Things You May Not Know About Engineered Wood

Engineered wood, man-made board, particle board, manufactured board, chip board what’s the difference? The answer is they are similar, because all five are products derived from bonded wood.

Manufacturers bind particles of wood together, using adhesives to turn strands, particles, fibres, or veneers into solid products we can use instead of timber. The products are also cheaper because of low manufacturing costs, compact packaging, and lower weight.

Different Engineered Wood Products on the Market

There are a number of generic varieties of engineered wood available, which individual companies may discriminate by using brand names. The chief ones among them are:

# Plywood diversified wood, fibre board, particle board. oriented strand board

# Laminated timber, laminated veneer, cross laminated, parallel strand

# Laminated strand, finger joint, beams, trusses, transparent wood composites

Oriented strand board is produced in huge, continuous mats of a consistent quality and with no laps, gaps, or voids. It comprises rectangular strands of wood oriented lengthwise, arranged in layers, and bonded with moisture-resistant, heat-cured adhesives. These can then be cut into smaller parts, or strips for siding etc.

Some individual layers are cross oriented to add extra stiffness and strength. Arrows on the board indicate the strongest orientation, which is typically the length of the board.

LP Smart Side© Oriented Strand Board

The LP SmartSide© company pioneered oriented strand board forty years ago. Two decades later it began manufacturing premium LP SmartSide© board intended to resist termites and fungal decay. It supplies the material as cedar texture shakes, lap siding, trim and fascia, vertical siding, and soffits. These are all excellent when fitted correctly.

The material may however begin to fail prematurely if an installer ignores – or does not know of – the instruction that all exposed / cut surfaces must be primed and painted. This includes reinstating coating damaged by over-driven nails. Furthermore the manufacturer encourages regular inspections and periodic repainting.

Furthermore, they recommend that garden sprinklers do not spray water directly onto the trim or siding, and roofs and gutters are kept clear so water diverts away from the product. Finally, a half-inch per foot slope must be maintained so as to divert water away, and preserve a six-inch gap between their product and the ground.

Trust Valiant Exteriors for Honest Advice

Valiant Exteriors Ltd. is a small siding, eaves trough, soffit, fascia, and gutter installer in Calgary, with a fine reputation for using durable products and installing them correctly. You can trust us to provide honest, impartial, and objective advice. Please call 403 829 1661 if you need siding, eaves troughs, soffits, fascias, and gutters installed, maintained or repaired.