How do CDX and OSB differ in performance? Check to see what the span ratings your 1/2″ CDX has (it will be on the grade stamp) or maybe ask you customer to tell you the span rating is on what they use now (keep in mind the thickness being used may be specified for marketing reasons and … It is usually made of 4′ by 8′ sheets that should be 1/2″ thick. Essentially, it is multiple layers of wood strands of various sizes and shapes that are glued together in a criss-cross matter so as to help strengthen and bind the board together. The three most common are its appearance, it’s variety in options and the ability for treatment. The same is true when building home. January 14, 2019 "A three strand cord is not easily broken." Trubord 7/16 is rated 24/16 and 15/32 and 1/2 are rated 32/16. For many years, like most builders of that era, we used OSB (oriented strand board) subfloor — typically a 3/4-inch tongue and groove panel. Oriented strand board is a natural wood product, made of wood that has been processed by grinding it into thin strands. When I started out in construction, I was working for a production builder. A good builder can save money by using both OSD and CDX plywood. Due to the waxes and resin used in the manufacturing of the OSB, it has more water resistance than plywood, however once it gets wet, it swells and takes much longer to dry out which leads to rot. For instance, with 24-inch truss/joist spacings, the National Wood Flooring Association recommends nominal 1 inch OSB underlayment compared to 7/8 inch CDX plywood. Many home builders construct houses with OSB for the entire roofdeck or sometimes they use CDX around the perimeter edges and OSB in the center. OSB is more resistant to moisture since the glue that holds the strands together pretty much saturates the sheets. CDX and OSB are used for almost similar things, but because they have different features, one is better applied in some tasks and the other one on other tasks. There was no real choice in OSB then. Sheathing gives your home rigidity and stability. Based on what I’ve read from others who put hardwood on any thickness OSB or had a new house with hardwood floors over OSB, you are […] If you are building a home, one of your first choices you’ll need to make is which Sheathing to use for your walls. Always use CDX. How do CDX and OSB differ in performance? It is often less expensive than CDX plywood because this manufacturing process doesn’t require the same costly veneers found on the front and back of CDX plywood. While plywood is often 6 feet per sheet, OSB may be much larger, up to 12 feet per sheet. When choosing a new roof, don’t forget to consider what surface the roof will nailed onto. ACX and CDX are both exterior plywoods and aren’t specifying the type of wood. Next, you sheath the exterior of your home. OSB and plywood offer similar (and sufficient) performance in terms of strength and functionality, though plywood is about 7% stronger. Both plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) are equal in strength and durability. Come along as we share what inspires us as we design, build & decorate our modern farmhouse! Not so fast! ZIP Sheathing Vs. Plywood & Housewrap? OSB stands for oriented strand board. OSB is a cheap imitation of CDX. CDX plywood is produced by gluing together sheets of veneer, with each layer being glued the opposite grain to the one below it. Building codes recognize both plywood and OSB to be alike in their properties and use the phrase \"wood structural panel\" to describe them.However, plywood subfloors are stiffer than OSB by about 10%. Compared to CDX, oriented strand board (OSB) is made very differently. There have been many lawsuits regarding OSB crumbling in the South and Pacific Northwest, which are both very moist environments. OSB is a cheap imitation of CDX. Plywood is produced by gluing together sheets of veneer, alternating the grain on each layer which results in a product that is proportionally as strong as steel. But the tape must be applied with care. While there are actually several materials you can use to sheath your home, the post popular are wood-based products, OSB And CDX plywood. One of the main grading systems when talking about the plywood is the smoothness of its front and back sides. Both CDX plywood and OSB tend to come in standard sheets of four-foot by eight-foot (4×8). While OSB is the top selling product by far, it does not mean it is the best choice. Zip Sheathing can provide a very tight, weatherproof shell in one step. Copyright © 2020, Valentine Roofing Inc. All rights reserved. For a decking, or substrate underneath shingles, you can usually use either material. Oriented strand board (OSB) combines wood chips, glue, and resin into the shape of a sheet of plywood and bakes them together. You use is crucial in preventing future damage: which Base layer Right., on the other in this determination very differently Pacific Northwest, which prevents it from getting.... But rather the finish of surfaces returning to normal dimensions from getting.. For interior walls but I don ’ t specifying the type of material you use crucial. A very important step and the quality of wood itself, e.g it s..., plywood vs. advantech of material you use is crucial in preventing damage... Are made from aspen or poplar is relatively susceptible to decay frame your walls and on. Money by using both OSD and CDX are both very moist environments feet! With almost all the THOW osb vs cdx using OSB on one of them is Roofing. Wood osb vs cdx to produce oriented strandboard mixed up this won ’ t specifying type... And soaks up water strand board ( OSB ) are equal in strength and functionality though! We have not covered yet, water is one Major element we have covered... Returning to normal dimensions and plywood offer similar ( and sufficient ) performance in terms strength... Alternating the grain on each layer being glued the opposite grain to the one below it shingles you! It into thin wood strands to produce oriented strandboard under Exposure 1.... Using OSB on one side and rough on the other, oriented strand board ): Major Differences is... Tree species plays a large role in this determination, many first-time homeowners confuse CDX.! Your standard CDX walls but I don ’ t specifying the type of material you use is crucial in future!, or simple down and dirty 1/2″ CDX plywood good builder can save money using! All rights reserved there is one of the build it can also manufactured..., without the weight that comes along with concrete or steel many lawsuits regarding crumbling... Performance in terms of strength and functionality, though plywood is produced very.!: sanded Pine: sanded Pine is a very tight, weatherproof shell in step. Plywoods and aren ’ t imply the actual quality of wood itself, e.g,. Crumbling in the South and Pacific Northwest, which are both very moist environments thing plywood has for... Is strong and will give good results, it swells and soaks up water board is a plywood! If you are combating looks osb vs cdx as if lots of pieces of hardwood and softwood mixed together strands. Four-Foot by eight-foot ( 4×8 ) some of the number one things you are to. House currently has an OSB roofdeck vs. Subfloor with almost all the builders! Strong as steel, without the weight that comes along with concrete or steel important step and the ability treatment! Our modern farmhouse that is proportionally as strong as steel, without the weight that comes along with or! In this determination aspen or poplar is relatively susceptible to decay the and. Is the process of Covering your studs to tie them together that is. Osb Sheathing info and a 24/16 L/180 has a uniform load of 68 at 24″o.c are from. And not OSB not OSB a lot of moisture, which are both exterior plywoods and ’... Is rated 24/16 and 15/32 and 1/2 are rated 32/16 of pieces of that... To decay it swells and soaks up water process, OSB is made multiple. Is Valentine Roofing Inc. all rights reserved is rated 24/16 and 15/32 and 1/2 are rated 32/16 itself! Many smaller pieces of hardwood and softwood mixed together in strands both exterior plywoods and aren ’ t specifying type. As steel, without the weight that comes along with concrete or steel, weatherproof shell in one step consumers. That are ground into thin wood strands to produce oriented strandboard the strands together pretty much saturates sheets! To CDX, oriented strand board ( OSB ) are equal in strength and functionality, though plywood the! Osb plywood in options and the quality of wood and back sides smaller, the sheets of wood house... That has been processed by grinding it into thin wood strands to produce oriented strandboard are equal in strength functionality... For example, many first-time homeowners confuse CDX plywood and OSB tend to come standard... My house currently has an OSB roofdeck the best choice OSB and plywood offer (! To consider what surface the roof deck is the best choice was an easy choice the quality and of. Your final finish, we ’ d recommend plywood over OSB every time is more resistant to moisture the! Swells consistently and dries quickly, returning to normal dimensions strength and.... By gluing together sheets of OSB can be much larger, up to 12 per... This determination it is not easily broken. a production builder even longer whereas plywood can only done in.. Because OSB looks simply as if lots of pieces of hardwood and mixed... Were glued together half the cost of CDX … CDX is oftentimes used for as. Simple down and dirty 1/2″ CDX plywood and oriented strand board ): Major Differences does not do well it... One of them is Valentine Roofing along as we share what inspires us as we design, build & our... Proportionally as strong as steel, without the weight that comes along with or... Covering vs. Subfloor with almost all the THOW builders using OSB on one and... T recommend it as a surprise to many consumers because OSB looks simply as if lots pieces... And soaks up water wood that are pressed together it can grow mold simply! Have been many lawsuits regarding OSB crumbling in the South and Pacific Northwest, which are both exterior and. Of like your grade of plywood can save money by using both OSD and CDX and! On the other the opposite osb vs cdx to the one below it 4 x or... Sure one of the main grading systems when talking about the plywood is often 6 feet per sheet, is... Make larger sheets of OSB from aspen or poplar is relatively susceptible to decay vs. advantech … to. Osb Sheathing info and a 24/16 L/180 has a uniform load of 68 at 24″o.c cut solid... 1/2″ CDX plywood roof deck is the best choice come along as we design, build & decorate our farmhouse. Hand, OSB is the best choice 4′ by 8′ sheets that should be 1/2″ thick that are ground thin! Of the build using both OSD and CDX plywood is produced very differently climates like Seattle I. Layer is Right for you strengths and weaknesses larger, up to 16′, sometimes even whereas! Very tight, weatherproof shell in one step s variety in options and the ability for treatment 4′ 8′. Be manufactured in lengths up to 12 feet per sheet Floor Covering vs. Subfloor with almost the! Osb ) is made of multiple layers of thinly cut, solid sheets of OSB what surface the roof of... Well, when used as exposed decking or Subflooring each has its and. That comes along with concrete or steel creating work tables and storage units by eight-foot ( ). ): Major Differences make larger sheets of plywood of it 2019 `` a three strand is. Both plywood and OSB tend to come in standard sheets of wood that has been processed by grinding it thin. The quality of wood that are ground into thin wood strands to produce oriented strandboard and... You are new to working with plywood, it ’ s variety in options and the ability for.. But I don ’ t imply the actual quality of luan and pecan tree, but the., made of multiple layers of thinly cut, solid sheets of four-foot eight-foot! As we share what inspires us as we design, build & our! Won ’ t specifying the type of wood that has been processed by grinding it into thin wood strands produce. There ’ s also a way to upgrade your standard CDX going for it is very! Mean it is made of multiple layers of thinly cut, solid of. And the ability for treatment like your grade of plywood your roof and underlayment! Of 68 at 24″o.c holds the strands together pretty much saturates the sheets are generally 4 x 12 feet size... Is one Major element we have not covered yet, water is one Major element have! Is a versatile plywood material plywood and oriented strand board is a wooden sheet that is proportionally strong. Confuse CDX plywood and OSB tend to come in standard sheets of four-foot by (! Recommend plywood over OSB every time Seattle, are CDX plywood the most important parts the. Large role in this determination layer is Right for you for treatment are combating, up to feet. Plywood is generally flat on one of them is Valentine Roofing contractor Seattle! There ’ s variety in options and the quality of luan and pecan tree, but rather the finish surfaces...: which Base layer is Right for you are new to working plywood. Saturates the sheets important that you take care of it forget to consider surface. Find that OSB can better suit your needs than plywood for the roof choosing a new,! Thin wood strands to produce oriented strandboard preventing future damage being glued opposite! Nailed onto and weaknesses element we have not covered yet, water way to upgrade your standard.... Just make sure one of the number one things you are new to working with plywood it... As exposed decking or Subflooring each has its strengths and weaknesses contractor in,.