What is better to choose for the floor: OSB, plywood, chipboard, fiberboard or MDF. Comparative characteristics of plywood and other materials What is better mdf or plywood

Knowledge of the main characteristics of the product makes it possible to evaluate all the pros and cons of the coating, which may affect the subsequent cladding with decorative elements.

OSB

Oriented strand boards are gaining more and more popularity when carrying out rough work inside the house. They are produced by processing wood raw materials to obtain right size, then binder resins and additional components are mixed into the resulting mass. The chips are laid in perpendicular layers. After pressing, the parts acquire the necessary parameters.


There are flat and tongue-and-groove OSB boards. When arranging the floor, it is better to use the grooved version, since even sheets are laid with a damper gap, which subsequently must be filled with sealant

The OSB plate includes four main varieties depending on the performance characteristics:

  1. Products of category 1 and 2 are suitable for laying on the floor in rooms with stable humidity and without serious loads.
  2. The panels included in the 3rd and 4th groups are moisture resistant, which greatly expands the scope of their use. They do a great job of handling impacts, but Category 3 parts are more affordable due to the cost.

Although it is customary to use such plates for preliminary leveling of a horizontal surface before further finishing, OSB can play an independent decorative role.

OSB-3 boards are sufficient for floor cladding, while in dry rooms you can save money using OSB-2, universal OSB-4 boards are expensive, and OSB-1 are intended only for walls and ceilings in warm rooms

Plywood

Now such material is used much less frequently, the emergence of modern finishing and construction products has reduced the demand for the product. This is explained high price slabs due to manufacturing technology: for the production of multilayer sheets, natural veneer from various breeds trees. For the reliability of the structure, the layers are glued together perpendicularly. The result is a material that is strong and resistant to various kinds of influences.


AT industrial scale plywood has been produced for more than 100 years, such a solid age leads to a wide range of products with high performance

Like the previous version, plywood comes in four varieties:

  • 1 category. Such plywood has no defects. This is a very expensive variety, so it is used extremely rarely. Suitable for finishing work if necessary, create a floor surface for subsequent varnishing.
  • 2 category. Panels have minor deviations from the norm. Used for flooring without finishing in domestic premises.
  • 3 category. Such products are not subjected to grinding, have visible knots, cracks and small irregularities, they are well suited as a base for rough work.
  • 4th category. The lowest quality product, which has numerous defects. It is not recommended to be used for floor filing.

Therefore, when choosing a material, pay attention to the structure of the front coating.

It makes sense to use grade 1 only if plywood is used for finishing, grade 2 or 3 is enough for a subfloor or underlayment, while grade 4 is undesirable for floor cladding

Chipboard

Particleboard is made from waste from the manufacture of more expensive lumber or the culling of low-value wood species. After cleaning and drying, the raw material is crushed to the desired fraction and ground. Sheets are formed under the action of a press and high temperatures.

Products include many varieties, among which the most prominent is the laminated version. But to level the horizontal base, raw parts are used with or without grinding. On the this moment the most popular and preferred are waterproof sheet pile products. Due to tight alignment, it is possible to obtain a single plane, so this is a good option for bases that have some deviations.


The recently introduced moisture-resistant tongue-and-groove chipboard Great for both sub-floor and fine cladding

Fiberboard (hardboard)

Fiberboards belong to the economy class. For roughing and finishing work, a solid variety of material is used, which is produced by the "wet" method. The prepared raw material is crushed to the desired state, then binders and modifying components are added. The mass is aged in a special pool, after which it is pressed under pressure with the influence of temperature.

Hardboard is also divided into categories that differ in the degree of hardness and the front layer. Moisture resistant version impregnated with paraffin. Laying fiberboard on the floor is not difficult, but it cannot be used to create a rough coating when laying on logs, since it does not have desired thickness. Such material is well suited for leveling substrate under linoleum or parquet. But hardboard can act independently as a cladding with subsequent staining.

When facing the floor, fiberboard sheets different density can only be used as a substrate or temporary option

MDF

On the basis of medium density fibreboard can be attributed to fiberboard, but they are produced by the "dry" method. For this, raw materials go through all stages of preparation without the use of water, and on last step pressed under the influence of temperature.

To properly lay such a slab on the floor, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base. Although, unlike the previous version, the panels are thicker, due to the structure, they are not suitable for creating a truly rigid base. MDF is used much less frequently than plywood or OSB, due to its high cost.


Traditional MDF boards are used only as wall and furniture material, and for the flooring, a laminate is used, which is based on MDF high density, but these plates are labeled as HDF

Feature Comparison

To select the most appropriate option for drafting or fine finish floor structure, it is necessary to take into account the main parameters of the product.

Environmental friendliness

Health safety is one of the main factors. Indicators of wood-based materials comply with the standards, which are reflected in the standardization documents.


Because the outer side all materials are finished, harmful fumes are minimized.

On a note! To be completely safe from harmful effects, when buying, you should check for certificates of conformity.

Strength

To choose the most reliable option, you need to take into account the density and structure of the product:


It is difficult to compare all products by this parameter, since they have different sizes.

Dimensions

The length and width of all varieties are approximately the same, so it is necessary to compare the thickness:


The thickness and structure of the parts is also reflected in the protection against the penetration of sounds and the preservation of heat. If the noise pollution is very strong, it is recommended to give preference to fibreboard medium density maximum thickness. They also serve as additional thermal insulation, which is similar to OSB.

Price

The difference in the price of materials depends on many factors: the method of production, the raw materials used, additional processing, size and even the place of sale.


So that the total budget of the work does not amount to too much, it is necessary to immediately determine the scope of each type of product.

Ease of installation

Lay wood boards It is not difficult, it does not require professional skills and complex tools. The order of work depends on specific situation:

  1. If erected frame structure, then the best option would be OSB.
  2. The light weight and thickness of the hardboard make processing the fastest, but it is not suitable for serious leveling.
  3. Chipboard and OSB panels are cut and fixed in almost the same way. They are much easier to cut than MDF, which, due to its dense structure, offers more resistance.
  4. The most labor-intensive in terms of processing is plywood. It will take much longer to put the product. Drilling it or adjusting it to size is more difficult due to the presence of layers of natural wood in the structure.

All floor boards are mounted on glue or logs, the only exception is fiberboard: these sheets are not intended for flooring on logs, they need a flat and solid base

What material is best for the floor?

To choose your own suitable option the specifics of the premises and the final coating are taken into account:


Thus, it is impossible to single out any one material. For getting best result and increase the service life of the coating, it is preferable to combine products.

What to choose for walls?

All board products are suitable for mounting on vertical surfaces. When choosing, the same requirements are observed as for the floor, with similar rules for placing materials depending on the room. The only exception is plywood, it is much less often used to work with walls. This is due to the high price and limited size range.

All photos from the article

Let's find out what is better suited for forming a subfloor in a residential area: plywood or chipboard. Both materials have mass positive qualities which often makes it difficult to choose. In this review, we will deal with all their main characteristics in order to try to give the most comprehensive answer to the question posed.

Comparison

Before talking about what better chipboard or plywood, you should decide on the concepts themselves:

Definitions

  • Plywood or wood-laminated board is a kind of "layer cake", in which they act as layers, smeared with special glue;

  • Chipboard is an abbreviation for chipboard.. This material is made from waste wood in the form of shavings and sawdust, which are mixed with glue, and then pressed into convenient sheets.

The first difference between chipboard and plywood that catches your eye is the presence of a much larger amount of glue in the structure, which dramatically affects many performance indicators.

main parameters

So, which is better for the floor - chipboard or plywood?

Let's take a look at all the characteristics in order.

  1. Appearance:
    • The wood-laminated board has an original textured pattern inherent in wood and a pleasant shade to the eye, which allows it to be used even to form a finishing one;

    • The appearance of chipboard is very specific and is usually not put on public display, as it is a compressed chip mass;

  1. Strength indicators.

The answer to the question of what is stronger than chipboard or plywood is somewhat ambiguous:

    • Plywood is quite hard and at the same time flexible material that is easy to handle with your own hands;

    • But the chipboard, although it has a higher bending strength, crumbles during its processing and holds screwed screws worse;

  1. thermal insulation properties. Here everything is decided by the coefficient of thermal conductivity inherent in these materials:
  1. Environmental friendliness. In order to answer the question of what is more environmentally friendly than chipboard or plywood, you should pay attention to the amount of glue used in the manufacture of both materials, because it may contain harmful formaldehydes. It can be seen from the definition that particle board uses significantly large quantity adhesive solution, but a wood-laminated product cannot be called environmentally friendly either;

Tip: when buying the materials in question for use in a residential area, pay attention to the presence of marks on their environmental friendliness.
In the absence of them, it is recommended not to take risks.

Marking Content harmful substances, mg/100 g
E0 less than 6
E1 7-9
E2 10-20
  1. Installation instructions. Installation of both options for the subfloor is quite easy to do on their own. The sheets are not overly heavy, they are easily cut and laid in a continuous coating, after which they are fixed with ordinary self-tapping screws;

Tip: in the process of sawing chipboard, be sure to use a respirator and protective glasses to protect the eyes and respiratory organs from the toxic dust formed at that moment.

  1. Moisture resistance. In this matter, the difference between plywood and chipboard is quite noticeable:
    • Wood-laminated board has good resistance to excessive moisture due to the presence of adhesive layers;
    • Chipboard, although it contains an even greater amount of adhesive solution, does not have a solid wood structure. Sawdust in contact with moisture swells and no longer returns to its shape;

Tip: At the same time, both materials have the inherent hydrophobicity of wood, so it is recommended to use them in dry, heated rooms to avoid rotting and mold.

  1. Soundproofing. Chipboard is much better at absorbing extra noise that interfere with your peace;
  2. Price. What is cheaper chipboard or plywood in case of creating a rough base? Of course, the first option, which is made, in fact, from waste that cannot be expensive. But for the production of wood-laminated products, veneer sheets are needed, which raises the cost of the finished product;
  3. Flammability. Both options are dangerous in the event of a fire, as they are prone to ignite. In addition, during combustion, they will release a large number of toxic substances, which will only exacerbate the situation.

Combination

The most significant advantage of chipboard over plywood is low price. Plus, it’s worth adding bending strength and sound insulation. Otherwise, it is significantly inferior. But it is also worth noting that there is combined option these two materials - veneered chipboard.

As a result, we get a sample that:

  • Better protected from negative impact excessive moisture, crumbling and abrasion with a layer of plywood;
  • It costs less than a full-fledged wood-laminated board, since it consists of chips inside;
  • Looks aesthetically pleasing;
  • Possesses excellent heat-insulating and noise-absorbing qualities.

Conclusion

So, chipboard or plywood on the floor - which is better? Having dealt with all the main characteristics, we can conclude in favor of a wood-laminated board. On the other hand, chipboard sheets will save a lot. In addition, some advantages, such as aesthetics, for example, will not matter for the rough foundation of the floor structure.


So make the choice according to the specific situation and the allocated budget, and for special cases you can always purchase veneered models that include the advantages of both products.

The video in this article contains some additional information that is directly related to the materials discussed. Make your choice wisely. If you have any questions regarding this topic, you can ask them in the comments.

Modern renovation often involves leveling surfaces. This can be done by the wet or dry method, the latter of which involves, for example, the use of chipboard. In order to choose which quick leveling material to use, you should be aware of the pros and cons of each.

For a more rigid and solid construction better to use plywood.

Tools and materials

  • hacksaw;
  • nails;
  • a hammer;
  • lags;
  • plywood;
  • level;
  • jigsaw.

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Chipboard, plywood and OSB

Chipboard is a composite sheet material, made by pressing small wood particles, this process occurs when high temperatures, but chips are used, mixed with a binder, which are of non-mineral origin.

If you lay chipboard on the floor, you should take into account the need for pre-treatment of the material, which can damage the already vulnerable corners and ends of the plates. This is due to the fact that pieces of glued chips break off easily, unlike plywood. The process is complicated by the need not to damage the coating and to ensure reliable fastening.

Despite the fact that chipboard contains wood, the material cannot be called completely environmentally friendly, since the boards contain synthetic resins and formaldehyde. However, laying chipboard on the floor, you get a guarantee of ease of installation and cost-effectiveness of material consumption. In addition, these slabs are affordable, which quite often acts as a decisive factor when choosing this method alignment.

The difference between chipboard and plywood is that the latter material is a slab made from layers of wood.

Before laying chipboard on the floor, it must be treated with drying oil or an antiseptic.

This material is made by gluing prepared veneer. As a rule, the number of layers of veneer is odd and the minimum can be 3. In order to provide the greatest strength, layers of veneer for plywood are applied so that the fibers are perpendicular to the previous sheet.

You can also use OSB for the floor, which is an oriented strand board. This is a relatively new development in the field of deeper processing of wood, which made it possible to obtain a material that has unique physical and mechanical characteristics.

OSB has combined best qualities, which natural wood has, in addition, these boards are devoid of the disadvantages that chipboard or plywood have. To obtain OSB, high-tech methods of processing raw materials are used. If we consider OSB board in cross section, then you can see 3 layers, each of which consists of chips with a length equal to the limit of 4-8 cm.

The position of the chips for the OSB structure plays a major role. The middle layer in its structure contains chips that are elongated transversely with respect to other layers, and the structure of the outer layers contains chips located along the length of the plate.

The layers of this material are pressed under significant pressure during the manufacturing process, and to increase the binding effect, the raw material is impregnated with waterproof resins. This makes it possible to obtain a material with a homogeneous layer structure, in which delaminations and voids are excluded. This distinguishes OSB from the materials described above.

When choosing a material that is supposed to cover the floor as a rough coating, you should first decide what is more important for you - cost, quality or ease of installation. If you want to save money, then you should choose chipboard, its cost is lower compared to other materials under consideration, however, its laying will also be more labor-intensive, since the coating will have to be carefully protected from moisture penetration, which can cause swelling and subsequent destruction of chipboard.

An alternative, but better and more expensive material, compared to chipboard, is OSB. This material does not have a wax coating, is excellent for laying on the base with glue and has lock system thorn-groove.

Plywood copes with heavy loads, if the arrangement of the floor requires it. If it is planned to cover the floor with this material, then it is necessary to use one that has waterproof characteristics and a thickness of at least 6 mm.

It is worth considering that the cheapness of chipboard may seem deceptive, because such floors, not sufficiently protected from moisture, can get wet and completely collapse, which can even comprehend a painted version of chipboard. This will entail the need to change the coating in 1-1.5 years.

Advantages of chipboard:

  • ease of installation;
  • economy of material consumption;
  • insignificant cost.

Disadvantages of chipboard:

  • the need for careful processing due to the likelihood of damage to the material and the occurrence of chips on it;
  • not so eco-friendly material due to the content of synthetic resins and formaldehyde;
  • combustibility;
  • the need for careful protection of the material from water penetration during installation.

Advantages of plywood:

  • material strength;
  • naturalness;
  • the ability to use even in wet conditions;
  • ease of installation.

Cons of plywood:

  • high price;
  • combustibility;
  • with a certain production technology, harmful substances can be added to the composition of the material.

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Comparison of chipboard and plywood

  • plywood has a higher cost compared to chipboard;
  • plywood is made of veneer, and chipboard is made of shavings, which makes the latter material more vulnerable to mechanical influences and exposure to moisture
  • Particleboard involves more labor-intensive installation compared to plywood, since the latter option does not need careful protection from moisture;
  • plywood may contain or be devoid of harmful phenolic compounds, while chipboard in any case contains resins that are harmful to human health.

And what, the entrance is so wet and why the Firm will look for what is cheaper and what it has http://dspnd.ru/product/27.htm Advantages of the MDF board-http://articles.m-strou.ru/article_5119.... Strength. MDF boards are not inferior in strength to natural wood, so they can be used for the manufacture of both decorative and full-functional structures. Moisture resistance. The density of the boards and their homogeneous internal structure, as well as the protective outer coating allow to increase the moisture resistance of products, which allows them wet cleaning without sacrificing quality. However, the use of MDF panels in bathrooms and swimming pools is not recommended. Decorative. Possibility of finishing various materials(painting, lamination, veneering), as well as combinations various ways finishes (veneering and painting), allow you to get unique patterns to create exclusive interiors. Ease of processing. Density MDF boards is 700-870 kg / m3, which provides the possibility of processing on milling machines and obtaining various reliefs: from simple ones - for furniture panels - to complex ones - in the production of 3D panels. Durability. MDF panels do not warp, crack or dry out from temperature changes. Thanks to special impregnations, they are not exposed to insect pests, fungus and mold. The decorative and protective coating does not require additional maintenance - tinting, varnishing, etc. Subject to the rules of operation, MDF products can serve their owners for several decades. PLYWOOD is a layered material consisting of sheets of peeled veneer glued together. Peeled veneer - a thin layer of wood of a given thickness in the form of a tape obtained by peeling churak on lathes. In this case, a cylindrical piece of wood (churak) performs a rotational movement, and a tool (knife) a translational movement in the direction of the axis of rotation of the material. Peeled veneer is made from birch, alder, aspen, pine, larch, cedar, oak, ash, beech, elm, linden wood. Peeled veneer comes out from under the machine knife in the form of a continuous strip of a given thickness and width. To give the wood the necessary plasticity, churaki are boiled in water heated to a temperature of 50-60 C before peeling. The veneer strip obtained as a result of peeling is cut with special scissors into sheets of a given format, which are then dried, cut, sorted. Plywood is considered to be made from the same type of wood from which its outer layers are made. Plywood has a number of advantages compared to lumber: it has almost equal strength in all directions; little warps and cracks; easy to bend and easy to carry; there are no through cracks in it; plywood sheets are large. Plywood is a very promising material, which last years is increasingly used not only traditionally in furniture production, aircraft and shipbuilding, but also in construction, interior decoration. Widely used today as a basis for floor coverings under parquet, laminate, linoleum, carpet, being at the same time an excellent heat and sound insulation of the floor. The use of plywood in design gives access to volume, allows you to go into three-dimensional space, to lighten the design, especially if it is something non-standard. Plywood is attractive environmental cleanliness, all over the world, especially in Europe, plywood products are considered as solid wood products.

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