SEVEN tips fofosBfetailing

QALES of OSB for new construcL)tion. remodeling, and do-it-yourself purposes have skyrocketed, placing more demand on retail sales staffs to know the product and its advantages for end users.

The following are six points to remember when selling OSB:

ONE

OSB isn't what it used to be. OSB evolved from waferboard in the late 1970s. There is a tendency for many homeowners still to confuse it with that product, or an even bigger misconception, non-structural particleboard. It is important to explain that OSB is much advanced in terms of structural integrity.

TWO

No longer can OSB be viewed as the less expensive structural panel. It has become a product purchased for value, not simply low cost. OSB prices, in many cases, are achieving parity with plywood.

THREE

Oriented strand board is just that: oriented. Thin, rectangular-shaped wood strands are not randomly placed. These strands are positioned lengthwise and crosswise in layers, and bonded with water resistant adhesives. Most panel edges are also treated with a sealant for moisture protection. The result is a stiff structural panel with flexible qualities.

FOUR

OSB and plywood must meet the same standards. All building codes in the U.S. and Canada recosnize OSB panels for the same uses as plywood on a thickness-by-thickness basis. OSB is also recognized for structural use in Europe. In Japan, North American OSB is certified to meet the Japan Agricultural Standard for structural panels, among the world's most demanding and exacting certification marks. tion, racking and shape distortion or warping. srx

OSB is an engineered structural panel. specifically manufactured for such structural applications as floor, roof and wal1 sheathing in wood frame construction. OSB panels boast superior holding capabilities even when nailed close to the panel edges. Despite differences in composition and appearance, OSB and plywood each share the same exposure durability classifications, performance standards and span ratings.

* OSB panels are made of real wood, a natural insulator. Panels are lightweight, easy to handle and install, providing good protection against heat loss and condensation.

* As a result of its high-tech manufacturing process, OSB panels do not have knots, core voids and splits found in other wood panels. Each panel is consistent and uniform, allowing for good workability (easy to saw, drill, nail, plane, file or sand) and nailability (many interweaved layers create strong nail holding properties).

Oriented strand board is just that: oriented, FIVE OSB has distinct technical strengths:

* OSB has considerable structural strength, dimensional stability and bond durability resulting from the uninterrupted fiber, interweaving of the long strands and orientation of strands in the surfaced layers.

* OSB resists deflection. delamina-

OSB is environmentally friendly. The strands for OSB are produced from fast growing small-diameter trees in sustainable forests and plantations, obviating the need to log old growth timber. Production at mills is heat-powered by a portion of the harvested wood supply (recycled bark, screenings, sawdust and panel trim).

Resin binders and waxes are completely cured and stabilized, leaving no measurable off-gassing from panels.

Seven

Today's buyers want information. To increase sales of OSB, it's essential to understand its properties and efifective uses. lf you don't have enough information about oriented strand board, ask your supplier, APAThe Engineered Wood Association. or the Structural Board Association.