OSB Painting - Spray or Roll?

[Stefan S]

Used osb for all the walls and ceiling in my garage and wondering what everyone is using to paint. I’ll be using an oil based Kilz primer (probably 2 coats) followed by color.

I can rent a pro airless sprayer and thinking that is the way to go... have others sprayed osb with success?

 

[James-W]

If it were me doing this job, I would cover the walls with a light coat of drywall compound, then when it was dry I would do a coat of primer, and when that was dry cover with a coat of good quality paint.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Interestingly enough we're doing the same thing right now. Dad and I were debating what type of paint to get, decided to cheap out and get the cheapest $5 latex paint they had at lowes. I think that was the right choice. It's not like it's gonna fall off OSB. We painted about 20 sheets 1 coat with 2 gallons. I would recommend doing all of the primer coats flat down, then install, then final coat if you really want to.

Edit: I see you've already installed it. Nevermind then on the flat down.

I think spraying would be a complete waste of time and money. You're trying to put a lot of material down fast on a rough surface, that's what a roller does best.

BTW, the 1 5/8" T-25 bright finish construction screws work really well.

 

[The Cobbler]

clean up of the sprayer is somewhat time consuming.
I would roll it.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

In a few weeks I'll make a tack room in a horse stable using OSB.(spellecker keeps wanting to change OSB into SOB![emoji23]).
My question is should I paint it? Or make sense to put clear on it like polyurethane?

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[lukedwag]

Howany SF are you talking ? I did 2 full costs on a 28x40 walls and ceiling OSB with a srayer in 4 hours. You cant touch the speed of airless with a roller.

 

[Stefan S]

It’s a 24x24 garage I’m thinking a sprayer is gonna fly but maybe I’ll try one with a roller and then make my call!

 

[Stefan S]

BTW, the 1 5/8" T-25 bright finish construction screws work really well.

Absolutely! That’s what I used

 

[rayra]

Spray. And a light first coat, at that. Make it sopping wet with a roller and you'll have some of the strands swelling / rising and will ruin your surface. I discovered that the hard way when I faced some garage cabinets with OSB.


HVLP sprayers are inexpensive.

 

[rayra]

In a few weeks I'll make a tack room in a horse stable using OSB.(spellecker keeps wanting to change OSB into SOB![emoji23]).
My question is should I paint it? Or make sense to put clear on it like polyurethane?

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

Putting anything on it is a boon. But a very light / white coat on the upper half / ceilings will do wonders for lighting.

 

[Showkey]

Think the idea on OSB coverage is build mil thickness........so roll on a couple of medium heavy coats. The first coat will get sucked it up like a sponge.

As for cheap paint.......cheap lacks pigment and solids, defeating the purpose of the paint project in the first place. Buy a decent paint in a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I used OSB in the race shop. I put one (maybe two) coats of oil based primer and two coasts of latex white. I rolled it on before the OSB applied to the walls. I never thought about using a sprayer ... but now thinking about it, I think I was better off rolling.

 

[kbs2244]

I had it sprayed.
The room was empty except for scaffolding
Two coats of cheap white latex a day apart with overnight fans going.
It was for sure faster and easier than a roller.
I am happy with the result

 

[teamextreme]

If it were me doing this job, I would cover the walls with a light coat of drywall compound, then when it was dry I would do a coat of primer, and when that was dry cover with a coat of good quality paint.

This. I skim-coated my walls with mud first. After that, all it took was one coat of good quality paint with a roller.

 

[86turbodsl]

I've sprayed all my walls, but i have a Graco 390 anyway. Cleanup takes a bit of time, but not having to roll it is worth it, IMHO.

 

[Bretny]

I rolled mine. 2 coats of kiltz then 2 color. I did this all but the last coat of color before they were on the wall. Went very easy. I feel that rolling put more paint in the low areas. Something you need on OSB.

 

[laser3kw]

When I did my 30x40 (with Kiltz/Sherwin Williams top coat), I had my neighbor, who is a professional painter, advise and pilot the job. He brought his sprayer and it was sprayed and back rolled (while spraying the next section). He gave the reason as it helps spread out the paint more evenly eliminating light / heavy spots and, makes best use of the product. He said spraying alone would increase the amount of paint used by 20% ~ 30%.

 

[mike1956]

It's funny and so predictable when someone comes on a public forum like this and asks this kind of question. You gotta know your going to get a hundred different opinions from here to Sunday. Just grab your roller or sprayer and git ta werk

 

[cadunkle]

I recently rolled mine. 2 coats of mixed old white paint and primer I was given for free then 2 coats of new white semi gloss. Went on fine with rollers, have to really press it in on some low spots but it's fine for a work space I wanted to have a bright finish to help with lighting.

 

[38Chevy454]

Rolled mine, 2 coats oil base Kilz. No topcoat. Rolling goes fast, the prep and clean-up is easy.

 

[BruceMc]

Started rolling, then broke out the sprayer. With the sprayer I could do the whole garage (and be cleaned up) in the time it took to cut and roll just the ceiling. On a rough surface like OSB, the advantage goes to a sprayer. Whatever additional paint and primer it took was more than paid for by the time I didn't have to take off of work.

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^^^^^^Except for mil thickness and quality of the finish over the rough base.

Roll for quality..........spray for speed and get it done, quality not in the equation. Absolutely no question spray is fast.

New budget built homes are famous for builder special.......cheap paint and sprayed thin and fast.

 

[Cougar67]

I did a coat of Kilz and had the then 12 year old roll latex with a fluffy paint roller. I used cheap paint with about a quart of leftover tropical blue- turquoise paint mixed in and it turned out well. (I wish I could figure out how to post pictures. Don't make me go back to Photobucket.)

 

[Jon_E]

1 coat Kilz oil-based primer, 1 coat white latex, mid-grade (I use whatever's on sale at Homey D's). Rolled on with a medium nap roller. For me it's only to seal the OSB and provide some light reflection. It's a shop, not a museum (at least in my case).

 

[strutaeng]

If you are concerned about going too slow, use a 14" or 18" roller. That will get the paint on the wall in a hurry (and also a modest workout.)

 

[BruceMc]

^^^^^^^^^^Except for mil thickness and quality of the finish over the rough base.

Roll for quality..........spray for speed and get it done, quality not in the equation. Absolutely no question spray is fast.

New budget built homes are famous for builder special.......cheap paint and sprayed thin and fast.

Yeah, well, there's nothing inherent in spraying that leads to low quality. Cheap paint and a poor quality job is a choice either way, whether it's rolled or sprayed.

 

[MushCreek]

I have a power roller- best of both worlds! Mine is an attachment that goes on my sprayer, and it is pretty fast, but my sprayer is a pro-sumer rig, not a cheapie.

 

[strutaeng]

I had to paint some new exterior siding between a high roof / low roof condition. I was standing on the low roof painting vertically. It's that LP siding stuff that's pretty moderately wood-textured. Wall is like 68' long.

I own a Titan 640i. It's a nice pro rig...I thought about using it, but just went with a heavy nap roller. I did 2 coats in about 3 hrs total. Clean up took about 15 minutes. It honestly didn't take as long as I thought. Cleaning the airless is a deal breaker, unless you have around 1,000 sq ft or more, then you still have to backroll as you paint!

Now my 2' overhangs were another story! I've still have to do the second coat on that...

 

[86turbodsl]

I own a Titan 640i. It's a nice pro rig...I thought about using it, but just went with a heavy nap roller. I did 2 coats in about 3 hrs total. Clean up took about 15 minutes. It honestly didn't take as long as I thought. Cleaning the airless is a deal breaker, unless you have around 1,000 sq ft or more, then you still have to backroll as you paint!

I don't know what you guys with airless are doing for cleanup, but my cleanup process on my Graco takes about 30 mins or less. I sprayed all the walls in my shop (that i've done so far) in less than a half hour and cleanup is done in about the same time. I can't get 1/4 of that done with a roller in that time. What's taking so long?

 

[cadunkle]

If you don't put a color topcoat over Kilz it will yellow over time. It's noticeable after a few weeks and gets worse with time.

 

[ewang]

Rolled two coats of Kilz oil based, with a final two coats of latex.

Hard-work, but looks awesome now. Make sure you have a paint respirator with the Kilz!

 

[billie]

OSB, I always roll. You really need to work the paint into all the voids. If you have to rent the sprayer, rolling is way faster than spraying..... and really no setup/cleanup with rolling.

 

[Jazz1]

My friend rolled the OSB floor in his cabin. Dark green enamel. It’s different for sure but looks good and easy to clean

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Kilz is pure poison.

I am more apt to use Benjamin Moore Fresh Start interior exterior latex primer these days. It does everything a problem solver primer should.

 

[Stefan S]

Kilz is pure poison.

I am more apt to use Benjamin Moore Fresh Start interior exterior latex primer these days. It does everything a problem solver primer should.

I am concerned about the water based paints lifting the OSB as it is absorbed

 

[strutaeng]

I am concerned about the water based paints lifting the OSB as it is absorbed

I personally have never painted OSB walls, but would recommend the oil primer. My choice is Coverstain. It's a garage, so leave door open obviously. There are many here that have painted OSB. Do a search.

However, water primers are getting really good on stain/tannin blocking, still not superior to oil. In general, the longer the primer sits before topcoat, the better the tannin/stain resistance. I'd do at least 8 hours.

The other thing to worry about using water primers is "grain raising." This is more of a concern in fine finishing and with MDF. A quick scuff sanding takes care of this. I'm not sure about the flakes lifting.