What Is Oriented Strand Board (OSB)?
Oriented strand board, also known as OSB, is a type of sheet wood made with wood strands and resin. As such, the misinformation stating that OSB is made of discarded carvings is far from the truth. OSB is actually made out of freshly chopped trees that are either deformed or mature young. Poplars and aspens are the usual types grown for this purpose. These trees are typically either too small or too deformed to make the large, uniform sheets required by builders. For this reason, they're put through a grinder and made into wood strands that are reshaped into planks.
What Is Plywood?
Now that we've seen one corner of our OSB vs plywood debate, let's take a look at the other contender. Plywood is another type of engineered wood, this time made up of layers of wood veneer. The veneer is typically harvested from birch trees by stripping them of their bark and "peeling" them with a rotating saw. Each rotation takes off a small layer of the wood, resulting in thin, intact sheets of veneer. The layers are then stacked together and pressed with heat and pressure to form a plywood board.
Frequently Asked Questions about OSB Vs Plywood: Choosing The Better Wood
Is oriented strand board stronger than plywood?
Oriented strand board, or OSB, is not generally stronger than plywood. Plywood can bear more weight and can take the force of a more focused impact better than OSB. However, OSB is known to have a slightly higher shear capacity than plywood. In other words, it stands up better to the swaying caused by earthquakes and the like.
Is OSB more water-resistant than plywood?
No, OSB is known to be much less water-resistant than plywood. It tends to swell more and doesn't retain its size and shape after drying. The edges of OSB are also particularly sensitive to water. This is why they aren't ideal for projects that are frequently exposed to moisture and soaking.
Is OSB board better than plywood?
OSB and plywood have their own pros and cons. OSB is cheaper and sometimes easier to work with because of its lightweight composition. Meanwhile, plywood bears more weight and is more water-resistant. Your project will determine which type is best for the job.
What are the disadvantages of OSB?
OSB is known to be quite sensitive to water in comparison to plywood. It tends to absorb water more slowly, but also doesn't dry out as quickly. There are some variants of OSB that are more water-resistant, but even they suffer from these drawbacks.
Is OSB cheaper than plywood?
Yes, OSB is significantly cheaper than plywood. The difference per board amounts to only a few dollars, but that stacks up quickly. You may end up saving hundreds of dollars by going for OSB over plywood. However, just be sure to check if OSB is the best engineered wood for the job. Some parts of the house are well worth the extra cash.
