Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
While the interlocking nature of the chipboard flooring can be useful on long straight
runs of a new-build wall, it can cause problems where there is any deviation from
straight runs, as the boards become difficult to slot together.
For any sections where the boards need to be cut into funny shapes, the tongues and
grooves are guaranteed to be a hindrance rather than a help, as you will never get them
to match up.
Chipboard flooring uses more glue in its manufacture than OSB, which relies on both
its binder and the compression of the interlocking strands of timber for its strength.
This means that not only is OSB more ecologically sound, but the dust created when
cutting it is less toxic.
OSB is stronger than chipboard, as the pieces of wood in the board are bigger, and it is
therefore much less prone to corners snapping off when it is cut into strange shapes.
Due to this increased strength, a thinner board of OSB can be used, which makes it
lighter and easier to handle, and more flexible where this is required.
As the OSB contains bigger pieces of wood, it is more tolerant to fixings being
screwed in and out repeatedly as the board is set up and struck many times through the
course of the build. The chipboard, being made up of dust-sized particles, is prone to a
hole being bored out very quickly so that the screw just turns round and round and
won't come out.
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