The Few and the Fearless: A Blog About Roofers

One of the benefits of installing a new roof is that it gives you the ability to put in a new roof deck and provide more protection for your home. However, you have the option of using plywood or OSB for your roof deck. When it comes to how the materials are made, plywood comes in various thicknesses and is made with layers of wood that are glued together. With OSB, it is made out of wood chips that are stuck together with glue and a hot press. Both of these are very popular choices for roof deck material and can work great for any home. Here is what you need to know about the differences between these two materials to make an informed decision.

OSB Differences

One thing that makes OSB different is that the material is heavier when compared to plywood, which makes it a bit harder to handle when installing on a roof. However, OSB is also a cheaper material, making it a more affordable choice for a very large roof.

The nature of how OSB is constructed means that the material is going to be more consistent when it comes to the density of the wood. This can give you peace of mind that you're buying quality material. If you need OSB that is a specific thickness, you can even have it made in that size due to how it is manufactured.

Plywood Differences

Plywood is known for being stronger than OSB as you add more layers of wood to make it thicker. This may make plywood an ideal choice for homes that are in hurricane areas and face strong winds. You'll need every bit of strength to get in this situation, which may mean that is plywood the right choice for the job. Since plywood is made with individual sheets of wood that are glued together, the precise thickness of the wood is limited.

While you never want your roof deck to become wet, know that plywood is going to hold up a bit better if moisture does reach the roof deck. It will dry out much faster, and allow you to repair your roof faster as well. This can help save you the cost of replacing your plywood roof deck if it does need to be repaired.

Undecided on the roof deck that you need? Reach out to a roofing contractor in your area. They can provide additional information regarding residential roofing.