it's interesting that this has devolved into a debate on the merits or demeerits of osb when the original poster asked about particle board.
PB should never be used for anything other thana carpet underalyment IMO.
If it was used as sheathing, it should definitely be replaced.
Hoimebuild - you state, "In my 30 years of homebuidling experience, I have never seen any major differences in performance between OSB and plywood and have even conducted my own tests on the products which support the scientific findings."
There is a fine error here. OSB has not been on the market for thirty years. You make much of your years of experience, which is certainly worth something. I agree with most of what you say in these forums. So I will qualify my own opinion with my thirty seven years of construction experience. I staarteed out sheathing with boards.
OSB has only been with us for a little over twenty years - perhaps as much as 25, but no more. before that, its predecessor was waferboard which is the source of much bad publicity, well deserved.
I can accept modern OSB for sheathing in place of plywood. One reason is not that I favor OSB, but that Plywood has seen better days. It is no longer the product that it once was. delamination is far too common.
But I will never allow it on any roof that I build. It is not acceptable for that use. Seams will telegraph and dips will show through an asphalt roof. it has not the same lateral strength needed to support snow loads. Perhaps you live in an area where snow is light.
I have used and been more than happy with the latest generation of this product though. Huber's Advantech is far superior to OSB in water repelancy and overall integrity. The glues used are waterproof and of high strength. I have never seen it delam or edge swell the way OSB does. There is another company making a comparable product as well, but not marketing it as OSB by name. perhaps you use one of these and misapply the name. I have seen others do that as well. Nmaes tend to stick around - we still hear any circ saw called a Skilsaw very ofeten wheether made by Skil or not and we still hear any countertop laminate called Formica whether it is made by the Formica companyu or one of it's competitors. Ever use any "Scotch" tape? You don't suppose there would be a market for this newest generation of chipboard product if the old OSB was really any good do you? OSB is going the same way that waferboard did - because of its reputation as a second rate product.
You refer to myths.
All mythology is always descended from fact. The OSB has been with us for a generation and deserves the rap it gets. The builders who favor it base their choice not on studies of factual experience, but on price. Experrience shows different. If you can cover it up fast enough to keep it from ever getting damp, it is probably OK in light load conditions. But it will deteriorate when wetted. It will sag in roof situations. You fight a losing battle to defend it against those of us who know better from long experience.
Excellence is its own reward!
|
Member Since
11/07/2002
Total Contributions
1285 Posts
|
Moderated by Handyman 
