Rating of the best OSB manufacturers for 2024

OSB (oriented strand board) is a modern building material that was able to successfully replace the outdated chipboard. For its manufacture, wood chips with a flat structure are used. Resin, wax and boric acid are used to create a single wood monolith. The main advantage of OSB is its strength and low board thickness. Actually, this is what allows us to call OSB an improved version of chipboard.

What are

Oriented strand board is used in the construction of every modern project. OSB is a unique building material. If we talk about its advantages, then it is worth highlighting:

1. Durability, much stronger than chipboard.
2. Low cost: recyclable materials are used in the manufacture, which significantly reduces the cost of this material.
3. Wide range of applications: used in the construction of frame houses, stairs and in the manufacture of furniture.

For each project, sheets of different configurations are used. Therefore, before making a purchase, you must familiarize yourself with all the features of this material. Knowing all the characteristics, as well as customer reviews, will help you make the right choice.

Today European and North American firms are the leaders in sales.

When purchasing this building material, the following nuances should not be overlooked:

Regardless of the country in which they were manufactured, they must comply with the international standard EN 300. This standard guarantees the quality of the products and their compliance with the standard regulations:

1. The thickness of OSB boards, which are produced by American, Canadian and British firms, is slightly less than the standard. During their production, the imperial system of measures is used, but they are calibrated in the metric system. This leads to the appearance of minor discrepancies with existing standards.
2. Plates, which are produced by American firms, have a looser structure. This is due to the use of a different technology for pressing wood chips. During the use of such a building material, you will notice that its strength is lower than that of others. At the same time, they are much easier to mount. This feature cannot be ignored.
3. Overseas OSB manufacturers, during the production of boards, paint their surface blue or light blue. When purchasing a building material of this color, it is necessary to take into account all its features.
4. Domestic manufacturers of building materials are also engaged in the production of sheets. At the moment, they are not competitive. World companies produce higher quality OSBs.

It should be noted that the materials produced by domestic manufacturers are much cheaper. This is precisely their main advantage. If we talk about the quality of domestic products, they are inferior to European and American names, but this difference is not critical.

Kinds

There are 4 types of this material:

1. OSB 1. Does not tolerate moisture. OSB 1 is used in furniture production. It is also great for interior wall cladding, crates and packaging. To a greater extent, such products are produced by foreign manufacturers. Russian firms do not want to engage in the production of OSB 1 due to the low income from the sale of this material.
2. OSB 2. Only an experienced specialist can distinguish between the first and second types. Like the first variety, OSB 2 does not tolerate high humidity. But, due to its high density, OSB 2 is quite often used to create load-bearing structures in dry rooms.
3. OSB 3. All Russian builders are familiar with this type. Its popularity is due to the ideal value for money.
4. OSB 4. It differs from other types in its special strength. Due to this, it is used for the manufacture of heavy structures. However, there is no need to talk about the popularity of this material. Due to the excessively high price, it is rarely used.

TOP of the best manufacturers

It is important to understand that it is possible to create the desired design only if the quality of the material used is high enough. In order not to be mistaken and choose the appropriate option, check out the rating of the best OSB boards. It was compiled on the basis of real feedback and expert assessments of specialists.

On the floor

Norbord

For a long time, this manufacturer was known only in North America. Norbord was not eager to leave the local market. However, general globalization still forced the company to expand its borders and, as practice shows, this decision was not made in vain. Today Norbord is 11 large factories that are engaged in the production of this material.

Regardless of the location of the plant, the company produces products of excellent quality. At the same time, the plates that come from the Norbord factories have optimal characteristics and affordable cost. This suggests that this manufacturer is worthy of attention.

• great quality;
• products have optimal characteristics and affordable cost.

• not found.

Egger

The first slabs appeared in the 60s of the 20th century. EGGER was one of the first companies to start producing them. This company started its activity as a family factory. Several decades later, EGGER has developed into one of the largest European manufacturers. Today, this association includes more than 20 factories that produce building materials and are located in European countries. Each factory is under strict control and produces high quality products.

EGGER is a company that cares about the quality of its products. Raw materials undergo strict selection, which means that they can be called the really best. Control over the quality of manufactured products begins already at the first stages and ends only when the production is completely completed. This approach allows you to minimize the risk of defects in the market. Of course, this had a direct impact on the cost of production. But in this case, the high cost is quite justified.

• excellent product quality;
• no marriage;
• the high cost is justified.

• not found.

Arbec

If we talk about the material made in America and Canada, then one cannot but pay attention to the following differences:

1. One side of the OSB board has a rough surface and is painted in a certain color.
2. The thickness of such plates is slightly larger.
3. The level of looseness of the slabs is slightly higher.

The only company that doesn't meet these tenets is Arbec. The material that it produces strictly complies with the EN300 regulation, which already speaks of the high quality of the products.

Studying the reviews on the products of this company, it is extremely difficult to find any negative. The only thing customers complain about is the cost of the product.But when you consider the fact that all Arbec products are manufactured in Canada, it becomes clear that the final cost is overestimated due to delivery costs. Otherwise, Arbec boards are considered the best.

• best quality;
• resistant to moisture;
• perfectly absorb noise;
• have perfect thermal insulation.

• high price.

With a sanded surface

Kronoply

KRONOGROUP is the most famous manufacturer of OSB sheets. He is the holder of a brand that unites many companies. Kronoply is a company that is one of the main parts of this concern. She has been producing OSB boards for many decades.

Unlike some other companies, Kronoply products do not meet generally accepted standards. This manufacturer has developed its own standard. But this does not mean low quality either. Kronoply are highly durable. In addition, they are lightweight, have a high level of sound insulation and are completely safe for human health. Thanks to these characteristics, they can be used even when creating a unique design in a children's room. If we talk about the shortcomings of this product, then we can answer its high cost. Despite the fact that Kronoply products are of high quality in terms of their qualities, many people opt for other companies. And this happens only because of the high cost of production.

• lungs;
• have a high level of sound insulation;
• completely safe for human health.

• high price.

Glunz

This large European manufacturer is part of the Sonae Industria group of companies. It differs from many other companies in that the technologies used in the production of products are constantly being improved. The quality of the material produced by this company is constantly improving, for which we can say thanks to a whole staff of specialists who are looking for ways to improve products.

Sheets from this manufacturer deservedly bear the title of the best. They have a high class of environmental and fire safety and are highly durable. But you will have to pay a lot for quality. Along with high quality, there is also a high cost of production. But if the builder is looking for a durable, sustainable and quality material, then Glunz is the perfect option.

• high German quality;
• large sheet sizes allow you to close 3 square meters. meters in one sheet;
• Glunz is suitable for creating load-bearing structures;
• environmental friendliness and complete safety.

• sale from 20 plates;
• high price of goods;
• not attractive enough.

On the walls

Bolderaja (Kronogroup)

Kronogroup is a brand that has united more than a dozen companies and has become one of the most famous manufacturers of OSB boards. Firms that operate under this brand have long gained access to the international market for the sale of building materials. But these privileges were given to them for a reason. In return, Kronogroup demands the strictest regulatory compliance and the companies unconditionally comply with this requirement. This can only say about one thing - such products are of the highest quality.

Bolderaja is a Latvian manufacturer. It is part of the Kronogroup consortium and produces high quality OSB boards. The products are quite affordable, but this does not affect their environmental friendliness. OSB from this company can be used for the construction of various kinds of structures in kindergartens, schools and hospitals. Customer reviews support the high quality claims.

• sheets have perfect geometry;
• They are characterized by a low level of looseness and high strength.

• not found.

Izoplat

Izoplat is a Russian company that produces OSB boards. Plates manufactured by this company have the following characteristics:

1. The sound agreement level is 22-54 decibels.
2. Density - 230 kg.
3. The distance between the battens is 50 cm.
4. Thermal conductivity - 0.05 W.
5. Weight (for standard boards) - 12 kg.

Considering all these characteristics, such sheets cannot be called the best. They have a loose structure and rather heavy weight. This can significantly complicate the work of creating horizontal structures. It should be noted that such indicators as thermal and sound insulation are at a very high level. Considering all the above facts, the products of this manufacturer cannot be called the best, but they should not be equated to the level of the worst either. These OSBs are something in between both in quality in general and in individual characteristics.

• do not allow condensation to form;
• prevents the appearance of "cold bridges";
• keep warm in winter;
• keep you cool during hot months;
• are not able to provoke the development of allergic reactions.

• overcharge;
• the need to cut slabs during installation;
• high weight of each individual plate.

Ultralam

For many years, sheets have been considered one of the most dangerous materials. This opinion was formed due to the fact that a variety of chemicals were used for their manufacture, including synthetic resins. A certain standard was established according to which the amount of formaldehyde in the sheets should not exceed 1 unit.

Those materials that fit this parameter are not capable of harming human health. Manufacturers agreed to this requirement and began to produce absolutely safe sheets. But the domestic company Ultralam decided not to stop there. The specialists who work in it have developed a unique technology for the production of sheets. This made it possible to reduce the content of hazardous elements to 0.5 units. Based on this, we can say that the products of this company are the most environmentally friendly and can be used to create structures in any room.

In addition, the slabs produced by this company have a dense structure, which significantly increases their level of fire resistance. The density allows the plate to hold the screws well. Even after a while, they will remain inside the plate. I would like to give the Ultrals first place in the rating, but due to the high cost, this is impossible to do.

• high level of moisture resistance;
• suitable for creating load-bearing structures;
• good composition and high environmental friendliness;
• resistance to decay processes.

• excessive weight - one plate weighs 25 kg;
• lack of ability to absorb sounds;
• the inability to create a smooth edge when carving with a jigsaw.

For outdoor work

Kronospan

The homeland of this brand is Latvia, but all production was concentrated in Romania, although not for long. After some time, the company moved to Belarus, and even later opened its branch in Russia. It should be noted that OSBs from Kronospan are of high quality and environmental friendliness. This allows them to be used not only outside, but also indoors.

The boards are strong, durable and resistant to moisture. Experts point out that the product is incredibly convenient. It has different surfaces - smooth and rough. This makes it much easier to work with. But these OSBs are not suitable for creating loading structures. They require careful lathing, which significantly increases the cost of the entire construction.

• plates have a homogeneous structure;
• respond well to high humidity;
• high safety when mounted on the roof;
• affordable price;
• vapor permeability.

• not suitable for creating load-bearing structures;
• require frequent lathing (roof sheathing);
• weak rigidity.

Unsanded

Kalevala

Despite the fact that Russia is a country whose territory is covered with forests, there are not many companies producing OSB boards here, but they are. One of the first companies that started producing this material was Kalevala. For the production of OSB, the company uses Karelian wood, which is distinguished not only by its high strength, but also by its durability.The density of OSB boards produced by this company is 650-700 kg per 1 square meter. This indicator speaks for itself. Such OSB plates can be used to create horizontal structures. Moreover, they do not require frequent lathing.

One of the most important advantages of this company is that their products comply with EN300 standards. This allows the company to sell OSB not only in the domestic market, but also in the foreign one. If we talk about the shortcomings, then they are few. One of them is the same surface on both sides and the need to additionally process them. This slows down the progress of work, and is inconvenient. Otherwise, OSB from Kalevala may well compete with materials that are produced by European firms.

• stable slab sizes;
• high moisture resistance;
• good composition - 90% wood;
• environmental friendliness.

• the presence of black chips and, as a result, insufficiently attractive appearance;
• rough surface;
• heavy weight - 20 kg.

Knowing how to choose OSB plates, their characteristics and purpose, you can choose the right option for the repair or construction of the structure.