Backup at OSB Joints

[jaw22w]

I am finishing the inside of my new 30x40x12 pole barn. Horizontal girts @ 2' on center. Using 4x8x1/2" OSB for the wall covering. Installing OSB with the 8' horizontal. I haven' started yet, but I am ready to start. Should I install a vertical 2x4 in the plane of the girts to back up the joint in the butted OSB joints and at the corners? How well will the joints line up without the backer 2x4?
I have OSB in my old garage, but all edges all nailed down. I calculate it will take about 20 2x4x12's to do that. About $200 worth. And a lot of labor. Some would be installed to the posts, and some would go in between. I have a Kreg joint jig to do the inbetweeners. That is going to be a lot of work. Is it worth it? What are your experiences?

 

[Hank11]

I'd toenail in 2x4s for all the joints.

 

[nadogail]

Cut 4" Battens from plywood and attach them to the hidden side of the panels with screws. a variation of "Board and Batten", only the Battens are hidden.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you do some actual figuring, 2' on center, those 2x4's should be shorter than that. Quick thought, you could probably get 4 out of a precut 2x4.

That should save a few bucks buying precuts over 12 footers, which are going to generally cost a premium over shorter lumber.

Also keep in mind, these do literally nothing for structural of the building. They don't have to be the best quality lumber either. Again, save a few bucks in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Bert_]

If I was going to do it I wouldn't even attach the short pieces to the girts. Just cut some ~16" scraps and screw them to the sheets as they go up

 

[jaw22w]

Cut 4" Battens from plywood and attach them to the hidden side of the panels with screws. a variation of "Board and Batten", only the Battens are hidden.

I like this idea! Easy, cheap, and effective!
My building is standard pole building construction. I had 1.5"-2" spray foam installed. Then I ran the horizontal girts and installed R19 fiberglass. My vapor barrier will go between the girts and the OSB. I would need to run all the backer boards in before the vapor barrier. By going with this method, I can go ahead and install the vapor barrier, and do the joint backup with the battens as I install the OSB. There are no interior walls in the building. I think I will go ahead and use 2x4 backer boards in the 4 corners before installing the V.B.
Thanks for the idea!

 

[like2wheel]

How far apart are your posts?
Menards has 10' & 12' osb available by special order.

 

[jaw22w]

Cut 4" Battens from plywood and attach them to the hidden side of the panels with screws. a variation of "Board and Batten", only the Battens are hidden.

I wanted to take a minute to say how well this method works. I got about 75% of the OSB up in my 30x40x12 this weekend. My building has 8 foot on center poles on the side wall and 10 foot center on the end walls. Each corner sidewall sheet needed cut to size which provided the material for the backup strips cut to 4" x 12" for 2"x 12" on each sheet. The gap between 2x4 girts is 20.5". I applied Liquid Nails to half of the 4x12, slid it halfway behind the last installed sheet centered in between the girts and secured it with 1" 18 gauge brads. Then applied the LN to the other half of the 4x12", installed the next sheet and secured that half with the brads. It makes for a great unsupported **** joint. I'm pretty picky and I am happy with it. It won't, overtime, warp and make a lot of uneven joints. Makes a much nicer finished job.
It cost less than 20 bucks for materials and very little labor to do this. I think it is every bit as good as toe nailing a couple hundred bucks worth of 2x4's in. Not even thinking about the labor!
Thanks again for the idea.

 

[CraigStu]

I agree, I have used nadogail's method many times over the years. Sometimes it was planned like your and sometimes it was fix for my earlier screwup. Screws or brads and construction glue is a fantastic combination.