Different Engineered Wood Products

Engineered wood provides a cheaper alternative to sawn lumber. These products make more efficient use of the trees and use only the best qualities of the wood so that you have a stronger product. You also have a more uniform performance and greater stability in the construction project. You can use this wood over greater spans and have increased resistance to shrinkage, crowning, twisting and warping. In addition, engineered wood is easier to work with. Each piece is the actual size, is lightweight and easy to cut. You can use engineered lumber for a variety of projects, such as flooring, roof joists, framing materials for the walls, moldings around the ceilings, floors, windows and doors and for framing out the windowsills and doorframes.

MDF is the acronym for Medium Density Fibreboard, which is made from bonded wood fibres. Its physical properties are very similar to that of solid lumber and it is easy to cut. The density is consistent throughout and the product has a smooth, uniform surface. It usually comes in sheets measuring 4 feet by 8 feet, but it is available in a variety of thicknesses.

Oriental Strand Board is called OSB. This is the latest of the engineered woods that have come on the market. Layers of wood are compressed into sheets that have superior strength and versatility. This produce is excellent for both indoors and out fro sheeting up the walls or the roof or for the flooring. By using the 4 x 8 panels, you work can be completed in very little time. You can choose tongue and groove OSB and from a variety of thicknesses.

Melamine is not an engineered wood product, but it can be a substitute for wood. This product is made by laminating resin impregnated paper on a particle board substrate. The edges are finished with edge tape. It is available in a variety of thicknesses in 4 x 8 panels. Particle board is made from bonded wood particles and while it is similar to MDF, it has a coarser finish. It is very cheap and is mainly used as underlay for flooring or for building shelves and cabinets.