Plywood vs.
OSB
by Paul Fisette
OSB performs as well as or better than plywood
in most applications — if you keep it dry
The issue for most builders who
choose between plywood and OSB
is durability. OSB looks like a bunch of
wood chips glued together (that's what
it is). Its detractors are quick to say that
OSB falls apart. This opinion has a
familiar ring — plywood suffered the
same criticism not too long ago.
Delamination of early plywood
sheathings gave plywood a bad name.
Many "old-timers" swore by solid board
sheathing until the day they hung up
their aprons. But not many builders
today share that view of plywood.
Similarities of OSB and Plywood
The model