7/16 vs 19/32 OSB walls?

[dlenardu]

I am finishing up my garage. It is a 60x40 with an upstairs. The bulk of my walls are ICF and I am getting ready to cover them. Everywhere that there were wood studs I put up drywall. However for the ICF which is the main area I wanted to put up OSB to be able to protect the foam better and allow more options for me to be able to screw things into the walls. I'm wondering if it is worth the extra money to go to 19/32 instead of the normal 7/16" ? Right now 7/16" osb runs $7.15 per sheet 19/32" runs $13.77. Is the .160" actual thickness worth the money?

 

[Bretny]

If your going to spend any more money get 1/2in plywood...not OSB. Osb dosnt hold a screw or nail for ****.

 

[Falcon67]

If your going to spend any more money get 1/2in plywood...not OSB. Osb dosnt hold a screw or nail for ****.

I must have the special OSB because I've had no issues with things screwed, etc to my OSB. TV mounts, shelving, cabinets, etc. I used all 7/16".

 

[Stuart in MN]

Unless you're hanging your collection of lead ingots on the walls, I'd go with the thinner stuff. It should be plenty strong enough.

 

[The Cobbler]

7/16 will be fine for most people.

 

[dlenardu]

This is what I'm looking to cover. All the foam blocks. I'm also looking to probably hang some cabinets on the walls as well

[/url]20191021_171600 by Daniele Lenarduzzi, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[PassnThru]

I must have the special OSB because I've had no issues with things screwed, etc to my OSB. TV mounts, shelving, cabinets, etc. I used all 7/16".

Dude - when you bought the special OSB you were told not to talk about it.

On a totally unrelated note - Falcon has been diagnosed with advanced dementia and no one should believe anything he says especially about a magical special OSB.

Please make a donation to your local dementia charity so people like Falcon can live a long hobbled life.

 

[kwb]

that whole won't hold a screw thing is propagated by people that think OSB is just cheap **** when in fact the quality and consistency is far better than comparable sheeting grade plywood.

OSB isn't for everything but most of the time it is a far better choice than the CDX that would normally be used in its place. When you start doing appearance grade things and get ACX, ABX, or marine grade or high ply counts then things change.

 

[ItsNemo]

that whole won't hold a screw thing is propagated by people that think OSB is just cheap **** when in fact the quality and consistency is far better than comparable sheeting grade plywood.

OSB isn't for everything but most of the time it is a far better choice than the CDX that would normally be used in its place. When you start doing appearance grade things and get ACX, ABX, or marine grade or high ply counts then things change.

Disagree...I've never once had any good experiences with OSB, the stuff is just a royal pain to deal with.

 

[PassnThru]

that whole won't hold a screw thing is propagated by people that think OSB is just cheap **** when in fact the quality and consistency is far better than comparable sheeting grade plywood.

Also understand that people think they can sink a screw in OSB or even plywood with a smooth shank at the head that's the same length as the thickness of the substrate.
People - if you sink a screw in a piece of wood that is only 7/16 or 1/2 inch thick then make sure that the threads go all the way up to the head of the screw.

 

[MushCreek]

If you're worried about it, keep track of where the embedded 'studs' are in the ICF, and use longer screws to go through to them. I used Fox Blocks building my house, and they claim 175 lb. pull-out per fastener. I attached a 2x to one of my walls with a single construction screw, and hung my 200 lbs from it. It didn't budge. If I were hanging any cabinets that could be filled with heavy stuff, I'd mount them that way rather than just to the OSB. For routine stuff, I'd just screw things to the OSB. 7/16 should be fine.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

I used 7/16 and dont have any problems. I use shelves for my heavier items. Also, don't use the fine thread drywall screws to hang things, they dont have the bite that coarse thread screws do.

 

[Bretny]

that whole won't hold a screw thing is propagated by people that think OSB is just cheap **** when in fact the quality and consistency is far better than comparable sheeting grade plywood.

OSB isn't for everything but most of the time it is a far better choice than the CDX that would normally be used in its place. When you start doing appearance grade things and get ACX, ABX, or marine grade or high ply counts then things change.

No quite.. i have OSB on my garage walls. Every time i want to hang a large hook i have to use a backer board or screw into a stud. I have also used it as sheething and roof decking....it hardly holds a screw and nails are worse. It really ***** for roof decking. I have alot of bounce between roof rafters on my house. My carport i used real plywood, no bounce and the roof is flatter.

 

[jkuro]

Bretny, are you sure you have OSB and not Particle Board?

 

[Bretny]

Its OSB.

 

[Tiffarina]

What's wrong with doing it right and just drywalling it and screw up any cabinets into the studs?

 

[ItsNemo]

I used 7/16 and dont have any problems. I use shelves for my heavier items. Also, don't use the fine thread drywall screws to hang things, they dont have the bite that coarse thread screws do.

Don't use drywall screws to hang anything...get a construction/decking screw.

 

[Tiffarina]

Is it over or under 4 feet? For the cuts, I mean...

 

[dlenardu]

If you're worried about it, keep track of where the embedded 'studs' are in the ICF, and use longer screws to go through to them. I used Fox Blocks building my house, and they claim 175 lb. pull-out per fastener. I attached a 2x to one of my walls with a single construction screw, and hung my 200 lbs from it. It didn't budge. If I were hanging any cabinets that could be filled with heavy stuff, I'd mount them that way rather than just to the OSB. For routine stuff, I'd just screw things to the OSB. 7/16 should be fine.

What kind of screws did you use? I have been having problems with the screws stripping out. sometimes they grab and sink right in. Other times they strip out

 

[MushCreek]

Coarse thread construction/deck screws (drywall screws aren't load rated). What I found was to keep the RPM down, and push good and hard as they thread in. I think too high an RPM gets hot and melts the plastic.

 

[The Cobbler]

over torquing screws is going to strip out. normally we tend to over-torque stuff .most things into wood just need to be snug

 

[u2slow]

If your going to spend any more money get 1/2in plywood...not OSB. Osb dosnt hold a screw or nail for ****.

I don't OSB anything anymore. Too wet on this coast.

All the 7/16" OSB sheathing on the house-addition had swollen to 5/8" when I redid the roof.

 

[dlenardu]

Coarse thread construction/deck screws (drywall screws aren't load rated). What I found was to keep the RPM down, and push good and hard as they thread in. I think too high an RPM gets hot and melts the plastic.

I have been using deck screws but these new deck screws have a knurl on the end of the shank and these seem to strip more than the older ones but I cant find the older style

 

[cadunkle]

I did my walls in 7/16" OSB, same as my last garage. I haven't had any problems hanging things, be it shelves or attaching cosmetic things or hanging air lines and such. For my shelves I just put a bunch of deck screws into the OSB. When They were solid when I climbed up them, I added the posts to the floor more because I can be a bit OCD than worry about flexing with anticipated weight.

That being said, sure thicker is better and plywood will have better screw retention than OSB, but I felt OSB was good enough for my needs and superior to drywall which was all I compared it to. For anything truly heavy supported by minimal fasteners I would hit a stud, but this works for me.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Disagree...I've never once had any good experiences with OSB, the stuff is just a royal pain to deal with.

What kinda weird osb are you buying?

It’s consistently flat, and not warped like plywood.

It’s consistently thick, with no delamination spots or bubbles in the veneer.

It’s consistently colored, with no dark/light/knotty spots like plywood.

We find most people don’t like osb, until you show them it’s actually better than plywood.

We deck all our houses with Advantech, which is a waterproof osb rated higher structurally, flexure and rigidity then any plywood.

There’s a reason it’s used by almost all major trailer manufacturers as their flooring of choice. ‘Featuring advantech floor’ because it’s perfectly flat, smooth and water proof

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Also understand that people think they can sink a screw in OSB or even plywood with a smooth shank at the head that's the same length as the thickness of the substrate.
People - if you sink a screw in a piece of wood that is only 7/16 or 1/2 inch thick then make sure that the threads go all the way up to the head of the screw.

Depends on what your doing. If your Sinking the screw into a stud to hold to osb to the wall, the deep thread will help greatly with your clamping force since your not fighting the threads in the osb depth.

If your trying to mount a 1/8” metal French cleat to the osb in the field not between the stud, that’s a different story

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Coarse thread construction/deck screws (drywall screws aren't load rated). What I found was to keep the RPM down, and push good and hard as they thread in. I think too high an RPM gets hot and melts the plastic.

What your looking for is the screw to bite down and not strip. Impact drivers are nice, but it’s easy to overcrsnk the screw.

With a drill, you can feel when it’s tight and you have maximum clamping force.

With an impact driver, every impact after its tight is effectively stripping the screw, not making it tighter. So the dut dut dut dut after its tight is actually Weakening the joint.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

I have been using deck screws but these new deck screws have a knurl on the end of the shank and these seem to strip more than the older ones but I cant find the older style

Because like above those are meant for clamping force.

The Knurl is designed to help hold the decking from moving, but allows the threads to fully clamp to the joist/stud. The Knurl is not holding what it’s going through.

If your trying to attach a shelf TO the osb, those are NOT what you want to use. You want to use a full thread construction screw, which bites into the osb, not the stud behind it

 

[PassnThru]

Also understand that people think they can sink a screw in OSB or even plywood with a smooth shank at the head that's the same length as the thickness of the substrate.
People - if you sink a screw in a piece of wood that is only 7/16 or 1/2 inch thick then make sure that the threads go all the way up to the head of the screw.

Depends on what your doing. If your Sinking the screw into a stud to hold to osb to the wall, the deep thread will help greatly with your clamping force since your not fighting the threads in the osb depth.

If your trying to mount a 1/8” metal French cleat to the osb in the field not between the stud, that’s a different story

The point was - if you are putting a screw in OSB without a stud behind it (the field) make sure the threads go all the way up - that there is no smooth shank. You should do the same with plywood.

 

[dlenardu]

Because like above those are meant for clamping force.

The Knurl is designed to help hold the decking from moving, but allows the threads to fully clamp to the joist/stud. The Knurl is not holding what it’s going through.

If your trying to attach a shelf TO the osb, those are NOT what you want to use. You want to use a full thread construction screw, which bites into the osb, not the stud behind it

Correct. I'm trying to "clamp" the osb to the plastic studs in the ICF walls

 

[TTMotorsports]

I went with 1/2 osb over the 7/16 because it actually had a smoother finish than the thinner. Since I was painting it I spent the extra buck a sheet for that.

 

[MushCreek]

If you want to sink the heads in OSB over ICF, you'll probably have to predrill or countersink the holes first. The plastic will often strip before the head sinks into the OSB. Yes, it's a pain. OSB is a lot harder than lumber or drywall. You could try pushing really hard as the head contacts the OSB. There's a learning curve to working with ICF, and there's a reason why builders usually charge a large premium to work with it.

The screws I use are the typical tan or green deck screws, but not the weird looking ones for composite decking.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have been using deck screws but these new deck screws have a knurl on the end of the shank and these seem to strip more than the older ones but I cant find the older style

Here you go.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOAX5W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[junkyardwarrior]

magic OSB 7/16 (4x9) at my place. Holds screws just fine but you're not going to be able to hand an engine from a single screw.

It holds screws better than drywall.

 

[egdede]

I have been using deck screws but these new deck screws have a knurl on the end of the shank and these seem to strip more than the older ones but I cant find the older style

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=942802&d=1572734475

Those threads look more like twist nails for floor trim.

 

[theoldwizard1]

However for the ICF which is the main area I wanted to put up OSB to be able to protect the foam better and allow more options for me to be able to screw things into the walls.

If your going to spend any more money get 1/2 in plywood...

Concur !

Most ICFs have a plastic "stud" embedded in them. If you want to hang any thing heavy, like a a rail for a French cleat, it is IMPERATIVE that you hit that stud ! Even hanging the plywood, I would want to hit those studs.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I used 7/16 for the walls, it's held up fine. If I had the money at the time, I probably would have went for a nicer grade of plywood. However, the OSB gets the job down and most if was installed with drywall screws.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I bit the bullet on my shop walls and used 1/2” BC plywood. It has worked out very well for me and I would do it again in an instant.

 

[GMCGarage]

Dude - when you bought the special OSB you were told not to talk about it.

On a totally unrelated note - Falcon has been diagnosed with advanced dementia and no one should believe anything he says especially about a magical special OSB.

Please make a donation to your local dementia charity so people like Falcon can live a long hobbled life.

Whats wrong with his post?

 

[mike93lx]

What kinda weird osb are you buying?

It’s consistently flat, and not warped like plywood.

It’s consistently thick, with no delamination spots or bubbles in the veneer.

It’s consistently colored, with no dark/light/knotty spots like plywood.

We find most people don’t like osb, until you show them it’s actually better than plywood.

We deck all our houses with Advantech, which is a waterproof osb rated higher structurally, flexure and rigidity then any plywood.

There’s a reason it’s used by almost all major trailer manufacturers as their flooring of choice. ‘Featuring advantech floor’ because it’s perfectly flat, smooth and water proof

Let's at least be fair here.

Advantech and commodity grade OSB are not the same thing at all