The two primary composite products made in Virginia are Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and hardboard. OSB is made from flakes of "soft" or low-density hardwoods and softwoods. The cell walls of "soft" hardwoods are not as thick as the "hard" hardwoods. This makes the wood less dense and easier to work with saws and nails. A great advantage of OSB is it gives forest managers an opportunity to use wood from low-quality hardwoods, which are very abundant in Virginia.
