Osb Vs. Plywood for Subflooring

Osb Vs. Plywood for Subflooring thumbnail
Osb Vs. Plywood for Subflooring

Consumers choosing to build subflooring with oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood must consider the impact of moisture when the product gets exposed to moisture during construction. These facts help the consumer to compare these products. Does this Spark an idea?

  1. Warning

    • According to APA-The Engineered Wood Association, plywood and OSB products should be built to the U.S. Product Standards PS 1 and PS 2 to ensure low emission levels of formaldehyde.

    Considerations

    • Plywood and OSB are both structural panels made by gluing and pressing wood together. The major difference in composition is that OSB is made from wood strands while plywood is made from strips of wood veneer.

    Types

    • Both plywood and OSB are now available in water-resistant versions.

    Why Plywood

    • Plywood is stiffer and built to last longer than OSB. Also, OSB is subject to swelling along the edges when the wood product receives moisture exposure.

    Why OSB

    • OSB is generally cheaper than plywood. Although more expensive, enhanced OSB can save the cost of replacing subflooring (i.e. for wooden decks) damaged by moisture.

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  • Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

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