As a builder and flooring installer, I’ve learned the benefits of oriented strand board (OSB) and have often used it as a cost-effective alternative to plywood for sheathing and subfloors.

With focus turning to increased domestic production, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange plans to launch a new lumber futures trading exchange in late March.

Photography by and courtesy of Rik Vannevel. Above: “To keep costs down, we decided to use radiata pine, the plywood commonly used for construction but usually left invisible,” Pieterjan tells us.