The Ultimate Guide to Oriented Stand Board (OSB 3)
If you've ever found yourself beginning construction on a new home (or are merely considering it), you likely can't catch a break from those in the know singing the praises of OSB 3 Boards.
Sounds industrial, doesn't it?
If you're not sure what OSB 3 boarding is and what its benefits are, you're not alone - we've helpfully broken down anything and everything you might need to know about this wonderful resource.
Â
What is OSB?
Â
OSB stands for oriented strand board and is a type of construction material. While vaguely similar to chipboard, all oriented strand boards use longer, coarser pieces of wood - this increases mechanical strength and resistance to humidity but a smooth surface is sacrificed.
Â
OSB is an engineered form of chipboard, produced by the addition of adhesive to strands of wood of varying thicknesses to form layers which are compressed onto one another. This both ensures a consistent density and is done carefully such that there are no open gaps - allowing the board to be waterproof and withstand humidity.
OSB is both cost-effective and sustainable - it can be made from nascent saplings, many of which come from British FSC certified forests. It's usually bought in sheets - up to 9ft tall - meaning you can sheathe an entire wall with singular sheets oriented vertically. OSB up to any size can be manufactured, however.
Note that plywood is generally limited to 8 to 10 feet.