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Securing OSB to cement block

SK 99

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Joined
Feb 1, 2020
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13
Location
Marysville, OH
So, after a few years of being in an apartment, I finally bought another house!

At my old house, I had a 10x23 garage with exposed stud walls, so I threw some OSB on one portion and pulled apart some pallets to dress it up a bit. Painted the OSB black, grabbed my Senco nailer, and had it looking pretty good after a couple hours....

EOkTAkZ.jpg

When I moved out, I saved the wood because I knew I would want to use it again. Well here we are now, and I have this wall in the basement that is concrete block......

043.webp


I want to get those pallet boards on that wall, and I'm trying to figure the easiest way to go about it. I'm thinking 3/4 OSB held to the block with some Tapcons, paint it black, nail the boards. Right? Is there something else I am not considering here?
 
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mike93lx

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Richmond, VA
I don't think I would fasten wood directly to the concrete due to the risk of it wicking moisture.

Any benefit to a little insulation down there? A layer of foam board between the osb and block might help, plus it could give a way to add some electrical, if desired
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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Sep 24, 2013
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Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I've attached 3/4" plywood strips 16" on center. Using a hammer drill, and 3/16" concrete drill bit, drill thru wood and concrete at the same time. Use tie wire or copper wire and 3" nails to attach. Could also use correct size drill bit and concrete nails if you experiment on sizing a little.
I used plywood cut to 3" strips because regular wood 1×4 split far too often.
Might need to double or triple the tie wire depending on how the nail grabs.
This was on exterior walls for both siding and soffit in both solid and block concrete. Never got a call back... But for interior poly on the wall might be a good idea as well as using double dipped galvanized nails.
 
OP
S

SK 99

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Joined
Feb 1, 2020
Messages
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Location
Marysville, OH
I’d fur it out with 2x4s, using tapcons, paint it all black, them put up your boards. OSB on concrete is asking for trouble, and completely covering that wall with OSB even more.

Thank you! I think this is the way I'm going to go.

Any point in using a vapor barrier? And there's probably no need for the 2x4s to be treated, right?
 

Hank11

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Tennessee
Cover the back of each board with some plastic sheet held in place with glue or use real aluminum foil duct tape.

If you needed pressure treated for this you'd be doing it wrong.
 

Sturgeon

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W. Mt.
I'd second mike93, you need some kind of vapor barrier or build a stud wall at 1 1/2"off the concrete wall and useing presure treated bottom plate.
 

PoorUB

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Fargo, ND
I would go with furring strips too. 2x4 might be over kill. I have used 1x2 and 2x2 with no issues. Another thing, chances are the block wall is not flat. when you put up the furring strips, you most likely will have to shim many of them to get your finished wall flat.
 
OP
S

SK 99

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Joined
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Messages
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Location
Marysville, OH
I would go with furring strips too. 2x4 might be over kill. I have used 1x2 and 2x2 with no issues. Another thing, chances are the block wall is not flat. when you put up the furring strips, you most likely will have to shim many of them to get your finished wall flat.

Yeah, that's why initially I wanted to hang OSB to avoid this potential problem.
 
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Hank11

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Put up one board at each end and string the rest as you put them up. Shim as you go if needed.
 

Hank11

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You could also just frame up a new stud wall inside the concrete. It'll be as flat as you make it.
 

f121

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UK
Concrete screws.

I’d baton it and nail the decorative boards to the batons
 

Ultradog MN

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Jan 20, 2024
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Location
Twin Cities
So, after a few years of being in an apartment, I finally bought another house!

At my old house, I had a 10x23 garage with exposed stud walls, so I threw some OSB on one portion and pulled apart some pallets to dress it up a bit. Painted the OSB black, grabbed my Senco nailer, and had it looking pretty good after a couple hours....

EOkTAkZ.jpg

When I moved out, I saved the wood because I knew I would want to use it again. Well here we are now, and I have this wall in the basement that is concrete block......

043.webp


I want to get those pallet boards on that wall, and I'm trying to figure the easiest way to go about it. I'm thinking 3/4 OSB held to the block with some Tapcons, paint it black, nail the boards. Right? Is there something else I am not considering here?
I think you are on the right track.
However, I would ditch the tapcons.
I do use a tapcon carbide bit - usually 3/16 and drill through the osb and concrete.
Put the wire in first then drive a 2" or 2 1/2" roofing nail in along side the wire. .
Bare ground wire out of a piece or romex , cut the pieces two inches long.
If 14 ga doesnt hold the nail try a piece of 12 ga - or vice versa if one is too tight.
It's cheaper for your fasteners and quicker to install.
It sounds like you have quite a few holes to drill so my advice is to try a few this way.
 

Dig Doug

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Apr 16, 2018
Messages
1,098
Just build a new 2x4 wall floor to ceiling do not touch the block wall leave a 1/2 gap, turn the studs flat if you don’t want to loose 3 1/2 in in the room.

you can add a outlet or a wall light / led strip light etc

Pressure treated bottom plate.

OSB isnt good in moisture areas unless it’s rated exterior the moisture will attack the glue over time
 
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OP
S

SK 99

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Joined
Feb 1, 2020
Messages
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Location
Marysville, OH
Quick update. I mounted furring strips to the wall with Tapcons (after applying foil tape to back of them), stapled up some Visqueen, and secured OSB to the furring strips....

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Painted it black, and got my pallet boards all nailed up....

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The rest of the basement is coming along nicely.....

20240626-135114.jpg

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