Differences between subflooring

So what is OSB and how is it different from plywood?

Plywood is made from thin sheets of (usually southern pine) veneer that are cross-laminated and glued together with a hot-press, forming 4 foot x 8 foot sheets. Installation usually consists of gluing and nailing the sheets to the floor joists. CDX Grade is the most commonly used exterior structural subfloor throughout the industry.


OSB Sub flooring looks like, and is, a bunch of wood chips glued together. Installation usually consists of gluing and nailing the OSB sheets to the floor joists.

Plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) are similar, yet different. They are made similarly yet react differently when they get wet. OSB may be less expensive, but if cuts are made to the surface, it loses its waterproof quality.

Some OSB panels react differently from plywood when they get wet. When OSB is manufactured the cut edges are sealed with a special waterproof paint. Carpenters destroy the watertight integrity of OSB each time they make a cut that exposes wood fiber edges. These cut edges are prone to swelling after they get wet. It is possible to seal these edges after they are cut, but it may be tough to find a carpenter willing to take the time to perform this extra step.

Lumber products are true commodities. Prices of these products can fluctuate wildly with changes in supply and demand. Currently where I live the prices of plywood versus OSB are very close. A piece of one half inch plywood that a builder would use on a roof or a sidewall only costs $1.02 more than a similar piece of OSB. A sheet of 3/4 inch sub-floor plywood costs just $4.38 more than the same sized piece of OSB. If you desire to use plywood on your new home, the extra cost may only be several hundred dollars

Flooring in Manufactured housing.

My advice: Stick with plywood floors! If you are buying a manufactured home new, insist on the plywood floors instead of OSB or particle board!! It will cost more but in the end you will have a much sturdier home. So how do you check to see what type of flooring is there? Take a screwdriver with you and unscrew the floor vent/ floor register from the floor. I would do this in a carpeted area in the home because it's easy to lift carpet and look under it. Another piece of advice, the sales person may not really know what is under the carpeting so still insist on having a look even if the sales person thinks that there is plywood there. If the sales person does not allow you to see for yourself, to me that's a red flag! Reason: When particle board gets wet it gets soft and unstable it will not hold a good amount of weight for too long and before you know it, your washer and dryer is falling through the floor and you have a huge hole to repair in your floor. When plywood gets wet it will warp but at least it will hold. Also, you may not be aware that you have a leak and by the time you realize that there is a leak the stability of your flooring has already been compromised! You will want something sturdy underneathe your feet! A family friend that also owns a manufactured home, had a horrible plumbing disaster in his home and had to tear up the entire flooring of his house and replace the OSB/particle board with plywood! Expensive and a lot of work!

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