Covering SIP's OSB

[R_C]

I'm planning to build my first garage and shop this summer using SIPs. There is a lot I like about SIPs except running wires. I will be doing all the electrical and I have to believe electricians must hate SIPs.

The SIPs have OSB on both sides so I'm looking for ideas on how others have finished the interior. I don't like drywall and I've read in these forums how many primer and finish coats are required to paint. I've also read here that fasteners don't hold well in OSB so mounting cabinets could be a problem. A friend with a SIP garage sheathed the interior walls with 3/8" plywood and covered the tall vaulted ceiling with 1" white foam for a pretty good look. Anyone done something different? Just looking for ideas right now. Thanks.

 

[yeldogt]

I like drywall -- so my SLP's had the drywall already applied --- just tape the seams and paint. Some people just use moulding over the seams. This was for a utility building -- so all the services are surface mounted.

 

[Randy in Maine]

I hate drywall and used it only on my ceiling.

I used ship lap pine vertically on the interior walls. I sanded and prefinished them with 2 coats of poly.

All of my electrical stuff used surface mounted conduit. Lights, fans, and everything. Very pleased.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

I'm planning to build my first garage and shop this summer using SIPs. There is a lot I like about SIPs except running wires. I will be doing all the electrical and I have to believe electricians must hate SIPs.

The SIPs have OSB on both sides so I'm looking for ideas on how others have finished the interior. I don't like drywall and I've read in these forums how many primer and finish coats are required to paint. I've also read here that fasteners don't hold well in OSB so mounting cabinets could be a problem. A friend with a SIP garage sheathed the interior walls with 3/8" plywood and covered the tall vaulted ceiling with 1" white foam for a pretty good look. Anyone done something different? Just looking for ideas right now. Thanks.

Drywall takes one coat of primer and two coats of paint to finish. You’ve read about osb taking multiple coats of primer and paint.

Mounting cabinets to osb will be fine as long as you don’t hold the impact driver trigger down for ten seconds to strip out the holes

 

[tonyciambrone]

OSB makes a great sponge and decent firewood

 

[MushCreek]

They make steel skinned SIP's that don't require any covering, if you like the look of metal.

 

[Falcon67]

OSB makes a great sponge and decent firewood

Not so. I use a sheet for the 4th to protect the driveway - smoke bombs, rockets, snakes, etc. No fire. Have welded on it to protect a surface in a quick and dirty location. No fire. Attic floor is OSB that was used during the shop build, had standing water several times. Some places a just a bit fuzzy, but no other damage.

 

[lakeroadster]

SIP....

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a high performance building system for residential and light commercial construction.

I've got them as the roof in our great room... but didn't know they were called "SIP's.

 

[R_C]

I hate drywall and used it only on my ceiling.

I used ship lap pine vertically on the interior walls. I sanded and prefinished them with 2 coats of poly.

All of my electrical stuff used surface mounted conduit. Lights, fans, and everything. Very pleased.

I like the ship lap pine solution. I plan to use board and batten on the exterior so vertical ship lap would complement the exterior. But I'm hoping to avoid surface mounting any electrical other than the breaker panel. Haven't figured that out yet.

 

[hh76]

I just painted the OSB. Looks good for a garage/workshop.

Do the SIPs have any structure at the joints? I remember seeing them with a 2x4 at each joint.

 

[R_C]

I just painted the OSB. Looks good for a garage/workshop.

Do the SIPs have any structure at the joints? I remember seeing them with a 2x4 at each joint.

I personally haven't witnessed a SIP structure being built. Based on the details on the plans there are two 2x4s at each wall joint, which are covered by the OSB when the panels are joined. Then there is at least a 4" seam tape covering each interior seam including wall to roof panel seams so it appears I can't get away with just painting the OSB.

 

[Voi]

The SIPs have OSB on both sides so I'm looking for ideas on how others have finished the interior.

There is a picture of a cabin somewhere online where the SIP ceilings were left exposed. A decorative batten was placed over each taped joint.

Last time I tried to find this picture I had a hard time locating it but I'll try to find it since I have a little down time at the moment.

They make steel skinned SIP's that don't require any covering, if you like the look of metal.

Also MGO and Concrete (fiber reinforced) skinned SIPs.

I think both were never common and are becoming even less so. Steel skinned SIPs are still pretty common but I don't know the nearest manufacturer to Wyoming.

 

[Voi]

There is a picture of a cabin somewhere online where the SIP ceilings were left exposed. A decorative batten was placed over each taped joint.

This is the picture. Looks like my recollection of a batten isn't quite right but I think it shows the potential.

I should add that when researching my cabin build I found several examples of where the OSB skin was just left exposed. Of course you'd have to check with locals codes and/or your insurance provider if this is even okay.

 

[Randy in Maine]

Not my shop but some examples from my SIPS guys MURUS. When they were delivering my stuff they were busy delivering panes to North Dakota for the oil boom motels.

My outside used Tyvek and then pine log paneling to match my log house. My inside used the 8" shiplap pine installed vertically.
I used conduit for the electrical because I like the clean look.

I have a plumbing and electrical wall inside that the main breaker is mounted and also the radiant heat connections + the hot and cold water for the outside silcocks. It divides the woodshop from the car shop.

 

[R_C]

Battens or even faux beams over the roof panel seems is a good possibility. If I could do all the priming and painting of the OSB while the roof panels are still on the ground that would be slick. I also read that this company marks all the electrical chases on the interior OSB with blue marker. The roof panels are supposed to be pre-wired and it will be easy to measure the chase locations so painting before installation shouldn't be a problem. My friend's 1" white foam board with battens at the seems is starting to look like a simpler solution. No painting, no fumes, with some added insulation and maybe acoustic benefits and the white really brightens the space.

I won't have any interior walls so the electrical is another concern right now. The manufacture says two romex cables per chase is fine but it is difficult to pull a third so that affects my electrical plan.

 

[climb.on]

I painted the SIPS in my shop. They look great. As for the seams, I just hit them with a little painters caulk after priming and they almost disappear.

 

[climb.on]

I personally haven't witnessed a SIP structure being built. Based on the details on the plans there are two 2x4s at each wall joint, which are covered by the OSB when the panels are joined. Then there is at least a 4" seam tape covering each interior seam including wall to roof panel seams so it appears I can't get away with just painting the OSB.

The SIP's I used (Extreme Panel) use a spline made in the same way the panel is. Only framing lumber is in the corners, window/door bucks, top/bottom plates and any supports for large openings like garage doors etc.

I kept some scraps to use as a small demo to help explain the construction to people. Here's a couple pics of the spline and how 2 panels go together. It would get sealant between the OSB faces and the foam faces, then get screwed/nailed off to hold it all together.

 

[R_C]

I painted the SIPS in my shop. They look great. As for the seams, I just hit them with a little painters caulk after priming and they almost disappear.

Nicely done. They do look good painted.