Laying OSB on a wooden floor is used when repairing tongue and groove flooring, to strengthen the subfloor, or to provide a continuous layer when laying small-format cladding (for example, tiles, PVC tiles, parquet).
Although the quality of oriented strand board is superior chipboard characteristics, this construction material is not suitable as a finishing floor covering:
Therefore, OSB is used more often as a subfloor:
In this case, you need to know how to properly attach OSB sheets to floorboards/joists and use offset seams in adjacent rows.
There are several types of oriented strand boards:
- OSB-2 – only for dry rooms;
- OSB-3 – can be used in rooms with high humidity;
- OSB-4 – for load-bearing structures.
Important! Since the subfloor has low maintainability, it is prohibited to use OSB-2. The slabs are additionally treated with antiseptic and hydro insulating material.
The main characteristics of oriented strand boards are:
- density – 630 kg/m³;
- thermal conductivity – 0.13 W/m*K;
- linear expansion – 0.15% at a humidity of 70%;
- straightness – 0.6 mm/m;
- the perpendicularity of the opposite sides of the sheet is within 3 mm;
- thickness deviation – 0.3 – 0.8 mm (ground, untreated, respectively).
Advice! Manufacturers produce slabs different sizes, which must be taken into account when purchasing in order to reduce cutting waste for specific dimensions and room configurations.
Installation technology
To lay it down correctly sheet material over an existing plank floor, the following conditions must be met:
Important! When laying parquet, PVC tiles, other small format claddings, the screw heads must be puttied.
Depending on the type of finishing floor covering, OSB boards are oriented towards wooden floor not the same:
- for small format decorative materials it should be ensured that the seams of tiles and PVC tiles do not coincide with the joints of OSB boards;
- when choosing laminate, tongue and groove, decking or parquet board ranks OSB is better lay across the direction of long claddings of the finishing layer or at an angle of 45 degrees for a diagonal layout (relevant in rooms with defects in the geometry of the walls).
Advice! On OSB it is allowed to apply a screed made of DSP or self-leveling floor. However, the surface of the oriented strand board must be pre-treated with a waterproofing material to avoid leaks into the lower floor and swelling of the structural material itself.
Finish flooring repair
The main problem with plank flooring is a floorboard or several boards, which develop a transverse “hump” during periodic changes in humidity or during drying. This leads to an increase in the repair budget:
In other words, OSB with a thickness of 22 mm or more should be used. This problem can be solved by preliminary grinding or scraping of the base:
- a grinder or sander will smooth out the “waves”;
- the contact area of the subfloor layers will sharply increase;
- You can get by with oriented strand boards of smaller thickness.
However, this is not always possible when the existing floor covering is thin.
OSB subfloor top layer
- provide level base for flooring;
- increase spatial rigidity and strength of the base;
- reduce labor and material consumption of work.
Unlike floorboards, self-tapping screws are screwed into OSB boards strictly vertically. When the hardware is tilted, a change in geometry and warping of the material over time may occur.
The main problems arise when opposite walls diverge (trapezoid instead of a rectangular room shape). In this case, it is necessary to mark the existing wooden floor in order to trim only the slabs of the first row:
Thus, structural OSB material Suitable both for creating the top layer of a subfloor and for repairing a finished floor covering made of tongue-and-groove boards if dismantling this cladding for some reason is not practical in the room. When choosing an oriented strand board, the labor intensity of the work is reduced, House master makes do with the existing arsenal of tools.
Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just submit in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and you will receive offers with prices from construction teams and companies by email. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.
OSB boards are a relatively new building material, which is widely used in construction and repair work. One way to use it is to use it as a floor covering. Due to its properties, such a coating has high strength and low weight, it is moisture resistant and has a low price, all this explains the growing popularity of this product. building material. In order for a floor covered with OSB to have a long service life, the material must be fastened correctly.
OSB board is inexpensive, quality material for flooring. It is durable, moisture-resistant, lightweight.
Features of choice
Currently available on the market big choice OSB, which differ in their properties and characteristics.
In order to do right choice, the following recommendations must be followed:
- Products from Canadian and European manufacturers are considered to be of the highest quality; they are produced according to modern technologies and meets the E1 standard (environmental safety);
- it is best if OSB-3 is laid (fastened) on the floor;
- on concrete surfaces it is necessary to use slabs up to 10 mm thick, for wooden covering their thickness depends on the distance between the logs.
Standard size OSB boards is 2440x1220 mm, so the required quantity is calculated based on the location, so that a minimum of waste is obtained. Using a circular saw it is easy to cut to the required size; using a jigsaw for this is not recommended, since it is not always possible to obtain an even cut with its help.
Laying OSB on a concrete floor
If your room has a concrete floor, then fix OSB as flooring material is a great solution.
After OSB has been laid on the concrete floor, you can install Decoration Materials: tiles, linoleum, laminate, parquet boards.
The main functions of OSB on a concrete floor:
When calculating the number of slabs, you need to take into account that losses when cutting a slab are 7-10%.
- leveling an imperfect floor surface, which usually has unevenness, height differences and other defects;
- reliable sound insulation, which is ensured by the multilayer structure of the material, which allows you to well absorb various noises;
- waterproofing and floor insulation. This material has a natural base, high heat-saving characteristics and moisture resistance.
If there are significant unevenness of the concrete coating, then the OSB board is fastened not immediately to the floor, but to wooden blocks, which play the role of lag.
To ensure maximum rigidity and resistance to deformation, it is better to use OSB boards with a thickness of 8-10 mm, laid in two layers. The layers must be laid offset; they are attached to each other using spiral nails or glue.
If the concrete floor is flat, then you can lay OSB directly on it; in this case, one layer will be enough; it is secured with self-tapping screws or dowels. Although the material is moisture resistant, partial absorption of moisture occurs and it expands slightly. To compensate for possible expansion or contraction, it is necessary to provide expansion gaps between the plates of up to 3 mm in size.
Processing material
OSB boards can be used as an independent floor covering, or they can be used as a base for laminate, linoleum or parquet.
This coating can also be used independently; for this, it is stripped, and then several layers of varnish are applied to it.
If roll materials are to be laid, then it is necessary to ensure a smooth transition at the joints; the slabs are taken with a minimum thickness. They try to make gaps from the side of the wall; they are treated with elastic sealant.
To cover the floor with tiles, the base must be completely motionless, so OSB must be laid especially carefully. The tiles are placed on a special glue, which ensures a reliable connection between the ceramics and wood.
OSB boards are very popular due to their characteristics, therefore they are very widely used in construction. Depending on the thickness, the slab can perform a load-bearing function even in a damp room. OSB boards consist of stacked, ordered small particles of wood held together by a binder. In that step by step guide we will show you how to install OSB correctly.
Since the composition of the OSB board is such that all its elements are laid in one direction and beautifully aligned, the OSB, even in its untreated state, looks harmonious and, in part, even modern. Besides, modern development technology in industry makes these panels particularly strong and resistant to external environment. Thus, the OSB panel is used for various purposes. Thin versions of OSB boards are used for the construction of partitions or wall decoration, also for cladding pitched roofs. Thicker slabs are used for flooring.
Tools:
- level
- folding ruler or tape measure
- pencil
- forceps
- screwdriver
- manual circular saw
- hammer
- bracket for laying laminate
- jigsaw
- Japanese saw
- OSB board with grooves
- waterproofing film
- aluminum adhesive tape
- soundproofing underlay
- rule
- wedges
If the floor is laid in a floating manner, this means that the OSB floor slabs should not be attached to the base, but only to each other. This prevents the floor from squeaking, which often occurs when the floor is made of wooden elements in a room where there is a constant change in air pressure and temperature. However, if the floor is laid in a floating manner, it can always expand and contract freely towards the walls without making annoying sounds.
Advantages of OSB boards
Manufacturers of this material produce slabs in four classifications. The first OSB - 1, are panels that are used for making furniture and interior decoration walls, are only suitable for use in low humidity.
OSB - 2 is used in dry rooms, but already has load-bearing properties.
OSB boards - 3, are laid in wet rooms as bases. They are ideal for floating installation in a loft or concrete surface.
The fourth class of OSB is a panel that can provide strong load-bearing properties in all areas, even in a damp room, such as a bathroom. These panels can be used if the beams in the attic are spaced far enough apart to create a strong floor. If the distance between the beams is a meter or more, then undoubtedly you need to use OSB - 4. Starting from a distance from the beam of about one meter, you should use these panels in any case.
OSB 3 – universal option for flooring
OSB third class is perfect option for flooring in your home. The material has many positive properties, but pay attention to the weight of the sheets. If you want to make a floor on the second floor or attic, raising this material to a height yourself will be difficult or even impossible. Depending on the thickness of the slab, the weight can be from 590 to 610 kilograms per cubic meter.
Sizes of slabs available for sale
- Tongue and groove board size 2500 x 625 mm - 12, 15, 18, 22 and 25 mm
- Size with straight ends 2500 x 1250 mm – 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22 and 25 mm
Preparatory stage
Advice: the optimal choice is not only to choose thicker OSB boards - 22 or 25 mm in size, but also, if possible, made with grooves and a tenon for connection. This way, you will get higher strength for a floor that will withstand greater weight loads.
Before starting work, check beams and boards for damage caused by worms or rot. If you install new flooring, you will no longer have access to these elements of the house and the ability to change or change anything.
Tip: When purchasing glue, pay attention to Note: Formaldehyde-free glue. This is a more environmentally friendly option, and should be taken even for non-residential premises.
Leveling the floor
An old floor or concrete floor that has been in use for many years will often be slightly uneven, so it will need to be leveled using a leveling layer before installing OSB panels. Otherwise, the slabs will sag or sag over time. It is possible that even with heavy load on the floor they may break.
Now in every hardware store you can buy various mixtures, including expanded clay or something similar.
Before leveling, you must install guides that are backfilled bulk material and are leveled by a rule or a large level, or finally flat board. At the end, you need to make sure that everything is level and packed tightly, without holes or protrusions.
When leveling you will need:
- fine expanded clay or leveling mixture
- guides
- rule
- level
Especially if OSB is laid on an old floor made of wooden planks, a vapor barrier is required between them. It's just a strong plastic film that you adhere with aluminum duct tape. The film should extend well onto the wall so that it will later be higher than your new OSB floor. After all work is completed, the film will be hidden behind the baseboard.
Laying sound insulation
If you are installing OSB not on the first floor, then you additionally need to install soundproofing material. Otherwise, your walking on the floor will be very audible in the room below you. Sound insulation is sold both in rolls and in small mats; it is not very expensive, so there is no need to omit this step.
Laying slabs - first row
Before installation OSB panels must have time to adapt to room temperature, also like laminate or parquet. Therefore, it is recommended to store the slabs indoors for at least 24 hours before installation to allow them to acclimatize.
Start laying from the longest wall of the room - from the left corner. For slabs that lie against the wall, the lock from the wall is cut off using a circular saw. Then the sheets are aligned along the wall, wedges are installed at a distance of about 80 centimeters from each other - between the plates and the wall to establish a gap of 1.5 to 2 centimeters - this is an expansion joint.
Tip: If you want to glue the floor, you first need to cut all the sheets for one row, and then apply a thin layer of glue to the joints of the groove and the lock. With the help of an iron bracket, the plates are moved into each other.
The last leaf in the first row should usually be trimmed. To ensure that the seams of the slabs do not fall directly into one row, the cut slab is used as the first element in the next row. Thus, a composition similar to brickwork. Always use enough wedges to ensure the floor is clamped on all sides.
If the remaining piece of sheet that fits in the next row is less than forty centimeters, it is better not to use it, but to find a more suitable half of the sheet.
Hardening and cleaning of glue
Leave the floor undisturbed for at least 24 hours to allow the adhesive to dry. Then you can remove the wedges near the walls. If the finishing coating - laminate, parquet, linoleum, etc. - will not be laid on the OSB, it should be painted or applied with wood wax.
Tip: use wedges good quality, preferably plastic. Wooden wedges partially split even with the first correct blow with a hammer. And soft fibers cannot support a large floating floor.
In a non-occupied attic, you don't have to worry about installing a floating floor, you can simply screw the sheets to the base.
If possible, drill holes for screws and go over the holes with a countersink. This way the screws will be recessed into OSB sheets, and you can't hit them with your shoes.
Tip: If the room is not heated, you should use screws that do not rust due to high humidity air. Screws made from of stainless steel, because they can be unscrewed even after several years of use in a humid environment.
Double OSB decking
In case of not very solid foundation from rotting boards or beams or with a large distance between them, experts recommend using two layers of OSB boards. For example, sheets with a thickness of 10 or 12 millimeters are taken, the first layer is screwed on, and then thinner sheets of 8 millimeters are attached in the opposite direction. In this case, it is necessary to carefully ensure that the seams of the plates never coincide.
An additional advantage of this method is the price, since sheets with a straight end cost less, and the small thickness of the sheets also saves money. Although the floor in this version will be thinner than a floating one, it will be much more stable and stronger.
OSB or OSB (oriented strand board) is a relatively new building material that has become a successful alternative to plywood and chipboard. The role of OSB is great in frame construction, during insulation standard houses. Especially often, OSB is used to form and level floor surfaces. Today we’ll talk about how to do this correctly.
Types of OSB boards and their characteristics
OSB – boards consisting of several layers pressed and glued with waterproof resins wood chips. Its gluing is carried out in 3 layers. In the outer layers, the chips are laid along the length of the panel, and inside - perpendicularly. This arrangement gives OSB strength and allows fasteners to be firmly held.
The following types of OSB are used in construction:
- OSB-2 – panels with low moisture resistance. They are used only for interior works in dry rooms.
- OSB-3 is a universal material. Withstands high humidity both indoors and outdoors. A large margin of safety allows it to be widely used in construction.
- OSB-4 is the most durable and moisture-resistant board. They are used to form load-bearing structures in conditions of high humidity.
For construction and leveling of floors, OSB-3 sheets are usually used, which can easily withstand the load from furniture, equipment, and people’s movement.
When leveling small floor defects, it is enough to use OSB boards 10 mm thick. Surfaces with significant bumps and potholes will require 10-15 mm of material. If you are going to create a floor on logs, then the thickness of the OSB boards used should be at least 15-25 mm.
Wood boards such as plywood and OSB are widely used for laying subfloors under the finishing coating. Let's compare these two materials in the following article: .
OSB boards are used as a smooth and durable base for various modern coatings - parquet, tiles, linoleum, laminate, carpet. The main functions of oriented strand boards are:
- Creating a floor surface. OSB is a popular material for creating subfloors on joists. In this case, the flooring of the slabs can be carried out both on the upper side of the joists and on the lower side.
- Leveling the surface. Installing OSB on a wooden or concrete floor will help create a completely flat surface suitable for laying finishing coatings.
- Thermal insulation of the floor. OSB board consists of 90% natural wood chips, which have high thermal insulation properties. Accordingly, an OSB floor does not allow heat to escape and retains it in the room.
- Noise insulation. The multilayer dense OSB structure reliably absorbs any type of noise.
Let's look at several popular technologies for laying OSB on different substrates.
Installation of OSB boards on a concrete floor (cement screed)
Let's start with the simplest situation - leveling a concrete base with OSB slabs. The work is carried out according to this scheme.
Sweep away debris from the concrete base and remove dust with a vacuum cleaner. The surface must be absolutely clean to ensure adhesion of the mounting adhesive. The base is coated with a primer. This also promotes better adhesion of the glue to the base. In addition, the primer creates a dense film on the surface, which does not allow the screed to “dust” during use.
OSB is laid out on the surface, if necessary, trimming is done with a jigsaw or circular saw. Rubber-based parquet adhesive is applied to the underside of OSB, using a notched trowel to ensure uniform application. Glue the sheets to the concrete base.
Additionally, OSB is fixed with driven dowels. To guarantee retention, dowels are driven in around the perimeter every 20-30 cm. If the floor is flat and installation is carried out in a dry living room, then it is enough to secure the dowels in the corners of each slab (subject to the mandatory use of high-quality glue!).
When laying, expansion joints 3 mm thick are left between the slabs. Along the perimeter of the room, between the OSB and the wall, the seam should be 12 mm. These gaps are necessary to compensate for temperature and humidity expansion (swelling) of the OSB during operation.
At the last stage of work, the OSB base is cleaned of dust and debris. The joints between the wall and the slabs are filled polyurethane foam. Its drying time is 3-4 hours. Excess dry foam that protrudes beyond the surface is cut off with a sharp knife.
Installation of OSB boards on plank flooring
Laying OSB on an old wooden floor helps level the surface and prepare it for installation of the finishing coating. Installation is carried out as follows:
- To begin with, using a level or a rule, determine the localization of irregularities (bulges, depressions) of the boardwalk.
- Boards that “walk” or rise too high general level, are attracted to the logs with dowels, recessing them into the material. In some cases, to eliminate creaking and unsteadiness of the boards, the floor has to be rebuilt and the joists replaced (repaired).
- Remove paint deposits from the flooring, erase swellings and protrusions with a sander or emery cloth.
- OSB boards are laid out on the floor, with the seams of each next row offset. There should be no cross-shaped joints! Expansion gaps are provided (between the plates - 3 mm, along the perimeter of the walls - 12 mm).
- Holes are drilled in the slabs. Their diameter should match the thread diameter of the wood screws that were chosen to fix the OSB to the floor. Holes are drilled along the perimeter of the slabs every 20-30 cm, and countersinking is performed for the screw heads.
- Use wood screws to attach the OSB to the floor. The recommended length of screws is at least 45 mm.
- If you want to make the floor more durable, install a second layer of OSB. The seams of the overlying and underlying layers should be laid with an offset of 20-30 cm.
- Deformation gaps near the walls are filled with polyurethane foam, which is cut off after drying.
This completes the process.
Laying OSB on joists on a concrete base
If there is a concrete base (for example, a floor slab), installing joists and covering them with OSB sheets allows you to create a flat floor without the use of wet leveling screeds. And also incorporate insulating, moisture- and noise-insulating materials into the structure.
Let's consider the technology of creating an OSB floor on logs on an existing concrete base. Logs (wooden blocks) are fixed to the concrete floor using dowels or anchors.
The wider the distance between the logs, the thicker the OSB boards used. If the pitch is 40 mm, then the minimum OSB thickness is 15-18 mm; if the pitch is 50 cm, the thickness is 18-22 mm; if 60 cm, the thickness is 22 mm or more.
Thanks to the lags between the OSB and concrete floor space is created. It can be put to good use by covering it with insulating material. For example, the floors of the first floors are often cold, so a thermal insulator can be laid between the joists: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, EPS, etc. If there is a wet basement under the ceiling, the floor structure is supplemented vapor barrier films or membranes.
OSB boards are laid across the joists. The seams between adjacent slabs (widthwise) should run strictly in the middle of the log. During installation, it is recommended to leave expansion gaps (3 mm between the slabs, 12 mm between the OSB and the wall)
The sheets are fixed to the joists with self-tapping screws or nails (spiral, ring). Spacing of fasteners: along the perimeter of the sheets – 15 mm, on intermediate (additional) supports – 30 mm. Nails (or self-tapping screws) fixing the boards around the perimeter are placed at a distance of at least 1 cm from the edge (so that the OSB does not crack). Fastening elements are selected so that their length is 2.5 times greater than the thickness of the plates used.
How to fasten OSB boards to joists in an ordinary city apartment, watch the video:
Creating a subfloor from OSB on joists
Laying OSB on wooden joists – the simplest way get a durable and reliable subfloor. This technology is especially appropriate for existing columnar, pile, or pile-screw foundations. Work order:
- Logs are installed on the foundation. The lag pitch must correspond to the thickness of the OSB boards used (the larger the pitch, the greater the thickness).
- Perform rough rolling of the floor. To do this, retaining bars are nailed along the joists, and OSB boards are laid and secured on them. The surface facing the ground is covered with waterproofing preparations, for example, bitumen mastic.
- A layer of vapor barrier is laid on top of the OSB.
- Stacked thermal insulation material, for example, polystyrene foam, boards mineral wool, ecowool, etc.
- Cover the insulation with another layer of OSB. Fastening is carried out in the same way as when laying OSB on logs on an existing concrete base (the technology is described in the previous paragraph).
At this point the work process is considered completed.
Processing OSB for different finishing coatings
A strong, hard and smooth surface makes OSB a universal base for everything. modern views finishing floor coverings. How to cover an OSB floor? Here are some popular solutions:
- Varnish or paint. In this case, OSB boards will act as finishing floors, which only require decorative finishing paint and varnish materials. OSB sheets do not require any additional preparation; it is enough to clean them from dust and apply 2-3 layers of varnish (paint).
- Roll materials - linoleum and carpet. When laying rolled materials, it is necessary to ensure that the joints between OSB boards are located flush with the rest of the surface. It is advisable to remove all irregularities using sanding paper. Compensation gaps should be filled with elastic sealant.
- Tile(ceramic, vinyl, quartz vinyl, rubber, etc.). In order for the tile to be held on the OSB base, it is necessary to ensure its immobility. To do this, logs are placed more often than required by the thickness of the sheets. The pitch between the fastening elements is also reduced. The tiles are glued to OSB using a special glue suitable for wooden surface and the tiles used.
- Laminate– a finishing coating that is fixed in a “floating” way, without rigidly fastening the lamellas. This coating is quite rigid, so there is no need to prepare OSB for it. Minor irregularities that may exist at the joints of the plates are leveled out by the substrate.
What exactly to choose is up to you.
Using OSB allows you to inexpensively and quickly level an existing wood or concrete floor. And if necessary, create it from scratch on logs. An OSB surface will not require expensive finishing, additional leveling, or coating with moisture-resistant compounds. This - great choice for those who want to create a high-quality floor with minimal effort.
More and more developers are using OSB boards (OSB, OSB) in construction. Despite some kinship with chipboard, this material is different unique characteristics waterproofness, strength and elasticity, and it is also much lighter than its predecessor. OSB is a further development of pressed wood chipboard, but rather long wood chips (up to 14 cm) are compressed into oriented strand board. Their thickness is less than a millimeter, but the chips in one layer are oriented in one direction, and the direction of the chips in each subsequent layer is perpendicular to the previous one, which significantly improves the properties of the material.
What slabs should I use for the floor?
OSB boards, the number of layers in which can reach 3 or 4, are pressed using non-mineral resins. Often, the use of formaldehyde-containing compounds in the production of OSB products makes it impossible to use slabs in finishing interior spaces, but sheets made according to the OSB-3 standard do not emit harmful substances and can be installed in rooms with high humidity. OSB boards of this type are best suited for floor installation. Experts recommend doing flooring from slabs produced well-known manufacturers. As a rule, the highest quality products are produced in European countries, Canada and the USA, where they most closely follow the environmental requirements for stoves.
An OSB floor can also be a finishing coating, since the external texture of the slab looks quite interesting.
It can be used for finishing with other materials. However, the installation of OSB itself requires preparatory stage. How to level the floor before laying OSB boards will be described below.
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Laying slabs on a concrete surface
Quite often, in order not to lose the height of the ceilings in the room, builders lay OSB on concrete screed. Of course, in this case the base must be level. Provide perfect surface You can remove the old coating and fill in a new one. Although oriented strand boards are not afraid of moisture, the base needs additional waterproofing. This will protect the space under the stove from the accumulation of condensation and the formation of fungus.
After laying the roofing felt or polyethylene surface cleaned of old screed, beacons are installed and secured with plaster. To level them, a level, a tapping cord, a tape measure and transverse threads are used. Now let's learn more about how to level the floor using these devices:
- A mark is made on the wall at some distance from the floor.
- Using water or laser level another mark is made on it.
- Using a cord rubbed with chalk, a horizontal line is drawn between the points.
- The same operations are performed on the remaining walls.
- A mark is placed at the height of the proposed screed.
- From the horizontal to it, the distance is measured with a ruler or tape measure.
- Dots are applied to the remaining walls.
- The marks are connected by lines.
- Self-tapping screws are screwed into the walls along the lines.
- Threads are pulled from fastener to fastener on opposite walls. This will be the screed plane. Beacon profiles are installed along them.
- Poured concrete is leveled using a rule. Its length should be wider than the gap between the beacons.
True, the solution will completely dry out 4 weeks after it is poured, but after that you can begin laying the OSB panels.
To install them on concrete base required:
- notched spatula;
- perforator;
- dowel-nails;
- screwdriver;
- hammer;
- parquet glue.
On a perfectly flat base, it is enough to lay one layer of 10 mm material. This is a good heat and sound insulator. The installation procedure is as follows.
- In preparation required amount OSB sheets. Their standard size-2.44 x 1.22 m. If necessary, the slabs are cut with a circular saw or jigsaw, however, when working with the latter, it is difficult to ensure even edges.
- Glue is applied to the OSB and spread over the surface with a spatula.
- The slabs are laid on the screed. It is imperative to leave a compensation gap of 3 mm between them.
- The corners of the OSB panels are drilled. Holes are also made in concrete. Dowels are inserted into them.
- The slabs are fixed to the floor with fasteners.
- It is enough to apply several protective layers of varnish to make the OSB floor look clean.
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Oriented strand base for finishing layer
If you decide to use OSB to level the floor under linoleum or other roll material, then the gaps between the plates must be sealed, but for this you need to use elastic compounds such as sealant. Laying laminate on an OSB surface does not require any additional preparatory activities. But laying tiles requires the panels to have a more rigid adhesion (tongue and groove) to each other. True, the tiles are laid on the OSB base when it is laid on the logs. In addition, OSB board is not able to provide reliable adhesion to ceramics. One more material needs to be laid on it, but more on that later. In general, making a gasket between the screed and ceramic tiles from oriented strand board is expensive and simply does not make sense. How to level an OSB floor on wooden joists, is described further.
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For beams it is necessary to choose the most even wood coniferous species(pine, spruce, larch or fir). Wood moisture content should not exceed 20%. If necessary, the beams should be dried under a canopy. For small rooms You can use logs with a cross section of 110 x 60 mm or 150 x 80 mm. If the span in the room is more than 5 m, beams 220 x 180 mm are used. It is desirable that entire joists be installed in the span. Joints are allowed as a last resort. Make them better overlap. On adjacent joists, the joints should be located no closer than ½ m from each other.
Now about the operating procedure:
- The log wood is treated with antiseptics.
- Roofing felt is laid overlapping on the base.
- 4 beams are laid horizontally along opposite walls. The horizontal line is drawn using a level and a tapping cord. The distance of the lag from the walls should be 2-3 cm.
- If the base has differences in height, then wooden pads are used to level the bottom frame. Protrusions in the ceiling are compensated by planing certain areas on the joists.
- The lower bars are attached to the base with anchor screws or bolts with a cross-section of 10 mm. Their length depends on the thickness of the timber and the lining (another 50 mm is added to them for fixation in concrete).
- Cross bars are attached to bottom harness using corners and screws. The step between them depends on the thickness of the OSB boards. For slabs of 15 mm thickness, the distance between the joists should be 450 mm, and for 18 mm - 600 mm.
- Expanded clay is poured into the sheathing or other insulation and sound insulation are placed.
- Before attaching the sheets, a moisture-repellent membrane is laid.
- OSB sheets are laid.
As a rule, 2 layers of oriented strand board are placed on the joists. The second layer is laid transversely to the first so that the joints do not coincide. The gap between the joints of the panels should be 3 mm. The gap between the wall and the OSB is 12 mm. The short edges of the slabs must meet on the support beams. The joints of the long sides must be supported. For better contact, the surfaces of OSB and beams are treated with assembly glue. The slabs are screwed to the joists with self-tapping screws along the short edges. The fastener pitch is 15 cm. Glue is applied between the upper and lower plates. Laying the top panels ends by screwing in self-tapping screws along the edges of each sheet.
When the surface is approved on the joists, you can return to the issue of laying tiles. OSB, although it does not provide a reliable connection to it, still serves as a solid base on which to lay cement bonded particle boards. They are attached to the previous coating using PVA and self-tapping screws. It is desirable that the joints of the DSP do not coincide with the joints of the previous layer. It is also necessary to maintain 2 mm compensating gaps between adjacent slabs, as well as between the DSP and the wall. After this, you can begin laying the tile covering.
Thus, the installation of an OSB floor and its leveling using this promising building material for subsequent finishing does not differ in particular complexity from other methods of installing flooring. It can be stated that OSB boards are not the best option when preparing the base for laying ceramic tiles, but otherwise oriented strand boards are ready to fully compete with both modern and traditional building materials.