Is there a non-toxic exterior sheathing better than OSB or plywood?

What kind of non-toxic exterior sheathing can be used in place of plywood?

pier charter Published: June 4, 2020, 1:12 p.m.Last updated: Sept. 15, 2020, 9 a.m.

Standard exterior plywood sheathing (on top of ext stud wall, underneath finish ext siding) has formaldyde, glues all of which are toxic. What can I use that will be non-toxic, or at least much less toxic?

Thank you very much!

pier charter

Responses (1)

Emmanuel Cosgrove June 8, 2020, 4:47 p.m. Reply

OSB and plywood exterior sheathing no longer contain Urea Formaldehyde, so they really aren’t that toxic anymore, especially on the exterior of a home. But by all means source a non-toxic one if you like, but typically it doesn't have a measurable impact on interior air quality. There is an interior grade plywood called Purebond from Columbia Forest Products in case you will have any plywood on the interior. I called the company to check and they tell me that it isn’t structural unfortunately. So unfortunately we don’t have any leads for you.

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