Compare OSB and drywall

Drywall and OSB — slabs of gypsum and wood, respectively. They have a similar scope and are intended for wall cladding, slab shaping, leveling floors, creating ceilings and similar construction operations. However, with a general similarity, OSB and drywall are designed for different purposes.

To compare OSB and drywall, consider these materials in detail.

Advantages and disadvantages of OSB

OSB (in general, this material is called “OSB-boards”, from Oriented Strand Board — “oriented strand board”) are multilayer sheets that are 95% oriented chips. The remaining 5% of the composition is occupied by various fixing resins, boric acid for processing and synthetic wax for coating.

Since for the manufacture of OSB mainly waste and secondary products of woodworking, as well as synthetic impregnation, are used, this material has a low price. At the same time, the plates are distinguished by high mechanical strength and attractive appearance. As a result, they can be used both for structural work and for finishing.

The main advantages of OSB are:

1. Low price. These slabs are made from inexpensive materials, so that in themselves they are quite cheap;

2. High reliability. Due to impregnation with artificial resins, the strength of the material and resistance to both mechanical damage and the action of pests, fungi, mold and aggressive deforming chemicals are ensured;

3. Small mass. Thanks to this, OSB-plates can be placed on the walls without additional reinforcement;

4. visual appeal. The boards look exactly like natural wood, so they can be used for finishing work;

5. Moisture resistance. It is especially high for materials coated with artificial wax. It has a water repellent effect;

6. Good soundproof qualities. OSB-plates absorb noise from both sides, so that the room finished with them is quiet and comfortable.

However, OSB boards have and are quitean impressive list of shortcomings. Among them are:

1. Release of toxic substances. Artificial compounds, including boric acid and glue, lead to the release of volatile harmful substances. Boards under certain conditions can release formaldehyde and toxic resins — especially when heated. However, OSB-plates still emit less harmful substances than chipboard;

2. Low fire resistance. Wood burns, and OSB-plates are 95% made up of it;

3. Low vapor permeability. Moisture can accumulate under the installed OSB-plates, which negatively affects the building materials of the walls and floor.

Thus, it is recommended to use OSB boards in the following cases:

1. External wall cladding with simultaneous placement of other cladding materials;

2. Installation of draft floors;

3. wall cladding;

4. Solid roofing.

In addition, OSB boards can be used in the production of structural SIP panels. They will give these elements increased reliability, strength and excellent heat and noise insulation properties.

However, OSB-plates cannot be used for structural and finishing work in the bathroom, kitchen, toilet and attics. This is due to the low vapor permeability of the material, as well as the release of harmful substances by it when heated or in contact with hot objects.

Advantages and disadvantages of drywall

Gypsum board — plates that are made, as the name implies, from gypsum, covered with cardboard on both sides. The composition of the material usually includes about 91% gypsum and 6% cardboard, and the rest is additional impregnations. Or just water.

Drywall is used in structural and finishing works. So, it can be used for the construction of partitions, wall cladding and so on. In addition, it is widely used as a material for false ceilings in houses, apartments and offices.

The following advantages of drywall can be distinguished:

1. Ecological purity. The material is safe for nature, and for the environment, and for people. Unlike its predecessor, it does not emit harmful substances either when heated or simply during operation;

2. Light weight and easy installation. In principle, even one person can handle the task of “transferring a drywall sheet, sawing it and installing it on a wall or ceiling”;

3. Durability and mechanical strength. Plasterboard sheets serve for a long time, do not degrade on their own over time, and are also resistant to accidental mechanical stress;

4. Possibility of further finishing. Other finishing materials can be placed on top of drywall sheets — paint, wallpaper, tiles, artificial stone and much, much more;

5. Low price. Drywall sheets are cheaper than most other finishing materials.

It is worth noting that there are special types of drywall. For example, moisture resistant, which can be placed in the kitchen, attic or in the bathroom. Or refractory, capable of withstanding up to 40 minutes of exposure to open fire. Fire resistant sheets also exist.

However, drywall also has disadvantages:

1. Lack of bearing properties. Before hanging a heavy object on a wall or plasterboard partition — a TV, a mirror or a shelf — it must be prepared by installing a supporting frame;

2. Deformation. Sheets can bend, warp and break when trying to place massive objects on them;

3. Gypsum dust. When you try to cut a sheet of drywall, a huge amount of fine gypsum dust rises into the air. Therefore, such procedures can only be carried out in respirators.

4. It is worth noting that in some cases, the cut edges of the drywall sheet continue to emit dust even after installation. It is advisable to process the edges before placing their material on the frame to protect the room from dust.

Thus, drywall can be used in the following situations:

1. Alignment of walls in rooms. Suitable even for installation in the kitchen;

2. Installation of suspended ceilings of any complexity;

3. Construction of furniture, stands, shelves, decorative and practical elements.

Drywall is an almost universal material for decoration and construction. However, it is worth considering that it does not have load-bearing properties. And therefore, for some purposes — installation on a draft roof and draft floors, for example — it simply does not fit.

What to choose — OSB or drywall?

When choosing a suitable material, the following principles should be followed:

1. If load-bearing properties of any kind are required (from further laminate flooring to future placement of the TV), drywall will not work. Or it is worth preparing for its additional strengthening in various ways;

2. If moisture resistance and vapor permeability are required for finishing walls, floors or ceilings in the kitchen, bathroom or veranda, it is better to choose drywall, since OSB is not suitable for work in such premises;

3. It is better to place drywall in the children’s room, as it is environmentally friendly and safe.

4. In other cases, you should choose based on your situation, budget and plans for further finishing.