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Oriented Strand Board (OSB): PJ Fitzpatrick, Inc. A Green Contractor |
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What Is OSB? OSB is made from wood ground into thin wood strands. These strands are mixed with wax and adhesive and then hot pressed. Approximately 50 layers of strands make one sheet of OSB. Mostly used as roofing materials by local contractors.
Oriented Strand Board: The Future
Since its debut in 1978, OSB has been rapidly accepted. In fact, in many areas of North America, OSB has virtually replaced other panels in new residential roofing construction. Today, all model building codes in the U.S. and Canada recognize OSB panels for the same uses as plywood on a thickness-by-thickness basis, and is a favorite of local contractors. |
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Advantages of OSB over Plywood |
- OSB is generally more square and has smaller dimensional tolerances, great for roofing.
- It can be manufactured into panels of up to 8' x 24', far larger than plywood
- There are no soft spots such as those that can occur in plywood
- OSB is made from smaller (often farmed) trees reducing the demand for old growth timber.
- OSB has greater shear strength than plywood; the span rating, nail pull and screw hold are all roughly the same.
- It can be less expensive than plywood. For a typical 2400 square foot home, OSB will save money if used as the sub floor, sheathing, and roof decking instead of plywood.
- 50 strands thick, so its characteristics are averaged out over many more “layers” than plywood.
- Consistently stiff. Plywood has a broader range of variability.
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| Choosing the right structural panel means more than checking performance specifications. The concern for energy efficient and environmentally sound building products is a growing priority — both to you and your customers. As the only truly renewable building material, wood is increasing its reserves every year. Therefore oriented strand board is the natural solution to this challenge. |
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- The fiber for OSB is grown in sustainable forests and tree farms.
- The manufacturing process uses nearly 90% of the log, with the balance used to supply energy to mill.
- OSB is environmentally responsible. It takes far more energy and resources to produce steel, concrete, or other roofing or building materials.
- Modern mills — costing more than $150 million — are scientifically designed to meet or exceed strict quality standards for environmental safety.
- OSB is safe to use. Resin binders and waxes are completely cured and stabilized, so there is no measurable off-gassing from panels. roofing contractors prefer this product for it's nationally recognized safety record.
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OSB Manufacturing Process |
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Log Sorting
After harvest, whole logs are hauled to
the mill's wood yard, then sorted.
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Jackladder
Logs are soaked, to remove ice and prepare
wood for stranding, then sent up the
jackladder.
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Debarking
Logs are run through the debarker to
remove bark. Bark is later used as fuel
in the mill's energy supply.
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Stranding
The strands are cut from whole logs into
precise dimensions of up to six inches
long.
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Wet Bins
Strands are deposited into wet bins.
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Drying
Strands are then dried until the
appropriate moisture content is reached.
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Blending
Strands are blended with resin binders and
a small amount of wax, which improves the
efficiency of the resin binder and
enhances the panel's resistance to
moisture and water absorption.
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Forming Line
Strands go through the forming line where
cross-directional layers are formed.
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Pressing
Layers of cross-directional strands are
pressed under intense heat and pressure to
form a rigid, dense structural panel of
oriented strand board (OSB). Presses are
primarily multiple opening allowing 8 to
16 master panels to be pressed in one
operation for increased efficiency.
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Finishing Line
Panels are cooled, cut to size,
stamped, stacked in bundles and edge
coated. All graded panels bear a
mandatory certification agency stamp, plus
the SBA logo if applicable.
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Shipping
Finally, the panels are ready to be loaded
and shipped to destinations around the
world. Panels can be ordered smooth
sanded for special uses or with tongue and
groove edges.
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This information is brought to you by PJ Fitzpatrick, Inc. a roofing, siding, windows and doors service provider and a green contractor for Delaware, new castle county, kent county, Wilmington, chester county, Delaware county, Malvern, exton, and west chester, pa. |
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