Oriented strand board facts for kids
Oriented strand board, often called OSB, is a strong type of building material. It's made from many small pieces of wood, called strands, that are carefully glued together. These strands are usually cut from trees like Aspen. OSB sheets are formed using heat and pressure, along with wax and special resin adhesives. This makes OSB very tough, which is why it's great for building houses and other structures. Builders often use OSB to cover walls, floors, and roofs before adding the final finishes.
What is OSB made of?
OSB is created using thin, long pieces of wood called strands. These strands are carefully arranged in different directions. This special arrangement makes the board very strong. The wood strands are mixed with wax and a sticky resin glue. Then, this mixture is pressed together under high heat and pressure to form large, flat sheets.
How OSB is used
OSB is a very popular material in building. It's strong and can hold a lot of weight. Because of this, it's often used for:
- Covering the outside walls of a house before siding is put on.
- Making the base for floors before carpet or tiles are added.
- Forming the strong base for roofs under shingles.
There are different types of OSB for different uses:
- OSB-2 is made for places that stay dry. It's strong enough to support heavy things.
- OSB-3 is similar but can be used in places that might get wet.
Sometimes, OSB can even be made from trees that have been in forest fires. This helps to use wood that might otherwise go to waste.
More to explore
Images for kids
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OSB is frequently used in light steel frame house construction.
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OSB in production before pressing in a thermal press
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OSB, closeup of corner
