Framing : OSB vs. Plywood - Whats the difference in COST AND PERFORMANCE

Talking Cost and Performance With The Most Popular Sheathing Choices - Plywood vs. OSB when Framing a New Home!

Huge thanks to our Show sponsors USG/Tremco, Polywall, Huber, Dorken Delta, Prosoco, Marvin Windows, Roxul & Endura for helping to make these videos possible! These are all trusted companies that Matt has worked with for years and trusts their products in the homes he builds.

[michaelmontecalvo]

Matt, you left something out. I am a retired firefighter. It has been my experience that OSB is far inferior to structural integraty during fire conditions. OSB reaches it's ignition temperature far sooner than plywood because of their physical structures. Plywood being more solid. 10 - 15 years ago people had aprox. 10 minutes to escape a house fire once alerted by a smoke detector. Today, that time has decreased to 4 -6 minutes. Because of modern building products, modern synthetics used in decor increase the toxic fumes in smoke. Also, because of the glues used in OSB manufacture it burns hotter and faster than plywood. This is a danger to firefighters because it means sooner structural failure. A hotter fire also means more damage or complete loss. Too many loses in a community may change that communities ISO insurance rating and property insurance rates rise and property values decrease. So, in the long run, is OSB really cheaper?

[Mork]

The extra cost of sheeting with plywood is the single best upgrade you can do to your new home construction.

[ensinitas]

great video. as a roofer that sheathed MANY roofs i resisted the OSB for a long time but have concluded that it works very well and as intended. it has the benefit of being cheaper and more price stable. it is also made from trees that grow rapidly on farms meaning it is as "sustainable" as all hell. all wood products fail when wetted for extended time periods...

[frankarango]

I learn more from reading comments than the video, from folks who used in real world scenarios.

[sarge]

@Matt: When I bought my house 30 yrs ago, my builder had ply sheeted the model home. I asked if he was doing that for our house. He said, no we use OSB it's the same and costs less. One day when I drove by "HIS" house being built, lo-and-behold, son of a bi*ch has only ply on the build. My house had not started building to say my house is ply. "Do as they do, not as they say!" Cheers

[Mulberrysmile]

I had to get windows covered for a hurricane. Bought the last of the plywood, then had to buy one sheet of OSB. This was in 2004. Got through the storms, put all the wood in the shed. Couple of years passed and I decided to use that wood for a chicken coop. The OSB was severely warped, the edges were expanding all around. The plywood was in perfect shape. 'Nuff said.

[shifty]

Top video on a comparison between those two materials and the grades that can be attained.

Seriously this channel is quickly becoming my favoured one for information in the building industry.

Watching from the UK. Thumbs up.

[lnesland]

Nice review.

In Norway we use neither. Only use (GU-gips) drywalls for outside use. The plaster boards are water repellent. It stiffens the walls in the house, and are wind protective. You have to use special tape in the joints. To make air between the boards and the wood panels (normally vertical or horizontal), you nail on 48mm batten/boards first, before nailing the wood finishing cover panels. It cost around $23 pr. sheet (normal size 1200x2700mm). On roof we use canvas/cover first, then OSB, then another canvas, then 23mm batten/boards on the studding, then 48mm boards cross nailed, then concrete roofing tiles.

[scootertheeb]

Good video! I am a builder in Australia where we have a preference for plywood other than OSB. We just treat OSB as rubbish.

[celsdl]

Matt, the quality of your videos is insane!

Very good job to you and your team.

[tommybaker]

Look at the sheathing behind him. He used plywood, enough said.

[zalllon]

Thank you, very educational! Especially since I see a lot of new homes sitting water on the OSB floors while they are in the framing stage.

[onewingfan]

Excellent information always. Thank you for making these videos and testing products for us builders.

[notadumbblond]

*Matt, I want to say thank you for your videos. I'm working my way up to being a sales rep for McCoy's and have learned a lot about what certain materials are used for, and about some lesser known materials, from your channel.*

Thank you.

[pedromeza]

Great informative videos, if I was teaching classes on construction and design, these videos would be required watching, along with text books.

[foxtrap]

As a 50 year veteran of the carpentry trade, I'd like to add my two-cents worth. During that time frame, I've torn apart quite a pile of water damaged buildings. By very far, the worse damage all around, was on OSB sheathed buildings. I wouldn't use OSB on a bird house. Horrible nasty stuff, and the brand makes no difference whatsoever, I don't care what any mfg. brags, it's all crap. I could list tons of reasons it's crap, but space is limited. The argument that it costs too much is a bs argument. So maybe it might cost $1, 500 over the house. Big deal. Ask yourself how much you're spending on the rest of the house, then compare. The same folks who blubber about the extra cost of plywood, don't even blink at a $2, 000+ counter top!

[argotungsten]

The main issue with osb is its weakness to point loads . When I was at jobsites to drill out for plumbing pipes through the floor, floors with osb it was easy to go through them with a large screwdriver. Also, nails can pop through, giving rise to the codes for flooring to change and mandate glue in this part of the country. But I've seen plywood perform vastly better in point load situations. Just something I've seen . Stay safe, and can't wait for your next vid 👍

[bbbmw]

We have some details in the den on the edge of some cabinets of osb built in 1958. It was a brand new hi tech product and the architect wanted to show off this new product in his house. Still looks great! And you’re so right, pay attention to the details and building materials will last a long time. 62 years now and not a speck of rot anywhere.

[beluapi]

My 120 yr old home has shiplap on the interior and exterior. Shiplap is nice since no need to find a stud for hanging things. I exposed one of the walls. Sanded it down, stained and finished it. Looks amazing

[karenjenkins]

In NZ you can use plywood when treated closer to the ground, where as OSB has to be a min of 550 off the GL. Plus ply just looks nicer.