OSB on interior walls

[strombecker]

Hi

I am thinking of putting OSB on my shop interior walls, and was wondering if there is any issues. My shop is seperate from the house, so fire code is not a problem. I was wondering if there is any smell issues with the OSB.

Thanks in advance

 

[Showboy]

Subscribing.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You'll find two issues on GJ that get the most verying of results. . . . . . Drywall/OSB. . . .PVC/copper/galvanized/black pipe airlines.

6 of one, half a dozen of another.

 

[Berserker]

Just last night I opened up my wall to run a cable down for 240 outlet. This would have been harder with drywall, would have to be patched.

Also don't like drywall cause it is wussy, cracks and breaks to easy. I haven't decided if I am going to paint mine or not, its been up for over 4 years. Another thing I don't like about drywall it shows the dirt.

 

[Gary S]

I've built two garages. One got drywall. The other one got OSB. I'd never do drywall again in a garage.
But, everybody has their preferences.

 

[Berserker]

I always thought, there wives made them put drywall up. They like the look of it when they park in there garage.

 

[kbs2244]

Drywall does not belong in a shop. It is smooth and pretty, but weak.

I prefer CDX plywood over OSB just because it is smoother and looks better.
But price can sometimes favor OSB.
Any OSB smell will go away pretty quick, if it isn’t already gone from setting in the lumber yard.
I like to paint it before putting it up. It is just easier.

The wall I liked best was 2 foot of block, 2 feet of white painted CDX, 4 feet of ¼ in white pegboard and another 2 feet of white ply.
We ran the electric at the seam between the pegboard and the ply.
That put the outlets at 4 feet above the floor.

If the block wasn’t there I would have favored the bottom row of ply and peg being 4 foot each..

The idea is to have the bottom of the wall able to stand up to some dings, and have easy to hang storage space above it.

 

[djjsr]

The only issue that would stop me is fire. I've seen an all wood structure burn to the ground well before the fire department arrived.

 

[NUTTSGT]

We've lost structures that had drywall and plaster/lathe in them too.

 

[Gary S]

We've lost structures that had drywall and plaster/lathe in them too.

Same here. I've seen both style buildings lost in minutes. Sheetrock is no barrier for a fire. Putting in sheetrock to get that false security doesn't make sense to me. It is the combustibles in a garage that are the fire hazard, not the walls.
If you are that concerned about fire, remove any heater that uses combustable fuel, and all gas, oil, and other combustibles. And, get rid of your welder and any other fire hazard.

 

[rburke65]

Oh ya...that OSB is so flamable you might as well just line your walls with matches!

 

[djjsr]

Sheetrock is fire resistant. OSB is fuel.

 

[dlenkewich]

Sheetrock is fire resistant. OSB is fuel.

Wood is good fuel, sure.

But if you've happened to throw a piece of OSB into a fire you'd know it doesnt burn worth a ****.

We have a shed that's lined with OSB, some teen's busted into it 3 years ago and tried to start a fire by lighting posters and papers on fire, all it did was leave black marks on the OSB.

Thinking OSB is a fire hazard just because it's made out of wood is ignorant, if the fire is hot enough to burn up OSB, it doesn't matter what your lining is, your building is toast.

 

[djjsr]

Thinking OSB is a fire hazard just because it's made out of wood is ignorant,

Ignorant? Maybe your building codes are different.

 

[Vicegrip]

Wood is good fuel, sure.

But if you've happened to throw a piece of OSB into a fire you'd know it doesnt burn worth a ****.

We have a shed that's lined with OSB, some teen's busted into it 3 years ago and tried to start a fire by lighting posters and papers on fire, all it did was leave black marks on the OSB.

Thinking OSB is a fire hazard just because it's made out of wood is ignorant, if the fire is hot enough to burn up OSB, it doesn't matter what your lining is, your building is toast.

Build your garage as you see fit but please don't disseminate incorrect information.
I am not going to say you should or should not line a workshop with but there is a big difference between a material that not only does not support combustion but suppresses it and one that is classed as flammable. OSB's kindle point is higher than unprocessed wood but unlike hydrated gypsum it has a kindle point. Once the kindle temp is reached it will burn and add heat and combustible gasses to an enclosed space. A small smoky fire in an enclosed space can generate a flashover with enough combustible gasses and heat. Heat drywall up and it gives off steam, resists penetration, helping contain the fire and not adding heat and gasses to a potential flashover.
Gypsum wallboard suppresses fire, helps protect the wood framework of the structure from heat and fire and helps prevent fire from moving room to room. OSB does none of these things is classed as combustible. It generates combustible choking smoke and heat to a fire and does nothing to protect the structure from fire. These are the facts. Basic chemistry and physics.

 

[Berserker]

Why don't they require drywall on the ceiling? Fire rises, and will go straight to the attic.

 

[Bevis]

We've lost structures that had drywall and plaster/lathe in them too.

I ran a fire on a drywall/ plaster shop on friday...and it was a rolling by the time we got there (8 min).

 

[dlenkewich]

Build your garage as you see fit but please don't disseminate incorrect information.
I am not going to say you should or should not line a workshop with but there is a big difference between a material that not only does not support combustion but suppresses it and one that is classed as flammable. OSB's kindle point is higher than unprocessed wood but unlike hydrated gypsum it has a kindle point. Once the kindle temp is reached it will burn and add heat and combustible gasses to an enclosed space. A small smoky fire in an enclosed space can generate a flashover with enough combustible gasses and heat. Heat drywall up and it gives off steam, resists penetration, helping contain the fire and not adding heat and gasses to a potential flashover.
Gypsum wallboard suppresses fire, helps protect the wood framework of the structure from heat and fire and helps prevent fire from moving room to room. OSB does none of these things is classed as combustible. It generates combustible choking smoke and heat to a fire and does nothing to protect the structure from fire. These are the facts. Basic chemistry and physics.

Yep, ok. You seemed to have missed my point.

Somehow your magic drywall doesn't prevent fire's from totalling houses each and every day.

 

[csp]

Yep, ok. You seemed to have missed my point.

Somehow your magic drywall doesn't prevent fire's from totalling houses each and every day.

I don't think Vicegrip missed the point at all. It wasn't said that drywall prevents fires either.

Seems to me that you missed the point that drywall doesn't contribute to the fire if/when one breaks out.

 

[nonhog]

I use drywall near where I weld/grind. I will use OSB everywhere else.

 

[KENLUDE97]

No smell issues. I've done it on 2 of my garages. I've YET to burn either down. They are painted walls so that may help or make it worse with fire? :shrug:

And if/when you want to hang something you are not worried about strength.

GL!

 

[Leeboy20]

OSB...OSB.....Use the smooth side and prime and paint......

 

[jdaallen]

There are many fire resistant/supressant coatings on the market that properly applied will prevent almost any material from burning. Iv'e seen plywood, OSB, and soft pine, coated with a coating that when a tourch was held up to it, it would flame up as long as the tourch was there but the second the tourch was pulled away, all flame dissapeared. The treated wood would not support a flame. Not that expensive either.

 

[Hog Rider]

Just finished painting my new 24x24 OSB lined garage walls and it looks great.

Just for the record,I did not use smooth side because of the wax finish.Did not think paint would hold up over the years on the wax.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I put osb on my walls and ceiling. I primed and painted white. I don't weld in there, I have a steel lined shed for that. Without getting into the fire hazards argument, for durability purposes I picked OSB. I tend to bang things around and my boys are worse than me.

 

[djjsr]

Well you can pretty much tell from the comments here who used OSB and who didn't to line their garages. It's kind of like the guys that used PVC pipe for their air systems, they seem to over-defend their viewpoint.


If you really want to use OSB, there is some available that is fire rated. It's called LP FlameBlock.

 

[gcroix]

I feel dumb for asking this, but prime the OSB on both sides? I heard you have to do that to 'seal' the OSB. A guy told me to use insulation/moisture barrier/sealed OSB. (That's from the inside out on the walls)

 

[Frank Dukes]

Well you can pretty much tell from the comments here who used OSB and who didn't to line their garages. It's kind of like the guys that used PVC pipe for their air systems, they seem to over-defend their viewpoint.


If you really want to use OSB, there is some available that is fire rated. It's called LP FlameBlock.

good lord. 37 bucks a sheet.
http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...-x-4-x-8-osb-flameblock/p-1949423-c-13330.htm

 

[6768rogues]

I have a 36 by 48 building that has OSB on the walls. The only downside is that it took 3 coats of paint to look decent. I bought 5 gallon buckets of paint and rolled it on. The OSB has been in place for about 15 years and it looks good and holds up well.
I cut the scraps to 4 inches wide and used them with 1" screws to back up seams that were perpendicular to the framing.

 

[JCfreak]

There are many fire resistant/supressant coatings on the market that properly applied will prevent almost any material from burning. Iv'e seen plywood, OSB, and soft pine, coated with a coating that when a tourch was held up to it, it would flame up as long as the tourch was there but the second the tourch was pulled away, all flame dissapeared. The treated wood would not support a flame. Not that expensive either.

Look for a product called "No Burn" they had several products back in the day.
I was a dealer in Colorado years ago.

 

[finn]

I've got OSB/ steel in my new to me shop and sheetrock / steel in my old (to me) shop.

Sheetrock looks better and seems to retain a fresh look, as the rough osb attracts dirt, even when painted.

The osb is handy for screwing things to, though.

For a working shop I'd recommend a steel liner with strategically located sections of osb. the steel won't support fire either, but I understand it has to be backed with fire rated sheetrock in order to have a fire rating.

Leave the sheetrock for non working "man cave" garages. I'm slowly adding more steel to cover the sheetrock in my original garage.

 

[Norcal]

My shop is done w/ 5/8" drywall taped & textured w/ a spray knock down texture, & the "back room" done 3 years ago was done with OSB, in both cases they were the best choices, the drywall has held up well & the OSB worked well except for the OSB stench which still lingers a wee bit, thinking about adding a 14 foot extension to the front of the shop & it will be drywall, the ceiling in the shop is 2X6 T&G pine decking, the back room is exposed 2X6 rafters w/ a 3/4" plywood sheathing, all painted white.

 

[Disturbed]

In my old shop I did the interior with 1/2"OSB covered with 5/8" FireCheck sheet rock. OSB stiffened the building up and let me hang anything, anywhere I wanted. The 5/8" sheet rock provided the fire protection I was looking for. 5/8" sheetrock is strong, and when it is back with OSB I had no issues with smashing holes in it.

I just moved and will be doing the same thing in my new shop, working on the insulation and OSB sheeting right now.

 

[Scott V]

It's scary to think about, but bottom line is if you have a garage fire and you're not there it probably isn't going to matter what your walls are covered with. It's kind of like stressing over what car alarm to buy- it's mostly just peace of mind. While it's true that drywall offers better protection than wood, this is only going to matter if you're there when the fire starts. Personally I think what you cover your ceiling with is more important than the walls if you're concerned about a garage fire.