OSB vs Drywall walls

[Sanderguy777]

I am looking into getting a house in Springfield, MO. At my price point, I'm expecting a lot of reno, and want to have this notion I have confirmed or denied.

Is OSB, MDF, or particle board good for walls. Specifically interior, on a 20's or 30's house? Obviously drywall is the norm, buy it seems like not-compacted-dust would be a better option for durability and attaching things to the walls. OSB is my primary choice (plywood would be stupid expensive for anything is want on the walls LOL).

I think it would work, and i could just paint it, but the seams would show, as would the screws, etc. Is there something I could use to coat it, or is there a reason drywall is the main wall material?

Edit: for inside of house, not garage/shop.

 

[PoorUB]

Shop walls, or in the house?

I like sheet rock in my garage, but then it is taped and textured. Many like OSB or plywood. Many claim OSB or ply is better to screw stuff too, but I have never had issues of hanging stuff on the wall and I have metal cabinets that have 200-300 pounds in them. OSB also needs a lot of primer to seal it up.

If I did it again I would use sheet rock.

 

[MongoTA]

"Is OSB, MDF, or particle board good for walls. Specifically interior, on a 20's or 30's house?"

Drywall (or gypsum board), is typically used in interior living spaces to help achieve code required burn protection ratings. I'm not certain what if any building code applies in your case and how that may or may not affect financing, or affect you down the road were you to try to sell.

In my area, for a gut renovation, none of those that you mentioned (OSB, MDF, particle board) would be suitable as a stand-alone material. OSB would have an undesireable finish texture and for me would never be used. MDF could possibly be used as a skin veneer over drywall (to achieve burn rating) and the seams could be covered with surface applied stiles and rails to create a frame and panel pattern, as a wainscot for example. Particle board would be thr same as OSB, a no go as well.

Ironically, or perhaps luckily? Gypsum board would likely be the least expensive cost-wise. It would also be the most suitable for code compliance (as well as fire safety), the most acceptable by someone living in the house, and give the best finished look.

 

[mrbill55]

Interior of home-Sheetrock
Interior of garage-check building requirements, fire rated sheetrock suggested
Exterior, non of the above


Bill S.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Shop walls, or in the house?

I like sheet rock in my garage, but then it is taped and textured. Many like OSB or plywood. Many claim OSB or ply is better to screw stuff too, but I have never had issues of hanging stuff on the wall and I have metal cabinets that have 200-300 pounds in them. OSB also needs a lot of primer to seal it up.

If I did it again I would use sheet rock.

In house.

Garage I wouldn't bother with paint, I'd just put up French cleats everywhere and go for it LOL
In the house, I'd definitely paint it though.

The issue with drywall is hanging things NOT on studs, or when someone rams into it with something or trues to hang off something. That's when a "real" wood product would be superior (at least uo to the actual repair, then it depends on a lot of things if that will ever be able to be repaired)

"Is OSB, MDF, or particle board good for walls. Specifically interior, on a 20's or 30's house?"

Drywall (or gypsum board), is typically used in interior living spaces to help achieve code required burn protection ratings. I'm not certain what if any building code applies in your case and how that may or may not affect financing, or affect you down the road were you to try to sell.

In my area, for a gut renovation, none of those that you mentioned (OSB, MDF, particle board) would be suitable as a stand-alone material. OSB would have an undesireable finish texture and for me would never be used. MDF could possibly be used as a skin veneer over drywall (to achieve burn rating) and the seams could be covered with surface applied stiles and rails to create a frame and panel pattern, as a wainscot for example. Particle board would be thr same as OSB, a no go as well.

Ironically, or perhaps luckily? Gypsum board would likely be the least expensive cost-wise. It would also be the most suitable for code compliance (as well as fire safety), the most acceptable by someone living in the house, and give the best finished look.

Ok, seems like that's the way then. Definitely not spending more than double to get the better material, while adding a layer of drywall behind. I shudder to think what fire rated odb or ply would coat LOL!

I'm looking for durability not looks. And with roller marks and texture, idk if the OSB would even show up. The seams would after settling, but they might in drywall too. Good info om fire law though, thanks! (That's likely the killer of my idea though LOL)

Interior of home-Sheetrock
Interior of garage-check building requirements, fire rated sheetrock suggested
Exterior, non of the above


Bill S.

Good to know. Assume the drywall is a fire code issue? If not why?
Definitely never going to use anything buy ply on exterior. I'd use it inside if I didn't have a budget LOL

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I assume you mean for the garage, but if not then 100% drywall for the house.

For the garage I prefer OSB or plywood. Mine is a 50/50 mix because I got 80% of it for free and the other 20% really cheap. I never bothered to paint it. I like being able to hang things anywhere in the garage. Still possible with drywall but we have way too much moisture here to have drywall in the garage without adding a dehumidifier.

 

[Sanderguy777]

I assume you mean for the garage, but if not then 100% drywall for the house.

For the garage I prefer OSB or plywood. Mine is a 50/50 mix because I got 80% of it for free and the other 20% really cheap. I never bothered to paint it. I like being able to hang things anywhere in the garage. Still possible with drywall but we have way too much moisture here to have drywall in the garage without adding a dehumidifier.

For the house.

Never thought about humidity being an issue. Makes sense though. Why drywall for the house? Everyone seems so intent on it, but only one person mentioned fire codes as a reason (not saying there's not other valid reasons, but np one offered any others so far.)

 

[Hank11]

For the house.

Never thought about humidity being an issue. Makes sense though. Why drywall for the house? Everyone seems so intent on it, but only one person mentioned fire codes as a reason (not saying there's not other valid reasons, but np one offered any others so far.)

Why would you not like smooth flat nicely finished walls?
Drywall is easy to install (but messy) and easy to repair. Using proper anchors you can hang pretty heavy stuff from drywall. When you want to move that stuff somewhere else, drywall is easy to patch and make perfect again with little work or cost.

And its cheap.

 

[Sumboodie]

My folks place is OSB and drywall over it.

Dad did work at JM Huber though...

 

[PCustoms]

We've argued about OSB vs. drywall in a shop.

And you want to put OSB in a house?

No.

 

[acer66]

I am only aware of fire codes in a residential walls/ceiling of an attached garage which is satisfied with 5/8” drywall but not inside the house itself.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

For the house.

Never thought about humidity being an issue. Makes sense though. Why drywall for the house? Everyone seems so intent on it, but only one person mentioned fire codes as a reason (not saying there's not other valid reasons, but np one offered any others so far.)

For one, I think OSB or plywood would look terrible in a house. It would take a lot more prep work than drywall to look good (if painting), cost far more, and you're correct that it would not meet fire code in many places.

If you really want a wood look in the house, go with some painted shiplap or stain some knotty pine.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Why would you not like smooth flat nicely finished walls?
Drywall is easy to install (but messy) and easy to repair. Using proper anchors you can hang pretty heavy stuff from drywall. When you want to move that stuff somewhere else, drywall is easy to patch and make perfect again with little work or cost.

And its cheap.

It's not hard to patch, but can get damaged easily. I don't see how OSB would be any different, honestly. You gave to texture the walls anyway, wouldn't that cover the OSB texture? I've seen a lot of "proper anchors" loose or torn out. And you can never patch drywall and get the same strength from it.

OSB wouldn't damage as easily, and you can patch it the same, or just replace a whole section if needed.

 

[Sanderguy777]

For one, I think OSB or plywood would look terrible in a house. It would take a lot more prep work than drywall to look good (if painting), cost far more, and you're correct that it would not meet fire code in many places.

If you really want a wood look in the house, go with some painted shiplap or stain some knotty pine.

Why more prep? Maybe one more coat of primer, and then the same paint and texture. Now, if you use the rough side of OSB, then maybe you'd need some joint compound to level it, but not a lot for texture, I don't think.


I f you used super cheapo ply, then you'd definitely need a lot of filler to make up for the issues in the ply.

 

[Zeke]

What are you doing in the house that makes drywall susceptible to damage?

I don't agree that a patch is never a strong as the original. A lot of patches are done with mesh, definitely stronger in that area.

It's been a long time since paneling was in favor but you can do your walls with 4 x 8 panels in numerous styles. No prep, tape, texture or painting. I like old school.

I've worked in many high end houses that used MDF on the lower part of the wall and added a cap and moldings in the field to create a raises panel look. Grand estates in the UK have lots of wood rooms. Not a way to save any money when you go fancy.

Look into MDF prefinished paneling.

 

[Higgins]

I am looking into getting a house in Springfield, MO. At my price point, I'm expecting a lot of reno, and want to have this notion I have confirmed or denied.

Is OSB, MDF, or particle board good for walls. Specifically interior, on a 20's or 30's house? Obviously drywall is the norm, buy it seems like not-compacted-dust would be a better option for durability and attaching things to the walls. OSB is my primary choice (plywood would be stupid expensive for anything is want on the walls LOL).

I think it would work, and i could just paint it, but the seams would show, as would the screws, etc. Is there something I could use to coat it, or is there a reason drywall is the main wall material?

Edit: for inside of house, not garage/shop.

Garage you can do most anything

However, interior walls must be non combustible material. ie Drywall or other approved material

 

[FredWanaker]

probably if fire rated OSB is used. You can't have a rough surface with splinters where children may be involved so a lot of sanding and sealing would be needed but if you want to do that, go that way. a 4x8 5/9 sheetrock is about $15 a sheet. Plain OSB is about 50% more expensive, and often out of stock these days. Fire rated OSB no idea but it would be a lot more expensive.

 

[NHtoolguy]

My folks place is OSB and drywall over it.

Dad did work at JM Huber though...

I had a friend years ago who used OSB under drywall when he refurbished his kitchen. He said it made installing the cabinets easy. A screw in any location would hold fast.

 

[Hank11]

At this point, I am betting the OP has not spoken with his wife about this idea.

Or...

Is not married and has no girlfriend.

;>)

 

[acer66]

Garage you can do most anything

However, interior walls must be non combustible material. ie Drywall or other approved material

Matt Riesinger showed off a recently finished house which had completely open walls meaning exposed lumber throughout the inside with no drywall whatsoever.

But that might be regional.

 

[Sanderguy777]

What are you doing in the house that makes drywall susceptible to damage?

I don't agree that a patch is never a strong as the original. A lot of patches are done with mesh, definitely stronger in that area.

It's been a long time since paneling was in favor but you can do your walls with 4 x 8 panels in numerous styles. No prep, tape, texture or painting. I like old school.

I've worked in many high end houses that used MDF on the lower part of the wall and added a cap and moldings in the field to create a raises panel look. Grand estates in the UK have lots of wood rooms. Not a way to save any money when you go fancy.

Look into MDF prefinished paneling.

Thanks! Nothing specific, I just work in a hotel, so I see all kinds of damage. I expect kids some day too, and I would absolutely be excited ad a potential buyer if someone took the time to add durable walls to a house (tenants, kids, etc proof LOL).

Didn't think about making panels....

 

[Sanderguy777]

Matt Riesinger showed off a recently finished house which had completely open walls meaning exposed lumber throughout the inside with no drywall whatsoever.

But that might be regional.

Yeah, I'd like some privacy. Not to mention to be able to cool one room, instead of have to try to cool the whole building LOL.

But I could see that being a cool design. It would be a cool solution to the "it's a structural wall" HGTV problem. If it cuts off the open floor plan look, make it minimalist and call it a day!

 

[Sanderguy777]

I had a friend years ago who used OSB under drywall when he refurbished his kitchen. He said it made installing the cabinets easy. A screw in any location would hold fast.

That's how some of the walls in the hotel I work at are. It's a cool idea, but over 2x the cost, so not really a great option for me atm.

 

[Sumboodie]

At this point, I am betting the OP has not spoken with his wife about this idea.

Or...

Is not married and has no girlfriend.

;>)

My place is a mix of OSB and drywall.

Granted I live in a shop.

 

[PCustoms]

My place is a mix of OSB and drywall.

Granted I live in a shop.

And you're single, right?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd vote for drywall. The main room in my shop I did plywood. Everything I mount to the walls is attached to studs.

 

[Sanderguy777]

At this point, I am betting the OP has not spoken with his wife about this idea.

Or...

Is not married and has no girlfriend.

;>)

Second, guilty as charged LOL.

She can't yell at me if I did it before she knew who I was, right?

 

[Viper98912]

I don't know how long you expect to live in the house, but good luck trying to sell it in the future. You'd probably have to take a 50% loss because the next buyer knows he has to rip up your entire home and practically start over throughout the entire interior of the house. And that's after you spent all that money to do your custom interior. Cheap looking tacky interior that requires a full gut job (sorry, just being blunt).

Drywall holds up pretty well to slight impacts. Nobody should be kicking a foot through your drywall in your home, because if they do, they'd be getting a thorough whooping in return. In hotels people will do whatever they want, because it's not theirs. Anything that does scratch/marr/dent the drywall can be easily filled in with mud, give it a light sanding, and then a coat of paint. And if you need to hang stuff from the drywall, you can use many different types of anchors that hold a significant amount of weight, and anything of value or heavy weight, well you just need to be very thoughtful in your planning and placement to make sure you hit the studs.

I think you're probably overthinking this. Houses are not shops. The interior of your house is supposed to be nice, drywall nice. The interior of my garage is nice, drywall nice, because that's how I like it. And yes I hang tools and garden tools from my drywall and shelves without issue. If drywall was truly that weak in the interior of homes, the makers would have gone out of business a long time ago.

PS - for a wood look, you can also go shiplap (as previously mentioned above). But shiplap is not an excuse to do a poor job of decorating your interior (where you mount and hang stuff).

 

[Jeff C]

I agree with what viper said. Any sort of wood sheet goods would make reselling it later very difficult. There’s a reason everyone uses drywall. If there was a less expensive acceptable way to go, one of the high volume production builders out there would have figured it out by now. This is not the place to reinvent the wheel.

 

[carlaisle]

If you are cost conscious and concerned about holes in the walls install the cheapest paneling you can find first and then drywall over it. Nothing short of an intentional abuse will put a hole in that wall and it will retain the aesthetics, ease of aesthetic repair, and fire rating that make drywall so popular.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

OSB in a house? This is a serious question?

 

[racecougar]

OSB in a house? This is a serious question?

I was thinking it was another bot at first, but it seems that it actually is a serious question.

 

[P0234]

There is no way inside a house. You'll never be able to sell it, at least anywhere near market rates. Even if you get the OSB free from somewhere, sell it and buy drywall.

 

[jar944]

This must be a joke.

 

[Zeke]

1/4" drywall over the OSB walls and it's corrected.

 

[strutaeng]

When I remodeled our fixer upper house I installed 15/32" on the middle room to the walls and ceilings. Also added a lot of 4x blocking and heavy duty Simpson hold downs and more sill anchor bolts. Plywood got nails at 2" o.c. Lot's and lots of nails. Everything got covered with regular drywall, tape and bed, painted. You'd never know. Only detail are jambs need to wider and electrical boxes need adjustment.

It's our "safer room" if we feel like we need to in there in severe weather. It's not built to ICC 500 standards, but it's better than nothing.

So you can do wood panel AND gypsum board.

 

[coldh2o]

Garage you can do most anything

However, interior walls must be non combustible material. ie Drywall or other approved material

Do you have a code reference for this? Numerous homes have wood interior wall coverings - shiplap, paneling, etc.

 

[eegger]

Drywall for inside your house, add extra wood bracing for areas that you plan to mount larger things, ie TV's etc.

 

[wssix99]

Thanks! Nothing specific, I just work in a hotel, so I see all kinds of damage. I expect kids some day too, and I would absolutely be excited ad a potential buyer if someone took the time to add durable walls to a house (tenants, kids, etc proof LOL).

Didn't think about making panels....

Fire codes require different fire ratings for walls. Drywall is typically the least expensive way to achieve the performance. As noted above, 5/8" is common in some places for fire rated drywall. Where I live, (in the City) I have 1 1/4" of drywall for some of my fire rated ceilings.

For inside the house, chair rails and wainscoting are common techniques to toughen-up walls. As said above, putting ply behind drywall is a wonderfull thing in kitchens, but expensive to pull off.

IMO - If you hare going to have kids - TEACH THEM HOW TO PATCH THEIR DAMAGE AND PAINT!!! Don't worry about damage children can do because you will have child labor to make up the difference. Plus the skills they will learn will make them ready to become future GJ members.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do you have a code reference for this? Numerous homes have wood interior wall coverings - shiplap, paneling, etc.

I bet there's drywall underneath all those.

I'm all in 100% on the OSB/plywood for the walls. . . . of the detached garage or shop. In the house, drywall. In the kitchen under the drywall, yeah sure. In a center of the house, safe space for tornado alley for extra protection, sure, again, under the drywall.