Ask the BuilderAsk the Builder
Ask the Builder's on:

Subscribe to askthebuilder's videos

Air Conditioning
Asphalt - Blacktop
Brick
Building Tips
Cabinets
Caulk
Ceilings
Ceramic Tile
Checklists
Chimneys
Concrete
Concrete Defects
Concrete Installation
Condensation
Countertops
Deck Construction
Deck Maintenance
Design
DIY
Doors
Drainage
Drywall - Plaster
DVDs
EBooks - EDocs
Electrical
Energy Savings
Engineered Wood
Fences
Fireplaces
Flooring
Foundation
Garage Doors
Glue
Hardware
Heating Design
Home Builders
Home Depot Stories
House Plans
Hurricanes
Insects
Inspections
Insulation
Interior Walls
Kitchen
Lighting
Lots
Miscellaneous
Mold
New Construction
Newsletters
Online Courses
Outdoor Projects
Painting - Staining
Patio
Payments
Plumbing Design
Plumbing Supplies
Projects
Radiant Barrier
Remodeling
Retaining Walls
Roofing
Rough Lumber
Screened Porches
Sheds
Siding
Specialty Accessories
Stone
Storage
Structural
Stucco - EIFS
Tools
Trim Lumber
Vapor Barrier
Ventilation
Videos
Walk Throughs
Wallpaper
Windows
Glossary






Plywood & OSB Grading Specifications

By Tim Carter
©1993-2008 Tim Carter
Summary: Plywood and OSB (oriented strand board) has a grading system. The Engineered Wood Association has a labeling system to grade lumber for its recommended use. How to read the grading stamps and some sample OSB and plywood ratings are provided.

Plywood and OSB Grading Specifications

The following tables are courtesy of the Engineered Wood Association. They were copied directly from an awesome publication, Engineered Wood Construction Guide - Form E30. This publication is available from their website at http://www.apawood.org. A PDF copy can be downloaded for free. The rating stamps for plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) lumber are provided.

Table 1 shows you how to read and understand the stamp that makes up the label.

Table 2, titled Guide to APA Performance Rated Panels, explains how each type of sheet should be used.

Table 3 covers APA Sanded and Touch-Sanded Plywood Panels.

Pay attention as you read. The labels all look similar but the words, letters and numbers are different!

Table 1. Grading Stamps - How to read them.

Table 2. Guide to APA Performance Rated Panels

Table 3. Guide to APA Sanded & Touch-Sanded Plywood Panels

Table 4. Plywood Panels Table 3 continued.







Comments

No comments yet

     View all comments
*Name:
Email:
Notify me about new comments on this page
Hide my email
*Text:
Security Image:

Visual CAPTCHA


 







Ask the Builder Comment Help

Helpful Comment Tips: If you need help with a problem, please try these things now before you type in a comment. You could discover your answer in just minutes.
  • Read ALL Comments Before Submitting One: If there are lots of comments that are already part of this column, there is a very good chance your question has already been answered by me or someone else.
  • Read Similar-Titled Columns First: The column above is almost always part of a two-or-three-part series. The answer to a question you may have is probably in a related column or in comments that are part of that column.
  • Read Columns in a Category: Take the time to read many columns in a category. The amount of information you will discover will amaze you.
  • SHARE a Story: Please share any tips or amusing tales of glory! Tell others what has worked for you. Maybe you have a disaster you want to discuss. Let's collaborate so we all learn together.
Don't show this alert again.