We stock a wide range of structural and non-structural timber panels. Usually referred to simply as “ply” this plywood is an engineered timber product where each thin veneer is arranged and glued depending on what the board is designed to achieve.  However, some applications need more specialised engineered products such as OSB

OSB (Oriented Strand Board) aka Sterling Board

OSB, or more accurately Oriented Strand Board, is available for structural builds and hoarding. These are normally square edge products but tongue & groove (T&G) OSB sheets are also stocked for roofing and flooring applications.

OSB sheet construction – void free product

OSB is an engineered wood-based sheet material in which strands of wood are bonded together with a synthetic resin adhesive. The outer layers of these panels show how the strands are orientated in a particular direction. Our two principle brands stocked at Southern Timber are SmartPly and Norboard, and large OSB stocks are maintained at our Ipplepen yard in Devon. We stock OSB3 in preference to other grades of OSB

Engineered product, green credentials

Timbers used in OSB 3 manufacture include both softwoods (spruce, pine) and hardwood (aspen) and after drying the flakes are generally sprayed with a synthetic resin which confers a degree of moisture resistance to the board. OSB will not normally be attacked by wood-boring insects common in temperate climates, but panels made using aspen and spruce are susceptible to fungal attack under prolonged wet conditions. Much of the OSB sold in the UK uses homegrown timber and is also manufactured in the UK and Ireland.

High performance sheet material

OSB is designed for use where a high performance board is required which provides dimensional stability and load bearing capabilities. Strong, consistent, and great value, OSB is an engineered board that is stronger and tougher than most softwood plywood, thanks to the tens of thousands of real wood strands that go into every board. OSB boards are of uniform thickness with no knots, voids or delaminating. Traditionally we have carried OSB2, but now we only keep the better spec OSB3 which is conditioned for humid conditions. OSB is sometimes referred to as SterlingBoard, but this is a brand name of a popular OSB product.

Uses for OSB sheet material

All OSB boards are easy to saw, drill, nail, plane, file or sand. Nails can be driven as close as 8mm from the panel edge without splitting this sheet material. Typical applications for OSB would include timber frame housing, site hoarding, flat and pitch roofing, wall sheathing, flooring, sheds and stables and panelling. Other uses for OSB boards include shelving and racking, boarding up, garden sheds, packaging, pallets and DIY projects.