Surface Texture :: Performance Panels :: APA - The Engineered Wood Association

Surface Texture

Wood structural panels come in a number of surface textures, enabling you to choose the texture that is right for your application.

The primary methods of creating smooth surfaces on wood include using machining processes such as sanding and/or by overlaying it with resin-treated sheet materials such as Medium Density Overlay (MDO) or High Density Overlay (HDO). Panel surfaces can also be enhanced by other types of laminates such as hardboard, polyehylenes, fiberglass reinforced plastic and metals. Surface smoothness of wood-based products cannot be discretely characterized because anatomical variations in wood react differently when exposed to moisture. Various types of wood-based panels can be characterized, however, according to a range of expected performance at various moisture conditions. Panels manufactured specifically for use in industrial markets often use the sanding process to meet more stringent thickness tolerances than found in the manufacturing standards (for example, in Section 5.10.2 of PS 1-95). OSB's manufacturing process enables panel makers to add innovative features. Most OSB sheathing panels have a slip-resistant texture on one side, making it rougher with a high coefficient of friction. Reference Oriented Strand Board, Form W410, for more information.

Plywood surfaces can contain any of the veneer grades (see the chart below). Oriented strand board surfaces are without large voids and are typically manufactured with a waxed, relatively smooth surface or a screen-grid surface.