior walls and roofs.
What is an OSB board?
An OSB board consists of several layers of glued wood chips to which pressure is applied. The layers are not arranged in any way, as it may seem, but the directions in which the chips in each layer are oriented alternate to give the board more stability and resistance.
Characteristics
OSBs have interesting features and advantages for various uses at really competitive prices. Although, on the other hand, they have disadvantages
Types
In general, 4 categories are established depending on the requirement of their use (standard EN 300).
Uses or applications
What are the OSB boards for? Well, the truth is that for a long time. This type of board surpassed the defined use during its conception and became one of the most versatile options.
How is OSB made?
OSB is made from wood strands 8 to 15 centimetres long. It uses the whole tree and makes use of crooked, knotty and deformed trees that would otherwise go unused. In BC, OSB is made from abundant, small diameter poplar and aspen trees.
Seeing the trees for the forest
British Columbia’s forests are vast and diverse. There are more than forty species of native trees in the province. Discover 17 of the most widely used for everything from single–family homes to tall timber towers.
What is OSB used for?
BC manufacturers produce a range of OSB products for structure and non-structural uses. As a lightweight, strong and versatile wood product it can be used for roof, wall and floor sheathing. It is also sometimes used as the web material for prefabricated I-joists and a skin material for structural insulated panels.
Will OSB burn rot or mold?
OSB can be chemically treated to improve resistance to decay or to fire. It is water-resistant when treated correctly with resins. OSB manufacturers must test their products to determine the effects of fire retardants, or any other chemicals.
How does OSB compare to other products?
Similar to plywood, OSB is often a go-to product and preferred for its many common uses. OSB can be fabricated into panel that are larger than plywood. Compared to plywood, OSB is heavier and swells more when wet, especially at panel edges, retaining water longer than plywood.
Looking for suppliers of OSB?
With the province of British Columbia recognized as a global leader in sustainable forest management, you can specify BC forest products with confidence. Connect with suppliers of OSB today.
