What You Need to Know About SYP Plywood, Douglas Fir Plywood, and OSB Board

As one of the country's largest wholesale building materials organizations, AIFP makes itself known as an industry leader. We proudly dedicate seven departments to major lumber commodities, one of which is our Panels Department. Our Panels Department delivers you decades of expertise in rated sheathing, underlaying, sanded and specialty grade, ply-form, and mill-certified grades.

In today’s blog, our lumber experts will be covering what you need to know about SYP plywood, Douglas Fir plywood, and oriented strand board (OSB).

WHAT IS PLYWOOD?

Plywood is an engineered wood product manufactured from thin layers of wood veneer glued together with adjacent layers being rotated 90 degrees. This configuration is called cross-graining. Cross-graining provides consistent strength in all directions as the sheets of veneer are incredibly strong along the grain and exceptionally weak across the grain. Cross-graining allows for improved dimensional stability and reduced tendency for wood to split, expand, or shrink.

TYPES OF PLYWOOD

Plywood can vary in many different ways. Not only can it be made from different types of woods (hardwoods, softwoods, etc.), but it can also be designed for different types of uses, like sheathing plywood, sanded plywood, and overlay plywood. Below are some of the types of plywood traded by our trusted Panels Department at American International Forest Products.

SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE PLYWOOD

Southern yellow pine plywood is a multi-purpose plywood made with wood from southern yellow pine trees. While SYP plywood is extremely soft with a beautiful yellow exterior, it’s also quite strong and durable making it great for a wide range of construction projects. Plus, it’s pressure-treated, holds nails well, and is nearly immune to wood rot. Boost your knowledge of SYP lumber so you come to your next project as prepared as possible!

DOUGLAS FIR PLYWOOD

Douglas fir plywood is a multi-purpose plywood made with wood from Douglas fir trees. Rated for both interior and exterior use, this type of plywood is strong, stiff, and sturdy. Douglas fir plywood is less susceptible to warping than SYP plywood, though it is harder than the average softwood, so it can be a bit rough on power tool bits and blades.

SHEATHING PLYWOOD

In construction, sheathing refers to a layer of a board or panel material like plywood that’s used to strengthen the assembly of floors, walls, and roofs, while providing a surface for joining other materials and providing weather resistance.

SANDED PLYWOOD

Sanded plywood is a structural plywood panel that has been sanded smooth on both the back and face plies during manufacturing. Because of its beautiful appearance, sanded plywood is often used in cabinetry and paneling. Like all plywood, sanded plywood’s cross-graining construction means it’s quite strong, impact-resistant, and has superior dimensional stability.

OVERLAY PLYWOOD

Otherwise known as medium-density overlay panels, or MOD panels, overlay plywood is a paintable surface made of plywood that’s treated with a weather-resistant resin overlay that’s bonded directly to the plywood by heat and pressure. The resin overlay better resists water, weather, wear, and degradation, which makes it great for sign painting and concrete formwork.

WHAT IS OSB BOARD?

Known as OSB board, oriented strand board is a type of engineered wood that has similarities to plywood and particle board. Unlike plywood, OSB board is made of layers of shredded wood strips, though it shares many of the same strength properties.

OSB VS. PLYWOOD

There is some debate about whether OSB or plywood is better for certain applications, though they are graded as structural equals. OSB currently leads the market as a sheathing and sub-flooring material. One reason for its popularity is its low price. It’s also a popular choice for sustainable builders, as OSB boards are made from small trees that grow quickly on tree farms, rather than being cut from forests. That said, plywood reacts much better to moisture, making it a better choice in regions where the panels are more likely to encounter rain, snow, and ice.