Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

And I wrote; it will work, if sealed well enough, and the seal is maintained regularly

GOOD WOOD
“We don't ever say that OSB is not a good product,” says Chris H. Beyer, director of marketing services for Georgia-Pacific Building Products, which makes both products. “But plywood is better. [Plywood] has performance benefits that are important, and it is more versatile, especially when you talk about flooring options.”

In a 2003 technical paper, Georgia-Pacific stated that plywood holds up better under excessive wettings, has an all-wood surface that results in better glue adhesion, and is 15 percent lighter than OSB so it puts less stress on the floor framing system. Beyer further states that plywood is more forgiving than OSB and also helps create a quieter floor. “Tests indicate that it holds nails better, too,” Beyer adds.

48Rob wrote:Hi James,

You do have a cool tear!

I think we're both saying the same thing, just with a different perspective.

You're "for" OSB because the manufacturer’s studies have convinced you that if properly sealed, it is a good and suitable product.

And I wrote; it will work, if sealed well enough, and the seal is maintained regularly

I cautioned against using it for the floor of a trailer because of readily available research that shows it doesn't stand up to moisture as well as plywood, and on my 30+ years of personal experience in the construction industry, the housing industry, and as a housing maintenance inspector.

You noted that you chose, and used OSB with "exposure rating 1".
"Exposure 1" rated OSB is designed to temporarily withstand weather exposure during construction.
Just about any OSB a consumer can purchase at whatever store carries this rating.

Here is a basic fact sheet showing the 4 common grades of OSB;
Four grades of OSB are defined in terms of their mechanical performance and relative resistance to moisture. These are:

OSB/1 - General purpose boards and boards for interior fitments (including furniture) for use in dry conditions.

OSB/2 - Load-bearing boards for use in dry conditions.

OSB/3 - Load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions

OSB/4 - Heavy-duty load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions.

The exterior grades (3 & 4) of OSB are better suited to using in a potentially damp situation, but unfortunately, grade 1 is the "inexpensive" variety that most consumers are comparing to plywood at the big box stores.
The pricing on grade 3 and 4 OSB is considerably higher, one of the reasons it is special order only in many stores.

A few dollars cheaper...the store employee says; "it’s just as good as plywood".
So the deal is sealed, and the consumer takes home a product that may or may not be suitable, or the best choice for their particular project.

This is the seal found on exposure 1 rated OSB.

<img src="http://www.coxlumber.com/images/osb/apa_stam.gif">


We could each gather up factual information, and endless comments and stories about the virtues of both from the Internet, to support one view or the other, but in the end, the whole idea behind this debate is to offer up as much relevant information as we can so that the original poster can make up hisor her own mind.

So with that in mind, I'll end with this quote from a major manufacturer of both plywood, and OSB products.

Rob

GOOD WOOD
“We don't ever say that OSB is not a good product,” says Chris H. Beyer, director of marketing services for Georgia-Pacific Building Products, which makes both products. “But plywood is better. [Plywood] has performance benefits that are important, and it is more versatile, especially when you talk about flooring options.”

In a 2003 technical paper, Georgia-Pacific stated that plywood holds up better under excessive wettings, has an all-wood surface that results in better glue adhesion, and is 15 percent lighter than OSB so it puts less stress on the floor framing system. Beyer further states that plywood is more forgiving than OSB and also helps create a quieter floor. “Tests indicate that it holds nails better, too,” Beyer adds.