Oriented Strand Board Hardwood Flooring
The subfloor consists of sheet materials that are nailed or screwed to the joists to.
Oriented strand board hardwood flooring. Builders often reserve the use of oriented stand board for residential sheathing and construct subfloors with plywood. Moisture also affects the strength of plywood. In 2001 oriented strand board surpassed plywood in terms of square footage produced. While osb oriented strand board is generally cheaper than plywood it is heavier and not as stiff as plywood and can result in soft squeaky floors under weight the biggest complaint against osb is that it doesn t handle moisture very well so it is more suited for indoor use.
Even so the national wood flooring. In addition to the visible surface flooring material the carpet tile or hardwood there is usually an underlayment and beneath that is a subfloor that serves as the foundation and structural reinforcement for the floor. A typical wood framed residential flooring system is more complicated than you think. Building codes the engineered wood association architects and most builders rate plywood and oriented strand board obs sheathing equal in strength and durability.
Oriented strand board osb is a material with oriented strand board osb is a material with high mechanical properties that make it particularly suitable for load bearing applications in construction. How to install a wooden floor over osb. Osb when exposed to the weather will eventually swell and bubble up minor instances of bubbling can be sanded but for the most part the osb is irreparable and should be replaced. A viable alternative to plywood this osb board is engineered to prevent any cupping warping or splitting.
Let s take a look at which one might be the better choice for you and your projects. Osb is more resistant to moisture absorption but also takes longer to dry out. An increasing number of homes and light commercial buildings have oriented strand board osb subfloors. So while exterior glued plywood can be used outdoors it works best.
Installing hardwood flooring over osb. There is often a debate on which is better plywood or oriented strand board osb. Osb is not attractive enough to serve as a floor covering not only is the chip board appearance unattractive but the surface is also often marked with grid lines and manufacturer markings. Builders choose osb because it typically costs less than plywood free of knots and voids and can be used interchangeably in typical flooring applications where the panels have the correct span rating.
Both can be used in structural applications for roofs walls and floors.