Engineered Wood Products (EWPs), materials manufactured by binding particles, fibers or veneers of wood together with adhesives, are often used in framed home construction. The most commonly known and used EWPs include plywood and oriented strand board (OSB); often these wood panels are attached to the studs of a framed wall to provide additional structural support and the surfaces for walls. EWPs can also come in the form of engineered posts and beams that are stronger than beams cut from timber, and are used for specialty projects.

Another form of EWPs are Structural insulated panels (SIPs) – panels made of an inner layer of insulating foam core sandwiched between two sheets of EWPs, typically OSBs. SIP panels can be used to cover a home’s framing, but can also be used in place of a frame, making up the entire structural support of a home. Their strength and size can provide advantages over standard platform framing for certain types of home design

Wood framing continues to reign supreme as the most popular building method for residential construction, but other techniques are becoming more widely used. Each of the different construction methods has its own benefits, and most homes utilize a combination of techniques and materials to produce a comfortable environment customized for the home owner.