Hello – I’m just starting to contract out my own house build and I had a question to which I’ve got many mixed answers on. I am trying to decide b/w 7/16 OSB and 3/8 plywood. The plywood costs about 20% more where I am at, so I was thinking of just going with OSB, but some people “don’t like the stuff” at all. What would you guys build with out of these two materials for wall sheathing? Thanks again.
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5/8 ply
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Haga su trabajo de fricken
Wall sheathing?? Generally that's 1/2" material, more or less.
I prefer plywood but osb would be ok for the walls. Use plywood for the roof though. And as others said, 3/8 isn't a good choice, go with 1/2"
OSB over 3/8 ply (nobody sheaths with 3/8ths, did you mean to say 5/8?). If you go with the OSB, you will have standard thickness walls to match window and door jambs.
Minimum 1/2" ply
I use Advantec
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use 1/2 " osb and have the framer cover with house wrap before tilting walls up .
You are making the point that OSB is such a poor product that it must be protected from the weather immediately.I agree with that, but I will not have an ower telling me how or when to do the housewrap. sometimes your way can work best. Other times it is a waste of time to try that way. It depends on the house style and layout, and how a crew works.He can require that the sheathing be wrapped appropriaately and professionally and promptly, but if he is going to dictate every detail about how to do it, he needs some kids who need that sort of direction and control.
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"have the framer cover with house wrap before tilting walls up ."
you don't have sheathing ispections there? View Image View Image
Whats the siding going to be?
Matt
It's a 2,600 ft2 2-storey, brick to roof. I've asked around and no one around here, even custom builders, use more than 7/16 OSB for wall thickness. 1/2 ply is used only for the roof sheathing. I think my overall question was OSB vs. plywood in general, considering the price difference. Around here 7/16 OSB is about $8.50 / sheet, and 1/2 plywood is about $19.50 / sheet. I would love to use 1/2 ply, but I can't afford to do all the wall sheathing in that size at those prices.
I would ask the brick layers what they want to nail/screw their wall ties to.
Matt
"I would ask the brick layers what they want to nail/screw their wall ties to."I am really not that familar with brick walls, but I would hope tha they attach the ties to the studs and not just to sheathing..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I am not a mason either, thats why I would ask, I like to ask the people who follow me on a job what their preference of materials are to attach their work to. In this case it might not make a difference.
Matt
Edited 9/26/2007 7:18 pm ET by Stilletto
The nails would be easier to start by hammer in plywood, but there is no way I'd want to spend hundreds of bucks to keep a mason's tender from bruising his thumb
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brick veneer is going to cover all the wall sheathing.... so in this case the sheathing's main function will be to add shear strength.. OSB will be fine
if it were not brick veneer i'd use either 1/2" cdx or 1/2" Advantech , whichever was cheaper when i bought it
for the subfloor i'd use 3/4 Advantech T&G
for the roof i'd use 5/8 Advantech T&G
your main problem will not be sheathing, it will be getting all of your flashing details right with the brick veneerMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Given that, use the OSB and get it protected from rain ASAP.On the sizing, we call it all half inch, but the OSB is actually 7/16" as it comes off the press before it swells.The plywood is often a size like 19/32 or 15/16ths instead of 5/8 or 1/2" when you read the stamps.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
fine homebuilding did a great article on plywood vs. osb about a year ago. Try looking back at some of your issues, I don't know exactly which one. Personally I like plywood (4 ply, dont get 3-ply and think your getting a great deal, you'll walk right through the roof.
chuck