Is Osb Better Than Plywood For Roofing

Osb has its advantages.

Is osb better than plywood for roofing. Osb is less forgiving of being left out in the rain and will show more deformities after a wetting and drying cycle. It is generally believed that osb is cheaper than plywood. Plywood will absorb moisture quicker than osb but consequently it will also dry quicker. Osb panels often have lines at 16 and 24 in.

When used as a roof sheathing this tendency to hold moisture means it can degrade faster than plywood when exposed to chronic leaks. University of massachusetts meets most building codes for roof and wall sheathing. Today you can find osb in thickness from 7 16 to 1 1 8 for different applications from roof wall subfloor i joists and everything between. Osb is cheaper than plywood by about 3 to 5 per panel.

Plywood is available in many plys and different levels of quality. Osb is also more consistent than plywood. Osb is much more waterproof than plywood and cdx plywood. Osb is heavier than plywood and when properly waterproofed and maintained will generally lie flatter.

Osb sheathing costs a few dollars less per sheet than 1 2 in. Osb takes longer to get wet than plywood but also takes longer to dry out. For plywood it is like 5 to 10 more expensive. When osb does get wet it also tends to swell along the edges and those edges stay swollen even after the material has dried out.

Osb can be used in many applications and is commonly used in roofing walls and flooring. Home osb is about 700 less expensive compared with plywood if used as the subfloor sheathing and roof decking. 2x greater shear strength than similar sized plywood source. This engineered product may be similar to plywood in some ways but it is much less expensive.

In our area 1 2 in. Both products will swell when wet but plywood will return to almost its exact shape when it dries. Plywood s edges also resist damage better than osb which can crack and fray upon impact and over time. That is why osb is sometimes used to secure houses when a hurricane draws near.

It is true as the price of every osb board is around 15 20 per sheet 4 8 sizes. Some panels have a textured surface which makes them less slippery when used for roof sheathing. Due to the way that osb is made it is generally much more uniform in construction which gives it a clear advantage over other options. For a typical 2 400 sq.