Quick question about OSB on walls in pole barn.

[zrxrider]

I'm cutting sheets right now. Someone said I should keep the bottom one off the concrete about 1/4"-1/2". Yes or no? Also, do I need a gap between the poles? 1/8"???

Thanks!!

 

[paullie]

i prefer to keep it off the floor a lil bit, you dont need a gap, some will say you do but in my pole barn i have no gaps and it is just fine

 

[jwith68]

Keeping a 1/4" - 1/2" gap up off the concrete is a good idea, you can fill that with caulk, use some sort of base board or cove moulding, etc. You do not need to gap in between sheets. The expansion/contraction characteristics of the OSB are not different enough from the wood frame it is attached to to make that necessary.

BTW, not sure how you are attaching them, but unless you really think you are going to have to take them back off later for some reason, 2-1/4" or 2-1/2" stick nails out of a framing nailer work great. Fast, easy, and secure!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd keep it off the concrete. You could rip down a couple of strips from a PT 2x4 and put those down at the concrete with the OSB on top.

 

[samert111]

Don't forget to consider any drainage slope in your floor. My floor slopes approx. 2" over 48' so at the back of the building the OSB is just off the floor and at the front it's 2 1/2" off the floor so everything runs true to the windows, doors, inside corners. etc. I doubled up the bottom wall plates between the studs where needed so I had something to screw into and I'm going to use some of the new plastic deck boards as a baseboard to cover the gap at the floor.