OSB boards or oriented strand board are increasingly used in interior design. They are used both in structural elements, as in floors or to manufacture furniture more and more frequently. But do we know what an OSB board is?
What is an OSB board?
OSB, Oriented strand board, is a kind of chipboard made up of layers of chips of pressed wood, oriented in the same direction. Each layer follows, as in plywood boards, an orientation perpendicular to the previous layer, to achieve greater stability and resistance.
By its appearance, the OSB board is perfectly identifiable due to the size of the chips and their orientation on the board surface. However, this varies in color depending on the type of wood used in its manufacturing process, the gluing system used and the pressing conditions, from a straw color to a light brown.
The properties of insulation, soundproofing and resistance of OSB boards are similar to those of "natural" wood, although the incorporation of resins and additives tends to slightly improve certain characteristics. In addition, thanks to the manufacturing process, defects in the form of knots, veins or holes that untreated wood can present disappear, obtaining better results for regulatory purposes.
Types of OSB boards
According to treatments and additives to which they are subjected, oriented chip boards are classified into 4 groups:
- OSB-1: Indoor use, basically furniture. It is the most basic range and its commercialization is currently very limited.
- OSB-2: Load applications in dry environments.
- OSB-3: Loading applications in relatively humid environments. It is currently the most common type of OSB board and the one with the best value for money.
- OSB-4: High load performance in relatively humid environments.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of these boards lie in their mechanical properties, directly related to the geometry of the chips as well as their orientation on the board. But they are not the only advantages that these boards offer us compared to other alternatives. Have…
- Un comparatively lower price.
- A large breaking strength and torsion.
- They do not present knots, which facilitates machining and subsequent cuts.
- Its manufacture has a lower environmental impact. It is not necessary to use specific species to make OSB boards; fast-growing or even small trees can be used.
- Its recycling is very simple.
- Being a completely industrial alternative, there are no size limitations. Boards can be manufactured with dimensions greater than those that we can achieve with solid wood.
But all are advantages to us. OSB boards also have some drawbacks that should be known:
- Faced with adverse humidity conditions and without the corresponding treatment, they deform to a greater extent than plywood.
- It's something heavier and slightly less rigid. Although on the other hand the resistance is practically the same in all the points.
Uses of OSB
OSB boards are used as structural elements, coatings and furniture. They are used as a "core" in mixed or wooden beams, as a base for floors and also to make all kinds of furniture, including kitchen or bathroom furniture.
- Structural elements. In countries where the construction of wooden houses is common, the OSB board is the most used to form the walls. It is fixed to the framework of beams, between which is the insulation.
- Wall cladding. Its use as a coating is wide, not being advised against in any specific environment. It can even be used to cover the walls and ceilings of kitchens and bathrooms, however, in these humid environments we will have to install a suitable OSB board and seal it properly.
- Floors They are an ideal surface to later place some type of floating flooring such as laminate floors. But you can also leave the OSB boards in sight. They give a lot of warmth to the spaces and in those decorated with a modern and minimalist style they can represent an interesting counterpoint.
- Furniture. Many designers take advantage of their "unfinished" appearance to create furniture with a carefree aesthetic. Tables, shelves and doors are just some of the options, some of the most popular worked with this material. And they are used both to decorate proven spaces such as offices and public places. In addition, it is increasingly common to find kitchen and bathroom cabinets made with this material. In addition, due to its characteristics it is ideal to decorate the room of the smallest of the house.
Depending on the use that are going to be given can be purchased in different variants: raw, tongue and groove, sanded to later apply varnishes or paints, etc. The range is very wide so it is not difficult to find the most suitable for each project.
Do you like the aesthetics of osb boards?
I find it very interesting, novel and modern. !!!