OSB panels as flooring - this is how you use them

Use and advantages of OSB panels

• These OSB panels are mainly used for ceiling, roof and wall constructions as well as for shell and as Flooring used. They are offered in different sizes and strengths and as standard and installation panels. OSB boards are chipboards that differ from conventional chipboard only in that only about a third of the glue is used in their manufacture.
• These panels are characterized by high flexural strength, durability and stability compared to conventional chipboard. In terms of price, OSB panels are also significantly lower than the price of others. They are also very popular because of their unique structure.
• The disadvantage of this floor covering is that these panels can cause damage to health from the adhesives used (only the chip adhesive), as these formaldehyde evaporate. Improper installation and poor or incorrect grouting can also have detrimental effects and, under certain circumstances, lead to the formation of mold.
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Use of this chipboard as a floor covering

• Laying the OSB panels is no problem for somewhat experienced do-it-yourselfers. Before laying, you should store the OSB panels in the room to be laid for at least 48 hours. the Underground- and room temperature when laying this flooring should not be below 15 degrees and the humidity should not exceed 75%. You should not use these panels for floors with underfloor heating, as the heat would warp them.
• The floor covering is laid floating on dry screed. You should apply a vapor barrier made of at least 0.2 mm thick PE film and, if necessary, impact sound insulation between the screed floor and the OSB panels. The PE film must be laid with an overlap of around 40 cm. In addition, when laying the OSB panels equipped with tongue and groove, you should ensure that there is a 15 mm distance to the wall. This can easily be done with small wedges. Special joint glue is applied to the tongue, then tongue and groove are pushed into one another and fixed with a hammer. You should use a hardwood block and a pull bar to fix it in place, so you don't have to hit the panels directly, which would damage them.


Laying OSB panels - instructions

OSB panels are pressed together in several layers from long wood chips. She …

• If you want to lay the OSB panels on a beam system, the distance between the beams should not be greater than 60 cm. With this type of installation, the panels are connected by tongue and groove using special joint glue and then screwed tight. Here, too, you should ensure that there is sufficient distance to the wall. The right joint glue is also important here, as otherwise the panels could loosen. The floor covering can be walked on after 8 hours and fully loaded again after 24 hours.

If you use OSB panels as a sub-floor and later want to place carpeting on top, for example, you should also glue the panels to the wooden planks below. Whenever you lay OSB panels, you should always follow the panel manufacturer's installation guidelines.