The construction market offers a lot of materials for floor design, as well as its alignment. As a basis, concrete screed or self-leveling mixtures are usually used . In this case, reliability and durability of the rough coating is achieved, on which decorative flooring can be laid. Nevertheless, the use of concrete screed is not always possible, and special solutions with the leveling effect are quite expensive. To replace the functions of both materials allows OSB-plate for the floor, which provides a solid margin of safety and is easy to install. Such a coating is a chipboard, which is made of long coniferous wood chips. In terms of performance, this material compares favorably with MDF and particleboard, although the cost of such a solution is also considerable. How justified is the use of such sheets as a floor covering and how to properly install them, it will help to understand the overview below.
Characteristics of OSB-plates
Manufacturers offer material in a wide range of sizes, but there are limitations. So, the size range is 24.4-28 cm in length and 6-25 cm in width. From the point of view of floor mounting, thickness is most important, which varies from 0.6 to 2.2 cm. This parameter is the main criterion of choice in this case, since the reliability and durability of the floor will depend on it. The greater the thickness, the higher the degree of stress that the OSB plate can withstand. The use of such panels for the floor is coupled with mechanical stresses that the wood-chip structure of the coating must resist. But as the thickness increases, the height of the room will also decrease, so it is important to strike a balance between strength and floor rise. Important and structural data of the material. The ends of the panels can be straight or grooved. The second option, by the way, involves a thorn-groove connection, which provides a high adhesion density.
Varieties of plates
There are several types of such plates. They differ in operational qualities, allowing you to take into account the specifics and operating conditions of the coating in a particular room. The simplest kind of material is the OSB-1 series, which has minimal bending modulus and can only be used in low humidity conditions. This is followed by an OSB plate for the second category floor, which can be used for the manufacture of load-bearing structures and subject to absolute dryness. In other words, this material is already suitable for laying on the floor. The OSB-3 stove, which combines the advantages of the first two options, is even more profitable in terms of reliability. Such sheets can be used as an element of the supporting structure, without paying attention to high humidity. The OSB-4 model is most advantageous in terms of its operational properties. In this case, increased strength and ability to withstand the abundant effects of moisture is noted.
Choosing the optimal OSB plate for the floor
The main thing when choosing this material is not to confuse floor models with tiles for decorative cladding and roofing. There are no special markings for the purpose of these panels, but it is quite possible to focus on categories. So, the optimal OSB plate for the floor has a third category. Such panels meet the requirements for strength and are able to withstand the effects of moisture. Of course, the quality of the flooring will only benefit if you purchase a model of the fourth category, but in this case, the cost will increase significantly. Another significant selection criterion is environmental friendliness. The addition of synthetic components and resins reduces the environmental safety of the material, but there are various options. The most harmless and closest to natural wood is considered a Canadian product that meets the European environmental standard E1.
Concrete laying technique
Work should begin with a thorough cleaning. The fact is that the panels will not be fixed using nails, but by means of landing on an adhesive base, therefore it is very important to ensure the cleanliness of the concrete surface. Even fine dust can affect the quality of adhesion, so it will not be superfluous to additionally vacuum the place of installation. Before starting the installation of the floor with an OSB-plate, primer concrete should be primed. This is done again to increase the adhesion of the adhesive. Next, the cutting of the material is carried out, followed by the marking of the laying area - so that deformation gaps of about 3-5 mm remain on the walls. Between panels the same intervals are made.
Laying of plates is done with offset joints in two adjacent elements. That is, cruciform zones should not form where the four corners of different panels converge. As for the adhesive means, it is desirable to use a rubber parquet composition. If you use an OSB plate for a floor whose thickness exceeds 2 cm, then it will not be out of place to provide additional fastening with the help of driven dowels.
Planking
In the case of wood, you can use fasteners in the form of nails. Hardware can be recessed into the board, as is the case with ordinary lags when fixed to the crate. As the operation is completed, work areas should be further developed using an electric or manual planer. Thanks to these tools, in particular, unevenness in the coating is eliminated. It should be borne in mind that leveling the wooden floor with an OSB-plate will provide a good result only if the rough board surface does not have serious defects. Therefore, a planer or grinder should be used before laying the panels. The configuration of the corners in this case is the same as in the case of concrete. At the final stage, grinding of the joints should be performed. Again, the best result will allow you to get only special equipment. For example, a vibrating sander provides high-quality processing, coupled with sanding grids for drywall.
Finishing preparation
Plates can be used both as a basis for further floor design, and as an independent finishing coating. In both cases, it is important to ensure the basic leveling of the floor with an OSB-plate, and then proceed to the final stage of finishing. So, if you plan to use the material as an upper finishing layer, then it will not be superfluous to give its surface an aesthetic appearance. This is done with the help of paints after cleaning the plates. It is enough to apply two layers of paint or varnish. If you plan to use a separate decorative coating, then special preparation may be required. For example, in the case of the installation of the laminate, it is desirable to lay the substrate, and before laying the roll materials, a smooth surface of the plates with a grinder is ensured. Laying of ceramic tiles with porcelain stoneware is also allowed, but such flooring should be performed only on thick OSB panels.
How much do OSB boards cost?
Prices vary over a fairly wide corridor. The specific figures are determined by many factors, including performance, size, manufacturer, etc. The cheapest category includes thin and demanding OSB boards for the floor - the price in this case can be 170-190 rubles. for 1 m 2 . These are models of the second and third class. If you need better material, then you should turn to the OSB-4 panels. In this category you can find high-strength coatings at a price of 300-350 rubles. per m 2 .
Reviews of OSB boards
Builders note that the material is easy to install due to its light weight and ease of processing. Plates are easily adapted to the dimensions of rooms of any configuration. From the point of view of operation, the material also proves worthy. But, unfortunately, it cannot do without certain flaws. For example, some owners of such coatings complain about the noise caused by the OSB plate for the floor. Reviews indicate that in combination with parquet and laminate such panels creak. As a rule, this is due to improper laying technology, in which the device of the substrate was not provided. It should also be borne in mind that OSB sheets cannot be used in rooms to which increased fire safety requirements are imposed.
Conclusion
The group of wood-based materials in the circles of specialists has long been considered obsolete. The functions of the same chipboard or MDF today are replaced by plastics, composites and technological mixes for floor laying. In turn, the OSB-plate for the floor can be considered as a more advanced means of decoration, the performance of which was enhanced by synthetic additives. On the one hand, this went to the advantage of the material, but on the other hand, the wood base has lost almost the only unique virtue in the form of naturalness. In essence, the texture of the wood and its appearance has been preserved, but otherwise such panels are a hybrid of the old chipboard and new synthetic building materials.