Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




Products: OSB or Plywood Can't decide

Bottom of Page

1 to 24 of 24

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorWul
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2013
     
    I'm trying to decide between OSB or plywood for the exterior of a hut's stud wall. (There will be an additional, ventilated rain screen of cladding over the OSB or Ply)

    I've seen elsewhere on here that the WBP standard for plywood is obsolete and potentially meaningless. One contributor vowed he would never use WBP labelled ply.

    However, merchants still use "WBP" in their catalogues, why is this? Why would they use a (discredited?) standard that supposedly has no meaning. It's confusing me a lot.
    I'm leaning towards OSB 3, say 9-11mm because cost and weight and environmental impact are factors. I'll try to make sure that the OSB never gets damp. I wonder if OSB is as ridgid as ply though, and I'm sure I read that OSB is heavier than ply for the same strength.
    Screen shot below from one catalogue; which ply would you choose?
    • CommentAuthorWul
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2013
     
    And here's some OSB:
  3.  
    UK made OSB for me , kicks the environmental boxes and it's cheaper.
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2013 edited
     
    http://www.norbord.co.uk/help-advice/case-studies/norbord-sterling-board-celebrates-25-years-top
    made in Inverness so good if your up north
    Or Smart ply from Eire , which seems to be claiming it's better in environmental terms, certainly higher FSC content from your list.
    http://www.smartply.com/about-us/about-us-overview
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2013
     
    They use WBP as it is a known term. You need the BS coded wood however, I personally do not think it (the std) is worth the paper it is written on!

    OSB for me every time. I have some cheap OSB3 that was outside as a temp floor in all the poor weather of the summer of 2012. It is inside now and still absolutely fine. Show some ply a wee bit of water and it all pings apart.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 2nd 2013 edited
     
    Posted By: borpinShow some ply a wee bit of water and it all pings apart.
    I had some cheap ply in a bucket of water for over a year and it was fine, as was the glue I was testing. It is now kicking around the back garden and still seems fine.
    Was not looking to test the ply, so cannot claim any superiority on material selection.
    http://youtu.be/hzTKpySm-NU
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeOct 2nd 2013
     
    Posted By: jamesingramSmart ply from Eire
    and closer to southern UK at least, and much/most of that is lo-carbon sea-miles. Good stuff, currently going thro Fraunhofer testing, expected to knock spots off the alternatives.
    • CommentAuthorTimSmall
    • CommentTimeOct 2nd 2013
     
    Smartply doesn't off-gas formaldehyde either, unlike the Norbord stuff. BTW in Brighton, the Norbord tends to come from Belgium, not Scotland.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeOct 3rd 2013
     
    Posted By: TimSmallSmartply doesn't off-gas formaldehyde
    Not exactly - all natural timber does, a bit - but Smartply boasts 'no added formaldehyde' in the form of glue - apparently the natural resins of their Irish timber is enough - but that may just mean that their timber has high natural formaldehyde!
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeOct 4th 2013
     
    OSB for me too - Smartply does seam to tick all the required boxes. Cheaper, more than sufficient for the task you want, plus it will be more of a known quantity than plywood of potentially unknown origin and quality.

    As for why people still use the WBP term, I don't know, but that standard has been withdrawn for almost 20 years. It would be nice if suppliers, specifiers and users got with the times and actually understood plywood specifications.
  11.  
    I've got some sheets of ply with:-
    Marine Plywood
    BS1088
    WBP
    FSC
    stamped on the back. Does the BS number mean much or relate to any of the other information.
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeOct 4th 2013
     
    BS1088 (if memory serves) references EN636 and some other standard.

    Essentially marine plywood is the same as a softwood ply with an exterior quality glue line. Hardwood marine plywood only differs from softwood ply in the material used for the veneers. Marine ply needs to use timber which is moderately durable. The glue lines are exactly the same between marine and softwood ply with an EN636 class 3 glue bond. And WBP still means nothing!!

    http://www.trada.co.uk/techinfo/library/view/B98D5D38-C173-4CBD-8046-0FA53B501CBA/The+builder%27s+guide+to+plywood/index.pdf?hl=plywood%2Cplywoods%2Cplywood%2Cplywood
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeOct 4th 2013
     
    Even the big sheds are getting this wrong all the time - Look

    http://www.wickes.co.uk/structural-plywood-12x1220x2440mm/invt/164537/

    It says EN636-2 (which is suitable for humid conditions, but not external conditions) but further down the list it says suitable for exterior use.
  14.  
    Thanks Timber, the TRADA document is very useful.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 5th 2013
     
    Is there a similar one for boatbuilders :bigsmile:
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2013
     
    Posted By: PeterStarckThanks Timber, the TRADA document is very useful.
    Be warned though - just because it has the stamp on it does not mean it is any good. I bought class 3 and one sniff of damp and it exploded!
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2013 edited
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaIs there a similar one for boatbuildershttp:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/bigsmile.gif" alt=":bigsmile:" title=":bigsmile:" >


    Funnily enough, I think there might be one tucked away in the TRADA archive. I will have a look if you are genuinely interested.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 6th 2013
     
    Yes, genuinely interested. Thanks
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeOct 7th 2013
     
    Well there are a few documents to look at - I am not sure if you can access these if you are not a member.

    http://www.trada.co.uk/TRADAarchive/send/BOAT_BUILDING_IN_TIMBER_AND_Plywood_-_circa_1960s.pdf/BOAT%20BUILDING%20IN%20TIMBER%20AND%20Plywood%20-%20circa%201960s

    http://www.trada.co.uk/TRADAarchive/send/Timber_and_Plywood_in_boat_building_-_1967.pdf/Timber%20and%20Plywood%20in%20boat%20building%20-%201967

    http://www.trada.co.uk/TRADAarchive/send/SHEATHING%20OF%20WOODEN%20CRAFT.pdf/SHEATHING%20OF%20WOODEN%20CRAFT

    All 'old' info, but must still be of benefit.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 7th 2013
     
    I registered but still can't open them, any chance of emailing them?
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeOct 7th 2013 edited
     
    SteamyTea asked: "Is there a similar one for boatbuilders"

    http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/HowTo-Publications/GougeonBook%20061205.pdf
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2013
     
    That link the djh has posted looks far better than any of the ones I linked to! Infact I have saved it for a rainy day (I always have planned to build a boat at some point (had boats as a kid/teenager and miss them loads)).
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2013
     
    Ok, think I read that book in about 1981 when I last made a boat.
    Shall hunt around some of the local boat builders and see if any of them are still making ply boats.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2013
     

1 to 24 of 24

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press