Do you want to have a home that is built to last? One of the best materials for this purpose is Oriented Strand Board, or OSB. The material has many benefits including being strong and durable while also increasing your home's performance. In this blog post we will discuss what it does for your home and how it can help you create the house of your dreams!

What is OSB?

OSB, or Oriented Strand Board, is a type of manufactured plywood. Instead of being one solid piece, it uses small pieces of wood that are aligned to run in different directions. The material is coated with epoxy adhesives to lock the parts in place. Finally, it is subjected to tremendous pressure and rolled to the thicknesses used for roofing, walls, and flooring.

What are the Benefits of OSB?

One of the main benefits to using OSB is that it can be made from fast-growth, smaller trees. These small diameter trees can be sustainably farmed which makes them environmentally friendly.

The manufacturing process of OSB makes it stronger and more durable with fewer soft spots than plywood. These traits allow for larger panel sizes that resist shear better than plywood, making it more useful in hot climates.

Lastly, unlike plywood, OSB is resistant to delaminate in hot climates.

The Advantages of OSB Wrap on Your Home

Other builders in the state may use bare stud walls with diagonal 1x4 cut-ins, but Tilson uses 7/16" OSB wrap to create a more rigid and durable home. A full OSB wrap creates a more rigid structure with a smoother surface for applying masonry or siding.

Another way this wrap can help your home is its ability to increase energy efficiency. The tighter seal created with OSB on a house prevents heat transfer from occurring in winter and summer, helping maintain comfort levels inside year-round.

Lastly, the OSB wrap coupled with Tyvek on Tilson homes, acts as a layer that helps prevent heat transfer and limits airborne noise caused by joint leaks, gaps, or voids.

Don't Accept Shortcuts In Your Home's Framing Process

Many builders still use plywood or only use OSB wrap in windstorm areas where it's required by code. Tilson makes a conscious effort not to take shortcuts and uses full 7/16" OSB wrap statewide. This same mentality has allowed us to deliver the highest quality homes in Texas for the better part of a century.

Check out our Quality Construction page on framing for more information about our processes. You won't want to miss a second of behind-the-scenes footage with Eric Alarid, Senior Vice President and fourth-generation member of the Tilson family.