USB board is a building material for the manufacture of which wood such as aspen and pine is used. The basis of plywood is large chips, for gluing which resin is used under pressure and high temperatures. Today, such material is very popular in the field of construction. Builders are actively using OSB boards s almost everywhere: when arranging sheathing under the roof and even for cladding walls and floors.
Characteristics of building materials for home
Previously it was believed that this material originated from the well-known chipboard, but this is far from the case. The main difference between these materials is the location of the chips. In the upper layers it has a longitudinal arrangement, and in the inner layers it has a transverse arrangement. As a rule, the number of layers is 3 or 4. But this does not interfere with the use.
Standard product marking
Many manufacturers produce USB boards according to the following standard markings:
Cons of Osb (osb)
As for the downside, it’s difficult to find something worthwhile. It is important to adhere to the precautions that are developed when working with wood. For example, when processing OSB boards, you need to protect your health from tree resin, which is a carcinogen. To do this you need to wear respirators. When comparing the advantages and disadvantages of OSB boards, it is worth understanding that the number of advantages here is much greater than the disadvantages.
Manufacturers
Today, many plants and factories are engaged in the production of USB boards. But you can highlight the most popular ones:
It is very beneficial to use the presented material in the field of construction. The reason is that this way you will get 100% natural wood at a low cost. The value can be different, it depends on criteria such as the manufacturer, the filler used and the size.
From the article you can find out what fiberboard is, its pros and cons for construction.
USB boards are a very economical and environmentally friendly material. It is actively used in various fields of construction. Such an investment of money is very profitable, because to obtain a durable, reliable and environmentally friendly structure from OSB boards, you will not pay that much money.
OSB (OSB) or oriented strand board is a multi-layer lumber consisting of differently oriented layers of wood chips. The production technology was developed at the end of the last century in America. The USA and Canada still occupy leading positions in the manufacture of products of this type. The material is obtained by pressing at a certain temperature using synthetic resins. The length of the wood components does not exceed 140 mm with a thickness of up to 0.7 mm. The chips are laid in three layers. On the upper and lower surfaces it is placed along the length of the product, and the middle layer is laid across. As a result, a material similar to plywood is obtained, i.e., it improves the properties of natural wood in terms of moisture resistance and strength. Content natural ingredients in the slab is up to 95%.
Features of the production process and types of products
The slabs are not made from waste wood, but use thin-sized pine raw materials, which are specially processed to produce homogeneous chips. The logs are sorted, peeled and planed. The resulting mass is dried and laid as a carpet in two directions, impregnated with waterproof resins, and then pressed at high temperature. The finished canvas is cut in accordance with standard sizes or customer sizes.
The products are available in four types and are labeled depending on the level of moisture resistance and mechanical characteristics. The lowest performance is for OSB-1 products. They can be used in rooms with low humidity, therefore they are used in the production of furniture and for the manufacture of packaging. OSB-2 has higher strength characteristics and can be used as load-bearing structures. For conditions of high humidity, OSB-3 and OSB-4 boards are produced, which in addition are designed for significant loads.
Boards with varnished and laminated external surface are produced. Laminated products are intended for reusable formwork when performing concrete work. For high-quality joining, slabs are made with tongue-and-groove locks, both on both ends and on each side.
Advantages of oriented strand boards
The slab has a smooth, homogeneous structure without knots and defects that are typical for natural materials or plywood. It does not delaminate, is not subject to deformation and differs more high level moisture resistance. It is believed that when completely immersed in water, the product retains its shape and strength throughout the day. The environmental friendliness of the material allows it to be used in residential premises. Its use helps improve the heat and sound insulation properties of floors, walls, and roofs. In terms of strength characteristics, it is comparable to plywood and significantly exceeds chipboard and MDF. The board is quite easy to process; it can be planed, sawed and drilled with tools designed for working with wood. The surface can be painted, varnished, or covered with finishing materials. Thanks to the multidirectional layers, the lumber holds the fasteners firmly. The slabs are not susceptible to damage by wood borers and fungal infections.
Depending on the characteristics of strength and moisture resistance, lumber is used for cladding external and interior walls, they are used to make floors and use them as roofing and thermal insulation materials. They are used in the construction of shelving and partitions, the interior of railway cars and other vehicles. The slabs are convenient to lay as a base for laying laminate, carpet, linoleum, and parquet.
When carrying out repairs, it becomes necessary to eliminate differences in height in concrete and wooden floor coverings, which complicate the installation of linoleum, tiles and laminate. To solve this problem, builders recommend using OSB panels, the features of which are strength and resistance to moisture. When planning to use OSB panels for rough finishing, it is important to understand how to properly lay the slabs on a floor made of various materials. Let us consider in detail what the moisture-resistant plate is intended for and how it is used correctly.
Floor slabs: product features and material use
OSB flooring board is a popular finishing building material, for the production of which waste from the woodworking industry is used:
- wood chips obtained from processing aspen trunks;
- sawing shavings coniferous species trees.
The composition of the slabs, along with chips, includes the following materials:
- wax filler obtained as a result of a synthetic reaction;
- moisture-resistant resins based on phenol and formaldehyde components.
The minimum size of wood chip filler is 60 mm, and the maximum is 90 mm.
OSB (oriented strand board) is a material successfully used in construction and furniture manufacturing
When making panels, wood chips are laid in several layers, each of which differs in the orientation of the wood fragments:
- The outer layers of the product are characterized by a longitudinal arrangement of fragments of wood shavings;
- A distinctive feature of the internal layers is the transverse placement of the chip fraction.
The production of slabs is carried out under conditions of elevated temperature, as well as at high blood pressure. Chips impregnated with moisture-resistant resins are pressed using special equipment. The result is a slab having the required dimensions. The material's strength characteristics are superior to chipboards and plywood sheets. Increased flexibility of the panels is achieved due to the mutually perpendicular orientation of the wood chips. Modern manufacturing technology, laboratory control and reliable equipment guarantee the quality of the floor slabs.
The thickness of the material, which has an increased safety margin, allows you to form a reliable basis for finishing the floor with the following coatings:
- ceramic tiles;
- parquet boards;
- carpet;
- various types of linoleum;
- moisture resistant laminate.
OSB slabs for flooring are a type of finishing building material, which is characterized by a regular rectangular shape. The panels have fixed dimensions and are also characterized by the absence of cracks and local defects.
OSB differs in the thickness and grade of the material, depending on the size of the raw materials, density and quality of the resins used, which affect moisture resistance Oriented strand panels solve a range of problems:
- form a flat surface of the floor base mounted on wooden beams;
- compensate for differences in height of reinforced concrete and wooden bases for laying finishing;
- create comfortable temperature in residential premises by laying thermal insulation between the sheets and the surface of the base;
- prevent street noise from entering the room due to the multilayer structure of the material;
- reliably isolated from the penetration of moisture entering through the capillary channels of the concrete mass.
The area of use of the material differs for various types products:
- OSB-1 boards, characterized by a low price, have increased hygroscopicity and insufficiently high strength. They are intended to be used as finishing material. Sheet cladding is used in rooms with low moisture concentration;
- OSB-2 panels have an increased safety margin and are less hygroscopic than OSB-1 boards. The products are able to withstand increased loads and are used for internal lining floors, walls and ceilings in dry rooms, as well as in furniture production;
- OSB-3 brand products are designed for use in high humidity environments and have high strength characteristics. Panels marked OSB-3 are used for finishing activities carried out indoors and outdoors;
- Products marked OSB-4 have proven themselves in structures that can withstand increased loads. OSB-4 boards are used if protection of the external surface of loaded structures is necessary. The panels are characterized by increased moisture resistance and maximum strength.
For flooring, manufacturers produce slabs with a tongue-and-groove edge, which ensure a tighter fit of the slabs to each other When deciding which sheets should be used to finish the floor, you should study the performance characteristics of the slabs, as well as take into account specific operating conditions. Experts recommend using third-class products (OSB-3) to form the floor surface, which maintain integrity when exposed to forces from furniture, equipment, interior items and moving people.
Performance characteristics of osb brand boards
Laminated floor slabs have the following characteristics:
- moisture resistance. The ability of a material to absorb moisture is determined by immersing a fragment of a sheet in liquid for 24 hours with further monitoring of the amount of swelling. The thickness of the sheets increases in the process of moisture absorption from 10-12% for OSB-4 grade boards to 24-25% for OSB-1 class products;
- strength. The safety factor is determined using laboratory equipment by applying longitudinal loads, transverse forces and bending moments. The value of the elastic modulus in the transverse plane is 1200-1800 N/mm3, and in the longitudinal plane – 2500-4800 N/mm3;
- stable sizes. Dimensions are regulated by the requirements of the standard. The products are produced in lengths of 244, 366 cm with a slab width of 122 cm, and also in lengths of 250, 370 and 600 cm with a panel width of 125 cm. The thickness of the panels increases from 6 to 22 mm depending on the design option;
- environmental friendliness. During the operation of the panels, for the manufacture of which environmentally friendly raw materials are used, no substances harmful to human health are released. The facing material is safe to use inside residential premises.
The mass of the slabs increases in proportion to the change in thickness and is:
- 16.5 kg for products with a thickness of 0.8 cm;
- 20.2 kg for slabs 1 cm thick;
- 42.9 kg with a maximum sheet thickness of 22 cm.
Before choosing a flooring material, you need to decide what technology you want to use to lay the floor. Among the other properties that determine the quality of the material, it should be noted:
- resistance to temperature changes;
- minimum tolerances on overall dimensions;
- correct geometric shape with smooth edges;
- sheet density associated with the homogeneous structure of the chip mass.
Laboratories at manufacturing enterprises monitor the characteristics regulated by the provisions of current regulatory documents.
Laminated floor slabs - advantages of application
Using OSB sheet panels, it is easy to plan a floor base in a limited time.
The main advantages of the popular building material:
- ease of installation operations. Having a standard set of tools and basic execution skills finishing works, it’s easy to lay the slabs yourself;
- increased overall dimensions of oriented strand board. They allow, after installing it on the floor, to quickly form a horizontal surface of increased area;
- acceptable cost. The price of OSB boards compares favorably with similar finishing products offered in specialized stores. This allows you to significantly reduce the estimated cost of finishing work;
- increased safety margin and high reliability of sheet material. Finishing slabs retain their original shape and have increased resistance to various deformations.
The subfloor is laid under linoleum, laminate, parquet, or carpet Other advantages of the material include:
- resistance to moisture;
- thermal insulation characteristics;
- noise-absorbing properties;
- resistance to chemicals.
Dense material is not damaged by rodents, and is also not influenced by biological factors. Having decided to install the floors on your own during the renovation process, it is advisable to give preference to inexpensive OSB panels, in which fasteners are securely fixed.
OSB boards for flooring - selecting panels
OSB floor boards are presented in the retail chain in an expanded range. When choosing finishing panels, pay attention to the following points:
- availability of an environmental certificate from the manufacturer, guaranteeing the harmlessness of the purchased material;
- absence of unevenness on the finished surface of the slabs, as well as chips on the corners and end surface;
- the thickness of the slabs, depending on the type of floor base. For laying on concrete, slabs with a thickness of 10 mm are suitable, and with an increased interval between the logs, material up to 22 mm thick should be used;
- panel brand. It is advisable to use third-class products that can withstand increased loads and have sufficient moisture resistance.
Also pay attention to the shape of the end part. The presence of tongue-and-groove fastening allows for tight contact of the panels during installation.
For the floor, it is necessary to take OSB-3 made in Europe, since the quality of this material meets the stated requirements On what surface can OSB panels be used?
OSB boards for flooring are placed on different bases:
- cement screed;
- wooden plank floors;
- wooden beams.
Installation of slabs on each type of base has its own nuances. For example, when laying panels on a concrete floor, you need to know how to insulate the floor base. Let us consider in more detail the specifics of performing installation operations.
How to properly install OSB boards on the floor
Regardless of the type of floor base, the OSB board is placed on the floor after performing the following operations:
- determining the need for slabs;
- preparation of materials and tools;
- cutting sheet material.
Let's consider the features of installation on various bases.
Most craftsmen believe that it is more advisable to lay OSB on logs - beams 3-5 cm thick The algorithm for laying slabs on a cement floor involves the following operations:
- Dust removal of the surface.
- Treating the concrete floor with a primer.
- Layout of slabs over the base area.
- Trimming with a jigsaw or circular saw.
- Apply the adhesive mixture to the slabs with a notched trowel.
- Bonding panels to cement floors.
- Additional fixation of sheets with fasteners in increments of 30 cm.
- Sealing installation joints with foam.
During installation, it is important to ensure a distance between the end planes of the sheets of 3 mm, and along the contour of the room - 12 mm. Compensation for significant differences in height is achieved by using wooden pads. To reduce heat losses, it is advisable to lay thermal insulation material under the slabs, which is used as sheets of extruded polystyrene foam.
Forming a flooring on a wooden base
When installing slabs on a plank floor, follow the following sequence of actions:
- Use dowels to stabilize the existing plank base.
- Eliminate paint deposits and remove blisters with a sander.
- Lay out the panels with a gap of 0.3 cm.
- Prepare holes for fastening the plates with self-tapping screws.
- Screw the panels to the wood base.
To increase the rigidity of the floor, it is allowed to lay the second layer with an offset of 30-40 cm between the slabs.
How to lay OSB board on wooden beams
The technology for installing slabs on logs includes the following operations:
- Installation of support bars.
- Fixing the logs to the beams.
- Laying panels on the surface.
- Performing marking and cutting.
- Protective treatment of wood.
- Fastening the plates with self-tapping screws.
If necessary, install vapor barrier and sheet insulation.
Conclusion
OSB flooring boards are a proven material that allows you to save money cash and quickly form the floor base on your own. It is easy to lay laminate, lay linoleum or glue ceramic tiles on the flat surface of the panels.
What are OSB sheets and what are they made from? OSB or OSB sheet is an oriented particle board, which is a wood chip material glued together with a special polymer. Many people mistakenly assume that chipboard and OSB are about the same thing. However, OSB sheets are made only from high-quality chips, which are laid in a special way perpendicular to each other. The sheet itself is formed using synthetic resins under high temperature and pressure. Thanks to its reliable structure, the material is very durable.
Characteristics of OSB board
General technical specifications sheets of shavings are as follows:
— The density of the slabs can vary from 640 to 700 kg/m3;
- the material has an increased fire hazard - G4, it is usually treated with fire retardant solutions;
— the sheets have good adhesion and paintability; they are often coated with various varnishes;
— the manufacturability of the material is practical, it can be sawed, drilled, nailed, sanded and cut; fairly simple installation;
- mechanical holding capacity does not have an exact number, but is considered high;
- swelling coefficient - 10-22%.
Where are OSB sheets used?
OSB sheets are widely used in the following areas:
— as a material for racks and stands;
- wooden staircase cladding;
— covering the walls of frame houses;
— in the form of SIP panels;
- as a base for roofing tiles;
— in panel formwork structures;
- for filing ceilings;
- as a basis for installing floors.
Construction of a house from OSB sheets using frame technology.
OSB sheets are widely used in the construction of houses using frame technology. You can find out about one of them in the article:.
Classes of OSB boards
There are several classifications of OSB sheets. Let us first consider the class, designated by numbering from one to four. So let’s figure out what the numbers after the name of the material mean.
1. OSB-1 is the material with the lowest strength and lowest resistance to water. It is used in rooms and structures without heavy loads (in the form of cladding and furniture elements).
2. OSB-2 is used for the construction of load-bearing structures for dry rooms, respectively, the strength level is average, moisture resistance is low.
3. OSB-3 is a material that has higher strength and can be used in conditions of high humidity.
4. OSB-4 is a durable sheet that is designed for maximum moisture levels in combination with mechanical stress.
OSB-3 boards are most widely used due to their strength characteristics. If such sheets are primed or painted, their moisture resistance characteristics are comparable to OSB-4 boards. OSB-4 boards are not widely used due to their high cost, which is approximately two times higher than that of OSB-3 boards.
Health hazards of OSB boards
Each slab of shavings contains another not very useful, or rather completely harmful, component. It is the glue that connects the entire OSB structure into a single whole - formaldehyde. However, when bound, it is absolutely safe, but there is one point that destroys this myth. During the manufacture of the board, it contracts, so the structure of the glue collapses and when the sheet is used, a certain level of toxins is released into the room. The toxicity class is designated as follows:
— E0.5 – formaldehyde emission of no more than 0.08 mg/m³ of air;
— E1 – formaldehyde emission from 0.08 to 0.124 mg/m³ air;
— E2 – formaldehyde emission from 0.124 to 1.25 mg/m³ of air.
For installation of OSB boards indoors, it is better to use boards with toxicity classes E0.5 and E1. Such slabs are as harmless to health as other building materials.
Dimensions and thickness of OSB sheets
The possible dimensions of the OSB board directly depend on the edges of the building material. They can be (possible sizes are listed below):
A. With smooth edges. In this case, the sheet sizes are:
— 2440x1220 mm;
— 2500x1250 mm;
— 2800x1250 mm;
- 3125x2000 mm.
B. With tongue and groove edge. This class includes sizes in:
— 2440x1220 mm;
— 2440x590 mm;
— 2450x590 mm;
— 2500x1250 mm.
The thickness of each OSB sheet can range from six to twenty-two millimeters. Here are a number of typical thicknesses: 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22 mm
The edges of the OSB sheets may have special grooves for better interconnection. Prices for OSB sheets.
Almost all residents of large and small cities are well aware that nowadays it is relatively easy to buy a fake certificate proving the clean environmental friendliness and safety of products. Therefore, in order not to get into trouble, it is better to trust only the most famous and popular OSB manufacturers. These include:
— Kronospan-Bolderaj, OSB-3, for example, a slab measuring 2500*1250 mm and 9 mm thick will cost about 650 rubles;
- Glunz and Egger - German slabs of the same size and thickness are slightly more expensive - for 850 rubles;
— Kalevala OSB-3 is a Russian board, which can be purchased for 550 rubles.