As a builder and flooring installer, I’ve learned the benefits of oriented strand board (OSB) and have often used it as a cost-effective alternative to plywood for sheathing and subfloors. The ...

Have you walked through a new home while it’s still under construction in the last few years? If so, I’m sure you’ve noticed the extensive use of a roof-, wall-, and floor-sheathing product that looks ...

Plywood used to be king for wall sheathing and flooring material, but oriented strand board (OSB), introduced in the late 70s, is now the most popular. But both have their advantages and disadvantages ...

Can new plywood be installed on a 40-year-old roof without removing the old? Roy Gingrich of Ellicott City has a 40-year-old house with an asphalt shingle roof surface. The existing asphalt shingles ...

For years, it was known as the ugly duckling, cheaper alternative to plywood. One design maven described it as "like the turkey loaf of building materials." But oriented strand board – OSB for short – ...

The first layer on top of the plywood or OSB roof deck is underlayment. For this, we chose a self-healing ice-and-water membrane to protect the shallow-pitched roof deck. The tricky part in laying the ...