OSB smooth or rough side out. I like the rough side out.

[showtime96]

I posted a week ago about attaching osb to walls and I’m ready to start. I have read a bunch on which side to face out and a lot of people say smooth side out. It’s easier to paint ect. But I think the rough side looks better. It seems like the chips aren’t as visible and has a flatter look. I did a 1x1 test on each side with a paint brush. Smooth side took more time to fill in deep voids. Rough side was obviously rougher but painted quicker to me , less voids. If I hit it quickly with a sander it took the little bumps off. I have a porter cable drywall sander that would I could make a quick pass over to take the edge off the the bumps or whatever you call them that they put on for traction. The rough side of the osb I have looks smother on the rough side. Any thoughts?

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, it’s your OSB and your walls, you may do it any way you want to, just be prepared to live with your decision.

 

[showtime96]

IMHO, it’s your OSB and your walls, you may do it any way you want to, just be prepared to live with your decision.

I already have to live with my OSB decision lol. Just trying to get the best results possible. I was going to do drywall as a Menards about an hour and a half from me had 14 ft sheets for $14.39 a sheet. But for what I needed it would have been two trips and delivery was a lot and then the durability issue. Steel is still outrageous. So with a basketball hoop and the kids riding their bikes and such I figured this was the most durable and best thing in between steel and drywall.

 

[rayra]

Looks like *** either way and I've used it as you have and painted it. Best spray it, if you roll latex on it nice and thick you will get some strands swelling and popping free.
As a roof decking, definitely rough side up.

 

[whateg01]

I don't know how your shop is but my walls get dusty and spiders like to leave little strands of web all over. A broom takes it all down quickly. Maybe with knocking the tops off that would still be true but that would be my concern with leaving the rough side out.

 

[619DioFan]

Kilz 3 primer is pretty thick and will help leave a smoother surface as well as keeping the paint from absorbing so much. for paint I use the flat white farm and barn paint because it is cheap and seems to hold up well . I always put it up smooth side out.

 

[yeldogt]

Agree the back looks better ..... is there any coating on the front? I thought they used wax in the production ?

May be better to paint the back anyway ....

 

[MeanGene427]

I learned from some very experienced contractors to paint both sides of OSB and siding etc with primer before installation- might take two coats as it will **** it right up. Had to do a bunch of T-11, and just put plastic down on my 20ft tilt bed, laid down some 2x4 stickers and went at it, then could just flip them over