[IC31]

I have done many home renovations and have always used plywood as underlaymet or sheathing. Looking at some new homes going up locally and in the mid to high six figure range, see that most have OSB as sheathing. My very few times using this material is that it absorbs moisture, swells and disintegrates. Good exterior plywood seldom will. Plywood also has some flexibility while OSB crumbles.

This leads me to my question - why are builders/remodlers using this inferior product so extensively? The cost savings can't be that much plus it's a lot hard to handle, ofteb breaking, negating any costsavings. Or am I all wrong:surprise:

 

[IC31]

It looks like our current home was well built then as it is entirely sheathed in plywood. The builder who did our home for all intents, developed the town, building over 2000. He bought in train loads. For the most part used dang good materials with Caradco windows being the one place where he skimped. I recently watched the 16 new, big buck homes being built in a new development behind us and by a different builder. The crap that was hidden and the quality of workmanship is deplorable for the prices they brought.

I didn't think there was that much of a price difference between OSB and CDX plywood - but then when you buy one sheet or two at a time,.... :surprise: