OSB vs Plywood Sheathing Choices

How do you choose between OSB and Plywood Sheathing? In this video I'll give you some recomendations and some tips for building a tight & durable house that will stand for generations. -Matt Risinger Risinger Homes in Austin, TX

[rabaham]

Yes, looks like you are doing the best of both worlds. Good job

[smh]

Man, only 33 thousand subscribers? Of all the people on Youtube you're probably one of the most knowledgeable when it comes to conventional framed structures. I watch your video's to get idea's on how to re-do older structures on my land and at friends places. Personally, if I was building my own home, I would just dig a basement into a hillside like a walkout basement with one exposed wall, and then use 4 foot thick tire bales with an R-Value of 160 for the one exterior wall, then shotcrete the inside and outside of the tire bales with concrete (and of course there would be a rebar, re-mesh, and chicken wire latticework to hold everything together over the bales). Then I would make the "roof" out of shipping containers. Shipping containers cost 7 dollars a square foot to buy.

But then again, I'm not a normal person.

[buildshow]

Very welcome. Appreciate your taking the time to comment with positive thoughts. Best, Matt

[buildshow]

Thanks so much! These kind comments keep me motivated to make videos... Best, Matt

[bobbackstein]

Great video Matt; well said. I was a home inspector for 24 years, and I totally agree. On one of your future videos you may want to suggest plywood of other soffit board in the eves. Sometimes I see ODB in the eves and it just does not hold up.

[cmm]

No doubt, budgets are always the deciding factor. If I had it my way, I would spec marine grade plywood, primed 6 sides, then glued and screwed. I love that you are taping the seams on the exterior sheathing, and also along the stem wall to framing connection. I can look at your work and see that you and your team are providing a quality product; I just hope that the homeowners can truly appreciate and recognize it too. Thanks again for sharing.

[buildshow]

I prefer Outsulation. Put on a 1-4" layer of PolyIso on top of your Tyvek Commercial D and you've got a super-insulated house for Texas. I also like that the WRB is fully protected. Best, Matt

[HondoTrailside]

OSB is only more moisture resistant because it is coated. It needs to be coated because it is otherwise horrible in a wet environment, cut edges are not coated so water will get in there and through nail holes, for instance after a re-roof. By the time all the membranes and other systems are implemented the cost advantage largely goes away. Of course the strategies are good for other issues like air infiltration, ice dams, etc...

This is a good summary of the comparative advantages, even pretty reasonable since the recent findings against OSB, and removal from some codes. Well done.

Two minor points, if you see high end homes being built it is plywood, often heavy stuff all the way, like 1". Particularly in places near the mills like in Whistler BC.

If you are doing your own building for your own use other factors than a few bucks may intrude. So for instance the pleasure of working with nice wood and not covering your property with toxic glues; the cost difference is a lot on a big project, but I am building a small addition there are only about 14 sheets of ply in it, at about 15 dollars more. That is more, but if I was paying someone to do it, it would be 20-40K minimum, my cost will be sub 3K, just how cheap do I need to be; prefer not to have off-gassing every time the sun hits the building; find it easier to move the lighter panels. My main point is that while production building has one set of rules home building has another. Home builders may want to think creatively about that.

[steventhury]

Good videos by Matt. Makes common sense for builder and homeowner.

[jonienglish]

Good Video Matt
i will use 1/2 Plywood for my 1st Build : 12"x10 ' Backyard shed with a HIP ROOF 4:12 Slope

[godbluffvdgg]

Being a builder for many years, I can appreciate the attention to detail at what I view as the second most important in the building envelope; with the foundation naturally being the first...:)...Sweet job and if it's done right like that, you can sleep easy every night! If you build quality, they will come...

[danielsan]

Great channel with awesome knowledge that a architectural technologist can admire.

[willytrouble]

Great video. They would never build a home like this here in the midwest (Iowa). We moved here last year and couldn't find a home that wasn't completely built from OSB, floor joists included. The place we ended up buying has been a nightmare. Built in 2000 and had to replace all of the exterior doors/frames and underlaying OSB due to water damage. Very poor quality construction compared to what I'm used to seeing in the south (Georgia), at 2X the cost. But, you have to live somewhere. As long as the house stays glued together long enough for us to sell it in 2 more years, that's all I'm worried about. The midwest really sucks. Never coming back.

[buildshow]

No, that's why I use the "Crinkly" version of Tyvek called Commercial D or Drainwrap. It provides a gap behind the foam between the tyvek and foam to drain any moisture that gets into the cavity. I did another video a year ago and tested that in the field with red food dye in water. It worked amazingly well. Best, Matt

[roberttrainor]

matt. thanks for a great video. its nice to see that some home builders still put quality up front and i do like your approach to being cost effective but making that 2nd to quality. anyone who you build a home for should sleep well at night. thanks again

[eloneatmyshorts]

Although I'm just an average homeowner, I love learning these type of info Matt. I gives me understanding of our current house and what to look for if we ever to build ground up. Keep up with the great vidsl!

[joshuahogan]

I really like this system…only thing I would mention is to you use all hot dipped nails at the entire portion where the marine grade plywood is installed, including all hood down straps….that perimeter water resistant tape and primer is a great looking system

[buildshow]

I agree the sheathing is NOT supposed to be getting wet, but my point is that plywood over the next 100-300 years is a more durable product. I use the pressure treated on the bottom 2' because that's where I've seen the most damage when remodeling. See my other videos for "proper building wrap details". Matt

[gregorysampson]

8 years ago. Man! Huber wasn't even mentioned! Who'd have guessed.
Plywood is my preference- I used to be a roofer.
Frankly 1x sheathing is the best.

[buildshow]

I'm not familiar with that method for termite control, but as long as it's flush with the shear wall it should be able to be covered. Matt