Opportunities in OSB Tapered-ed$e subfloori n$ offsets moisture exposure

1|-\SB eRoDUCER Ainsworth has introduced an engi\-fneered subfloor solution that utilizes a unique technology to accommodate the effects of swelling due to moisture exposure.

New PointSIX Flooring features a patented taperededge technology whereby a thin layer of the highly compressed fiber along all four edges of the OSB panel is milled off, removing the part of the subfloor that's most prone to swelling. PointSIX takes its name from research results indicating a .6mm taper depth to be the most effective in reducing edge swell.

The engineered solution was developed over five years of extensive research and testing, in which PointSIX was subjected to repeated wet and dry cycles to simulate severe, wet jobsite conditions. In one rigorous test, the engineered panel was flooded for 14 days. After drying out, the average edge swell was contained to 0.01 inch, not much more than a sheet of paper.

The taper on PointSIX is almost imperceptible, and it's a dimension that won't require sanding. With moisture, the wood fibers expand to essentially "fill up to flush" the micro-taper. If no moisture contacts the engineered subfloor, it does not require any filler or mastic. APAapproved for structural integrity, PointSIX features a precise tongue-and-groove profile for a secure fit.

"Builders recognize what many manufacturers are reluctant to admit: wood swells when it gets wet," commented Robert Fouquet, v.p.-marketing & sales for Ainsworth. "We've brought an entirely new approach to solving the problem before the subfloor gets to the job site, by engineering the panel to accommodate moisture."

The idea for PointSIX came from Steve Bailey, technical manager at Ainsworth's OSB mill in Barwick, Ontario.

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Answonrn, Vancouver, 8.C., was encouraged by rising 0SB prices in the first half of the year to increase production at its facilites in 100 Mile House, B.C.; Grande Prairie, Alb., and Barwick, Ont.

As demand increases, Ainsworth is poised to add another 1.1 billion sq. ft. to its cunentoperating capacityof 1.6 billion sq. ft., by adding a second production line at Grande Prairie and restarting its idled facility, co-owned with bankrupt Grant Forest Products, in High Level, Alb.

"I suddenly had this epiphany: that by shaving a slight taper off the panel edge, we could avoid the problems associated with edge swell," Bailey explained.

The solution at first seemed too simple to be effective, but research, trials and field tests proved it to be a viable solution. "The big question we've had from builders is, 'Why hasn't someone thought of this before?"' said Bailey.

According to Fouquet, PointSIX products will be priced competitively, with no additional cost for the new technology. "We believe that every builder should be able to expect subfloor that offsets the effects of moisture without paying a premium," said Fouquet.

For the premium level PointSIX Durastrand Flooring, suitable for high-end projects such as custom homes, Ainsworth offers a lifetime limited warranty against delamination and a 180-day no-sand guarantee. For Ainsworth's standard PointSIX Flooring, it's a 25-year limited warranty.

Other OSB manufacturers have also tried to improve moisture resistance in their subflooring products. Louisiana-Pacific recently introduced two premium subflooring products with higher levels of waxes and resins to resist edge swell. LP TopNotch 350 series offers a 100-day no-sand warranty, the 450 series a 200-day no-sand warranty.

Norbord has long produced a premium OSB subfloor, Stabledge, and now has a mid-priced offering, Pinnacle, and a reformulated commodity product, TruFlor.