Michael: We are using Oriented Strand Board or OSB throughout our country retreat project house. OSB is an engineered building material made from wood strands, the strands are mix with the waterproof binder then arranging in cross on oriented layers. These layers are then decompressed with the high temperature and pressure and form it to structural panels. OSB has many of the same strength and performance characteristics as plywood. All of the OSB in our project house was provided by next for Norbord. We used 3 quarter in show OSB to provide the solid and stable subfloor as part of our raised floor foundation. We used Norbord tall wall OSB panels for the exterior shading. And because the decking on the second floor we will have greater exposure to the elements. We used the water resistant OSB product called Stable edge. Now, one of the benefits of wrapping a house in OSB is you add a lot of strength to the home itself. Normally in high winds homes rock back and forth and that’s why you get something in your nail pops and your dry walk cracks.
By wrapping the whole house in OSB you’re actually nailing the board under the frame of the house and onto the base plate and the top plate. That’s adding a lot of strength to household rock back in forth in high winds plus even stronger in tornados. Very expensive but adds a lot of strength. The Norbord panels were using for shading this house take that structural support to a whole new level. They’re called Tall Wall Panels and they are longer than the standard 4x8 shading panels. There design to cover the wall from the top plate of their frame to the floor joints. Because the tall wall panels span from the floor to the ceiling and one solid piece, the walls are going to be stronger and stiffer and even more resistant as size make the activity or high winds.
One big advantage of going with the tall wall system is we don’t have any joints in our OSB. If you put smaller pieces together we’re going to have a horizontal joint running to link to this wall. And one piece is stronger than two pieces with the joint. To make up with that weakness we are going to come in and actually block the framing of the wall by putting the stud in between the wall studs wherever the joint is and knowing it all together. By going with the tall wall system we are going to save money on our labor plus we are going to use less material.
Because the tall wall panels eliminate horizontal joints, they add the energy efficiency by reducing the number of place is where air can infiltrate. Doug McNeill has over 30 years experience in the building materials industry.
Well, Doug I noticed here on the second floor your using a new product that help prevent the problem of the edges swelling on the deck and if you gets frame done during the framing stage.
Doug McNeill: Yes, Michael it’s a project that we call a Stable edge that next for Norbord has developed. I have small sample here that you want to look at it. It will not swell it will stand all of the moisture that house will have to injured during normal construction.
Michael: I have a piece that it is been in a bucket of water for two days or 48 hours that would be a lot of rain.
Doug McNeill: That would be a lot of rain and absolutely.
Michael: Putting that to each other.
Doug McNeill: It just compared those two and as you can see there is no edge swell there because will not swell.
Michael: So, were going to have to come in and sand the floors before put down our floor and do that.
Doug McNeill: Absolutely not, absolutely not.
Michael: The stabledge cuts just like regular OSB or plywood. It has time grew of edges and fits together very easily. In fact our crew was able to achieve a very tight fit by simply using there fit to push the panels together. Noticed up above us toois something special, you’ve got a radiant barrier actually manages to the OSB.
Doug McNeill: Yes, we’ve got a product we call Solar Board. It’s on aluminum phase OSB panel that offers a lot of advantages to the home owner and the builder.
Michael: And I see you got a piece here and it just actually pressurized mounted right on the board the board itself.
Doug McNeill: It is actually laminated right on to the board itself.
Michael: And what will this do?
Doug McNeill: Well, what it does it reflects about 97% of the sun solar energy back out into through the roof into the atmosphere.
Michael: Okay, so let’s going to keep to attic cooler so there is not as much strength on the heating and cooling system?
Doug McNeill: Absolutely.
Michael: And some of us are from Missouri because you actually brought a experiment here to show us how it works.
Doug McNeill: Yes, what you’ve got here Michael is what we called a hot box. On the left hand side you’ve got a typical roof panel, on the right hand side you have a solar board. The sensor is picked up for the thermometers from what would be a typical on an attic space. And as you can see there is approximately 30 degrees cooler attic space on the right hand side.
Michael: Yeah, actually over 30 degrees.
Doug McNeill: Yeah.
Michael: Or attic in the summer times is set to be in 150 degrees might be in 120 degrees up there?
Doug McNeill: Yeah! Somewhere in that range and obviously is our huge benefit for us because your heat thus not radiate down into your living spaces. It also reduces the stress on your ducts in the attic.
Michael: For more information on how the next for Norbord OSB can make your home safer, stronger and more energy efficient visit Norbord website at norbord.com.
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