1. Material Property Comparison: Essential differences determine application scenarios
Plywood
Structure: Multi-layer solid wood veneers are crisscrossed and bonded together
Surface: Smooth and flat, it can be directly veneered or painted
Environmental friendliness :E0 grade (≤0.05mg/m³)
Moisture resistance: The standard type is afraid of moisture, while the Marine grade can be used outdoors
OSB (Oriented Strand Board)
Structure: Large pieces of wood chips are arranged in a directional manner and formed under high temperature and high pressure
Surface: Rough and granular texture, needs to be covered with gypsum board or decorative surface
Environmental friendliness :E1 grade (≤0.124mg/m³)
Moisture resistance: Moisture-proof type (OSB/3 or above grade) resistant to short-term water immersion
2. Core Demand Comparison for Small-Sized Apartments: 5 Scenarios of Actual Test Comparison
Wall decoration: A battle between appearance and cost
Plywood
Advantages: It can be directly coated with micro-cement/artistic paint to create a minimalist style (Case: A 25-square-meter apartment in Shanghai used birch plywood as the TV background wall, cost ￥150 per square meter).
Limitation: When used on a large scale, the seams need to be controlled; otherwise, it may appear cheap.
OSB
Advantages: Strong stability at the base layer, suitable for concealed storage walls (with built-in cabinet structures).
Limitation: Gypsum board must be attached externally, increasing the overall cost to ￥200 per square meter.
Custom furniture: The ultimate test of load-bearing capacity and deformation.
Plywood
Data: 18mm thick multi-layer board (span 60cm), load-bearing capacity 80kg, settlement ≤1mm.
Case: The IKEA PAX wardrobe adopts a 9mm plywood back panel, and the load-bearing test has passed the EU EN 14749 standard.
OSB
Data: The 18mm OSB board can bear a load of 120kg for the same span, but it is prone to edge burst during cutting and requires edge sealing treatment.
Suitable for: bookshelves, tatami platforms and other invisible load-bearing structures.
Partition design: A balance between lightweight and sound insulation.
Plywood
Solution: 6mm plywood +50mm sound insulation cotton, with a sound insulation capacity of 42dB (cost ￥180/㎡).
OSB
Solution: 12mm OSB board + light steel keel, with a sound insulation of 38dB, but the weight increases by 30%.
Floor leveling: Quick construction vs. long-term stability.
Plywood
Applicable: Quick covering of old floor tiles for second-hand house renovation (with a thickness of more than 18mm and epoxy glue filled in the joints).
OSB
Advantages: High bending strength, suitable for the base layer of floor heating (the thermal expansion and contraction rate is only 1/3 of that of plywood).
DIY Creativity: A Contest of Friendliness for Beginners
Plywood
Advantages: Easy to cut, smooth edges, suitable for making shelves and folding tables.
OSB
Limitations: Professional tools are required to avoid sharp edges, but industrial style enthusiasts prefer its rugged texture.
Limited budget: OSB is more suitable for concealed works (such as base layers and platforms).
Appearance priority: Plywood exposed directly looks more aesthetically pleasing.
3. Environmental Controversy: Unveiling the Truth about the Formaldehyde Issue
Plywood
Risk point: Inferior urea-formaldehyde glue can release formaldehyde for up to 15 years. Choosing MDI glue (without formaldehyde addition) is the key.
Testing technique: Place a formaldehyde detector close to the edge banding area. If it is ≥0.1mg/m³, it is considered unqualified.
Recommended brand: Linyi GUANOU Plywood
OSB
Industry chaos: Some OSB boards, in order to save costs, often use pine wood shavings and phenolic glue, which can easily lead to excessive benzene series substances.
Recommended brand: YACHEN OSB (certified by CE), formaldehyde ≤0.03mg/m³.
4.Stylist Possession Of Skills: Mix Solution Drained Every 1 ㎡ Metope:
European matsuzaka grassroots + plywood veneer (both stable and beautiful).
Furniture: the visible part of the plywood, hidden frame with OSB board.
The ground: OSB + plywood herringbone spell epidermis at the grassroots level of floor heating effect of solid wood.
5. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q: Will OSB boards fall off when directly used as walls in small-sized apartments?
A: Yes! Interface agent must be applied and putty applied, or 0.5mm fireproof board must be pasted on the outside.
Q: Can plywood be used to make kitchen wall cabinets?
A: Sure, but you need to choose a moisture-proof type (such as poplar core +WBP glue) and keep it away from the sink area.
Q: Which one is more suitable for a floor heating environment?
A: Prioritize OSB (resistant to moisture and heat deformation), but choose OSB/4 grade (density ≥650kg/m³).
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