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SELLING panels is one thing. \)Selling Oriented Strand Boardthe engineered structural wood panel-is another. And while you and much of the building industry may be familiar with it, OSB remains relatively new and misunderstood by others. Arming yourself and your floor sales staff with the basics can help your operation move significantly more OSB, yielding greater sales and profit.

Wn"tis osB?

Oriented Strand Board is a structural panel made of precisely milled rectangular wood strands that are blended with resin and wax. The majority of strands are up to 4-114" long and 1" wide. Typically, fourstrand layers-two surface and two inner-make up the panel. The surface layer strands are aligned in the long panel direction, while the inner layers have cross or random alignment. A continuous four-layer "mat" is formed, then pressed into a panel under high heat and pressure. Panels are trimmed, edge coated and may be touch sanded or prepared with tongue-and-groove edges depending on the anticipated end use. A key feature of OSB is its uninterrupted wood fiber-free of knots and core voids.

Wn.t kind of timber is used to make OSB?

In general, most OSB is made from fast-growing hardwoods such as aspen or poplar, southern yellow pine, or mixed hardwoods and softwoods.

Wn.t is the main difrerence between OSB and plywood?

In a structural 5snse-vvhish is the most important factor-there is virtually no difference. OSB and plywood are engineered to meet the same performance standards. Both OSB and plywood are structural panels and are used in structural applications. Many builders find that OSB provides advantages such as greater uniforrrity, rigidity, shear, and no core voids. OSB can be sawed, drilled, filed, routed, sanded and painted.

Wnrt about price?

OSB is a commodity producl like plywood, and market fluctuations contribute to price variations. As with plywood, OSB's structural performance is ensured by quality assurance and independent testing.

Story at a Glance

Be able to answer the most frequently asked .questions about the world s fastest growing structural panel.

In what applications is OSB used?

The short answer is that OSB may be used wherever plywood is usedprimarily as roof and wall sheathing, in floors. subfloors and floor underlayment, and more. Today there are many "value added" forms of OSB including structural insulated panels, OSB-core decorative veneer panels, and as the web in engineered wood Ijoists. Traditionally, OSB is used as: r Wall Sheathing: OSB provides equivalent fre resistance in fue-resistant wall assemblies, good R-value and acoustical control. OSB walls also demonstrate high performance in racking and deflection shength.

. Roof Sheathing: OSB is extra rigid to withstand heavy snow loads, strong winds and seismic forces. The manufacturing process provides one textured surface for safer footing.

Floors: OSB subfloors provide a working pladorm and base for underlayment and finished flooring such as carpet, vinyl, tiles or hardwood. Studies show that OSB is comparable to plywood in terms of nail holding abitty. OSB singleJayer floors serve as both subflooring and underlayment for use under pad and carpet or lightweight concrete. Properly installed, OSB floors provide a snug fit with greatly reduced squeaking.

. D-I-Y Uses: Homeowners find OSB panels ideal for a variety of home projects such as pool cabanas, garden sheds, children's furniture, shelving and storage crates.

How does OSB stack up envir,ontnentally?

Unlike plywood, which is generally made from older, large-diameter trees, OSB is manufactured from fastgrowing tree species, some as small as four inches in diameter. The mills used to manufacture OSB are highly energy efficient and use virtually all of the log. Off-gassing is negligible because the resin binders used in OSB are completely cured during the manufacturing process.

Wn"t do OSB markings indicate?

All OSB intended for use in construction should bear the mark of an accrcdited wood certification agency such as APA-The Engineered Wood Association, PFS/TECO or PSI. OSB panels also should display stamps that indicate the span rating, thickness and bond durability.

What kind of care does OSB need?

As with all wood products, care should be taken to prevent prolonged contact with moisture or standing water. OSB is designed to withstand exposure to moisture, given normal, two- to three-month constnrction time periods. Moisture can cause some edge swell and surface roughness in OSB, but it will not affect tlp panel's stnrctural integrity.

Educating your floor sales staff and customer service department with these basic facts can help them know more about selling OSB, the fastest growing structural panel in the world.