Three names crop up again and again when it comes to DIY or ordering sheet materials from a timber merchant: plywood, OSB and MDF. They look similar in a stack but will behave worlds apart when you start cutting, fixing and exposing them to Great British weather. For advice from Timber Merchants Bournemouth, consider //www.timbco.co.uk/timber-merchants-bournemouth/
Your go-to guide on picking the best one for floors
Cheat Sheet: The Best of Each Board
Plywood is constructed from thin sheets of wood veneer joined together with the grain at adjacent layers running in perpendicular directions. It is lightweight and yet it has a great strength to weight ratio making simple fixings easy.
OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is a compressed wood strand. It is durable, inexpensive and the material of choice for post frame buildings.
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) High quality fine wood fibres and resin. Smooth to work with and perfect for inside joinery, but is water-hating.
Best for floors
For most flooring jobs (subfloors, loft boarding, shed floors) you are looking for strength and stability.
Plywood is a good solid board and perfect for where you need to fix it or want it not to sag.
OSB is the second most popular material; it’s great for subfloors and structural flooring because of its durability, strength, and sense to your wallet.
You should never be using MDF for floors, especially in places where there is the possibility of dampness. This will cause it to swell and weaken.
Best for walls
Whether a wall is structural, part of the decor or intended for certain damp areas.
OSB is perfect for structured wall sheathing (e.g. in timber frame builds or as an internal layer of a new shed/garage). Strong, well taken to nails/screws.
You can also use plywood for wall linings if you do not require textured finish but want to have quality screw holding.
MDF works well for paint ready smooth finishes (great for most interior walls and panels or larger areas, featurewalls, boxing-in etc). Keep it away from moisture.
Best for sheds
Sheds are also subjected to humidity and there can be temperature fluctuations, so you require moisture resistance.
Cheap and tough, OSB is the material of choice for flat-packed sheds.
Plywood is the go to choice for shed floors and roofs when you need extra strength.
MDF is always a no-no for sheds unless fully contained indoors!
OSB is a good choice when you want structural strength for an excellent price. If you desire higher screw-holding as well as a far more robust board, plywood is the way to go. For a finish of glory smoothness, this stuff is perfect, assuming it stays dry.
