OSB full name is Oriented strand board, it is a widely used multi-functional engineering wood board, made of a variety of wood chips arranged by waterproof heat setting adhesives and cross-directional layers. Its strength and properties are similar to plywood, resistant to deflection, warping and torsion.
Is OSB better than plywood?
Compared to plywood, OSB is heavier, expands more when wet, especially at panel edges, and holds water longer than plywood. Despite their differences, both OSB and plywood are comparable products that meet the same standards of strength and structural performance. Both plywood and oriented particleboard have some advantages and disadvantages, but it is usually up to personal preference and opinion to determine which is best.
OSB benefits:
It’s cheaper than plywood
It has larger sheets than plywood.
It’s thicker and heavier, which some people see as a strength and some people see as a weakness.
It is considered more environmentally friendly than plywood because smaller, younger trees can be used to produce it, making it more sustainable.
Disadvantages of OSB:
It needs to be sealed at any cut to ensure that it remains water-resistant, otherwise it will expand at the cut and absorb water.
It takes longer to dry than plywood.
It’s thicker and heavier, which some people see as a strength and some people see as a weakness.
What Are OSB Boards Used For?
OSB can be used to make a variety of different furniture or cabinets. With a little creativity, there are endless options, headboards, bulletin boards, drawers and wardrobes.
It can also be used for building components including wooden roofs, interior and exterior wall panels and floor sheathing. It is also sometimes used as a web material for prefabricated joists and as a skin material for structural insulation panels.
After processing to replace the joinery board, three plywood, five plywood, formwork, fire board, decorative board, partition, solid wood floor and keel lining board.
Other uses include RV manufacturing and truck panels, pallets, industrial containers, Marine applications.
How are OSB boards graded?
The European standard specifies four different grades of OSB boards, related to strength performance levels and moisture resistance:
OSB1: Usually designed for indoor use, as they need to be used in dry conditions. Recommended for interior furniture or decoration,low grade, cheap price .
OSB2:Load-bearing board for use in dry conditions. Dominated by poplar core, it is stronger than OSB1 and therefore can be used for load-bearing walls, commonly used in flooring and roofing applications, furniture manufacturing and packaging
OSB3: For bearing plates in wet environments. It is extremely rugged and can be used in harsher environments – including many outdoor applications. OSB3 is load-bearing and, due to its high strength, is commonly used in roof and floor applications, dominated by pine cores
OSB4: Heavy duty bearing board suitable for humid conditions.OSB4 has better load bearing and stiffness performance than OSB3. OSB4 products are in line with today’s concept of environmentally friendly living and meet the market’s demand for organic materials. Selected high-quality wood and adhesive, excellent quality, meet the high standard of environmental protection building requirements
