7/16 or 1/2 osb

[ezover]

what are your thoughts on osb thickness for the ceiling and walls?

my thoughts were 7/16 for the ceiling and 1/2 for the walls.
i can't think of any benefits in doing the ceiling with 1/2 inch osb at 2.50 more per sheet.

 

[PassnThru]

I haven't even seen 1/2" OSB in a long time - 7/16" only. My garage ceiling and walls are 7/16" and it hasn't been a problem. I don't think 1/16" is going to make any real difference.

 

[Gary S]

When I built my garage a few years ago, I bought 7/16 for the roof and outside walls. A couple of years later when I finished the interior, I bought 1/2 because I found it on sale cheaper than the 7/16.
It really doesn't make any difference. 7/16 meets code for structures around here, but if 1/2 is cheaper, get it.

 

[galwaytt]

....how much is OSB your side, out of curiousity ?

We use truckloads of 15mm at USD$4.76/m2 (call it a yard..)

 

[jlsru]

I used 7/16" on my walls and ceiling.

 

[cookster]

Don't allow OSB on ceiling here. Did all my interior walls with it. Now have go over one wall by house with fire rated dry wall.

 

[PassnThru]

....how much is OSB your side, out of curiousity ?

We use truckloads of 15mm at USD$4.76/m2 (call it a yard..)

Haven't priced it lately but normally a 4X8 sheet of 7/16 is around 5 - 6 dollars. I have seen it above $10 after a major hurricane strike here when all lumber prices go up. It's actually very competitive price-wise with drywall here. So, that's 32 square feet compared to a square meter? Converting with Google I get 1 square meter is equal to 10.76 square feet (which is a little larger than a square yard). A 4X8 sheet is 32 square feet. I think you are paying more which is pretty much to be expected.

 

[srmofo]

I just built my garage (unattached) in october with 7/16 for 4.79 a sheet. Just did a quick price check and its jumped to $6.27 . Looks like 1/2 has droped about .50 down to $7.77

Could the earthquake have caused this sudden spike? It was still 4.79 in the first week of january

 

[PassnThru]

I just built my garage (unattached) in october with 7/16 for 4.79 a sheet. Just did a quick price check and its jumped to $6.27 . Looks like 1/2 has droped about .50 down to $7.77

Could the earthquake have caused this sudden spike? It was still 4.79 in the first week of january

I wouldn't be surprised even though I don't think much OSB will be used in rebuilding Haiti. Probably like gas prices - any excuse to raise the price. It will probably settle back down in a few weeks.

 

[nate379]

I had to argue with the manager at Lowe's yesterday about 1/2" OSB!

I needed 1/2" to shim something flush. They only had 3/8, 7/16", 19/32" and 21/32" He claimed all "matter of factly" there is no such thing as 1/2" OSB.

I was like... hmmm... maybe I should call my Dad to let them know then. Better tell him to shut down the line making 1/2" OSB (He has been working at an OSB mill for almost 30 years. )

I have no idea where those funky sizes come from but normal OSB sizes are 1/4", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" and 1 1/8"

As for the prices, here 3/8" is $10, 7/16" is $16

 

[94legaleagle]

my shop CEILING AND WALLS are finished in 7/16 OSB - have been that way for 21 years or so with NO problems -

IMHO, use whichever one is cheaper

they DO make 1/2 inch OSB - I've used it for roofing a little

 

[BackAgain]

It's up to about $7.25 today at HD, from $5-something just a few weeks ago. I wish I would have bought a load, damnit! It's been rising since before the earthquake, I'm not sure why this time of year though?

 

[Kevin54]

Around my area it depends on where you get it for what they use. A lot of contractors went to using 7/16" for walls and roofs while others will still use 1/2" for roofs. Personally I don't like either. I have 1/2" on my roof and depending on the temperature outside, and attic temperature, you can see where every joist is.
As far as pricing, the 7'16" was down to around $5.79 / sht. the last I looked but that has been a couple of months now. The price of it will fluctuate more than other dimensional lumber. If the building picks back up here in a couple months, it will probably hit $9+ a sheet for a while.

 

[Torque1st]

I had to argue with the manager at Lowe's yesterday about 1/2" OSB!

I needed 1/2" to shim something flush. They only had 3/8, 7/16", 19/32" and 21/32" He claimed all "matter of factly" there is no such thing as 1/2" OSB.

I was like... hmmm... maybe I should call my Dad to let them know then. Better tell him to shut down the line making 1/2" OSB (He has been working at an OSB mill for almost 30 years. )

I have no idea where those funky sizes come from but normal OSB sizes are 1/4", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" and 1 1/8"

As for the prices, here 3/8" is $10, 7/16" is $16

15MM would be that 19/32" stuff.
17MM would be that 21/32" stuff.

Many sheet goods are metric now. It all depends on the supplier.

The OSB price will also fluctuate with oil prices.

 

[Brad1234]

I have 7/16 on the ceiling & walls in 2 garages & it is plenty sturdy. If your wall studs are more than 16" on center I would do some experimenting because I think that you would get alot of flex if you push on the wall.