OSB is manufactured from heat-cured adhesives and rectangular- shaped wood strands that are arranged in cross-oriented layers. Produced in large, continuous mats, OSB is a solid-panel product of consistent quality with few voids or gaps. The finished product is an engineered wood panel that shares many of the strength and performance characteristics of plywood.
OSB can be manufactured into panels that are larger than plywood.
OSB is more uniform, so there are fewer soft spots, such as those that can occur in plywood.
OSB is less expensive than plywood. To build a typical 2,400-square foot home, OSB may cost $700 less than plywood.
OSB is considered by many to be a “green” building material because it can be made from smaller-diameter trees, such as poplars, that are often farmed. Plywood production, by contrast, requires larger-diameter trees from old-growth forests.
• Finished product has similar properties to plywood, but is uniform
• OSB can replace plywood in many environments
• Common uses for OSB are as sheathing in walls, floors, and roofs
• Rated for exterior sheathing
• Paintable
