OSB installation on the floor without lag. OSB (OSB) floor boards

More and more developers are using OSB boards (OSB, OSB) in the construction. Despite some kinship with chipboard, this material has unique characteristics of water resistance, strength and elasticity, besides, it is much lighter than its predecessor. OSB is a further development of pressed wood chipboard, but rather long wood chips (up to 14 cm) are pressed in 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 next layer is perpendicular to the previous one, which significantly improves the properties of the material.

What tiles to 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 boards in interior decoration, but sheets made according to the OSB-3 standard do not emit harmful substances and can be mounted in rooms with high humidity. OSB boards of this type are best suited for floor installation. Experts recommend making flooring from plates produced by well-known manufacturers. As a rule, the highest quality products are produced in European countries, Canada and the USA, which most closely follow the environmental requirements for plates.

An OSB floor can also be a topcoat, as the outer texture of the slab looks quite interesting.

With it, you can finish with other materials. Nevertheless, the installation of OSB itself requires a 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 a concrete screed. Of course, in this case, the base must be even. You can ensure a perfect surface by removing the old coating and filling 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 condensate and the formation of fungus.

After laying on the surface of the roofing material or polyethylene cleaned from the old screed, beacons are installed and fixed with gypsum. For their alignment, a level, a chopping cord, a tape measure and transverse threads are used. Now more about how to level the floor with these tools:

At some distance from the floor, a mark is made on the wall.
Using a water or laser level, another mark is made on it.
With a cord rubbed with chalk, a horizontal line is beaten off 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 with a ruler or tape measure, the distance is measured.
Points 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 on them.
The poured concrete is leveled using a rule. Its length should be wider than the gap between the beacons.

True, the complete drying of the solution will occur 4 weeks after it is poured, but after that you can start laying the OSB panels.

For their installation on a concrete base, you need:

notched trowel;
perforator;
dowel-nails;
screwdriver;
a hammer;
parquet glue.

On a perfectly even base, it is enough to lay one layer of 10 mm material. It is a good heat and noise insulator. The installation order is as follows.

The required number of OSB sheets is being prepared. Their standard size is 2.44 x 1.22 m. If necessary, the plates are cut with a circular saw or a jigsaw, however, working with the latter, it is difficult to ensure smooth edges.
Glue is applied to the OSB and spread over the surface with a spatula.
Plates are laid on the screed. Between them it is necessary to leave a compensation gap of 3 mm.
OSB panels are drilled in the corners. Holes are made in concrete. Dowels are inserted into them.
Plates are fixed to the floor with fasteners.
It is enough to apply several protective layers of varnish to make the OSB floor finish.

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Oriented strand base for finishing layer

If you decide, using OSB, to level the floor under linoleum or other rolled material, then the gaps between the plates must be wiped, but for this you need to use elastic compounds like sealant. Laying a laminate on an OSB surface does not require any additional preparatory measures. But laying tiles requires the panels to have a more rigid grip (thorn-groove) with each other. True, the tile spreads on the OSB base when it is laid on the logs. In addition, OSB-plate is not able to provide reliable adhesion to ceramics. You need to lay one more material on it, but more on that later. In general, making a gasket between the screed and ceramic tiles from an oriented strand board is expensive and simply does not make sense. How to level the OSB floor on wooden logs is described further.

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For beams, it is necessary to choose the most even softwood (pine, spruce, larch or fir). The moisture content of wood should not exceed 20%. If necessary, the bars must be dried under a canopy. For small rooms, logs with a section of 110 x 60 mm or 150 x 80 mm can be used. If the span in the room is more than 5 m, bars 220 x 180 mm are used. It is desirable that entire logs be installed in the span. Joints are allowed as a last resort. Make them overlap better. On adjacent logs, the joints should be located no closer than ½ m from each other.

Now about the order of work:

Log wood is treated with antiseptics.
Roofing material is overlapped on the base.
4 beams are laid horizontally along opposite walls. The horizontal is displayed using a level and a chopping cord. The lag distance from the walls should be 2-3 cm.
If the base has differences in height, then wooden linings are used to align the lower trim. The protrusions in the ceiling are compensated by shaping certain areas on the logs.
The lower bars are attached to the base with anchor screws or bolts with a section of 10 mm. Their length depends on the thickness of the beam and lining (another 50 mm is added to them for fixing in concrete).
The cross bars are attached to the lower trim with the help of corners and self-tapping screws. The step between them depends on the thickness of the OSB boards. For slabs of 15 mm thickness, the distance between the lags should be 450 mm, and for 18 mm - 600 mm.
Expanded clay is poured into the crate or another insulation and sound insulator is laid.
Before fastening 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 logs. 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 be joined at the support bars. The joints of the long sides must be on supports. For better contact, the surfaces of OSB and beams are treated with mounting glue. The plates are screwed to the lags with self-tapping screws along the short edges. Fastening pitch - 15 cm. Glue is applied between the upper and lower plates. Laying the top panels ends with screwing screws along the edges of each sheet.

When the surface is approved on the logs, you can return to the issue of laying the tiles. OSB, although they do not provide a reliable connection with it, still serve as a solid base on which cement-bonded particle boards are laid. They are attached to the previous coating with PVA and self-tapping screws. It is desirable that the joints of the DSP do not coincide with the joints of the previous layer. Compensating gaps of 2 mm must also be maintained between adjacent boards, as well as between the DSP and the wall. After that, you can already start laying the tiling.

Thus, installing an OSB floor and leveling it with this promising building material for subsequent finishing is not particularly difficult from other flooring installation methods. It can be stated that OSB boards are not the best option when preparing a substrate for laying ceramic tiles, but otherwise oriented strand boards are ready for full-fledged competition with both modern and traditional building materials.

04.07.2017

OSB boards are very popular and in demand today. They can easily level even the most curved surface. Laying OSB on a wooden floor makes it stronger and warmer. On such a base, you can mount almost any decorative coating. Most often it is used as a base under the laminate.

Material advantages

Among the advantages of the product are:

High density, which does not allow rodents to damage the OSB.
Moisture resistant. This makes it possible to lay sheets in unheated rooms or baths.
Thanks to good pressing OSB does not crumble.
Resistance to the influence of biological factors.
Environmental Safety. The elements are made from wood shavings, so they are natural.

Ease of installation. You don't need to have additional skills. Installation can be done by anyone who knows how to use a level, hammer and hacksaw.
Saving money. By itself, the OSB sheet has a low cost. In addition, one element is able to cover a fairly large area.
High level of reliability. OSB makes it possible to firmly fix almost any fastener. At the same time, it does not deform during prolonged use, and is able to withstand additional loads.
Can be used for finishing by any means, especially laminate.

Features of choice

In order for the floor to turn out to be of high quality, it is worth choosing the right sheets. When buying, consider the following criteria:

Manufacturer. Experienced builders prefer a Canadian or European manufacturer.
Element sizes. The following parameters are standard: 2.44 × 1.22 m.
Thickness. This criterion is very important and depends on the base of the room. For example, in the case of a concrete screed, you will need a slab no more than 1 cm thick. If the base is wooden, then it is better to give preference to a thicker material - up to 2.5 cm (it all depends on the distance between the lags).
Plate type. The most common material is OSB - 3. It is easiest to find it in stores. Installation of such plates is made simply and quickly even at home.

OSB installation technology

Features of laying the product on a concrete base.

This process consists of several stages:

Foundation preparation. The floor needs to be well vacuumed. The fact is that dust can interfere with good adhesion. This operation is important for the subsequent fine finishing of any coatings, even laminate.
Primer. You can use any substance. Everything depends on your needs. Perhaps a means of deep penetration is needed.
Open sheets. Here it is necessary to take into account the technological gap at the wall, which is 5 mm. This is necessary to compensate for changes in the size of the plates under the influence of moisture. It is also desirable to provide such gaps between parts of the elements.
Product installation. For this, rubber-based glue and driven dowels are used. Before laying the sheets, remember that they must lie with the transverse seams offset.

If the floor is level or a special mortar has been used to achieve the optimum level, one coat of OSB will suffice.

Features of laying on a wooden floor

Such a floor can be found in old houses. Before laying the sheets, it is necessary to treat the surface. Particular attention should be paid to nails: they are drowned into the board. To do this, use a hammer and a steel bolt. Its diameter should be equal to the size of the nail.

If the boards warped during the period of use, then they must be leveled. For this you will need a planer.

Next, lay out the cut sheets, not forgetting about the offset of the seams. For fixing OSB, it is better to use self-tapping screws, 4 cm long. There should be a distance of about 30 cm between fasteners. Self-tapping screws should also be drowned inside the plates.

After completing the work, try to grind the joints of the material. You can do it manually if the room has a small area. If the room is large, then it is better to use an electric grinder. For maximum effect, you can use a vibrating machine with a sanding grid for drywall. The plate is processed very carefully so that notches appear on its surface.

It is better to fill all unnecessary gaps with mounting foam. Mineral wool can be used as a heater.

How should the surface be treated after installation?

Sheets can also be used as a finishing coating. But most often the plates are the basis for the subsequent laying of other decorative materials. In this case, they need to be further processed. It all depends on the type of finish:

Tile. The main requirement for the foundation is its immobility. To ensure it, try to make the installation of the lag so that there is a minimum distance between them. In addition, it is desirable to use elements with grooves for more durable fastening between them. Tiles should be mounted with a special adhesive that can hold ceramics and wood together.
Carpet. This material requires a very smooth transition at the joints. Otherwise, all the bumps will be visible on the fine finish. To fix this problem, try to make the installation with the thinnest sheets, seal the seams between which with sealant. In this case, it is better to make gaps from the walls.
Laminate. There are no strict requirements here, since the finishing material itself has sufficient strength and rigidity. Laminate is also attached with glue.

Wood is the most popular material for arranging floors in most houses in the post-Soviet space. Methods for leveling an old wood floor may be required for further installation of laminate or other flooring. This can be done in several ways.

Leveling a wooden floor with putty

A more radical way is to use a log for laying a plywood sheet. To level the wooden floor with plywood, it is necessary to set the logs in one plane. The plywood sheet itself is finally laid on a crate of 3 longitudinal logs and 3 transverse crossbars, the distance between which is 15-20 cm. This is the most popular way to level the floor with plywood.

Sheets of leveling material are usually laid on top of the lags in a couple of layers, shifting their joints. There should be a gap of at least 2 cm between the wall and plywood sheets. Yes, and between the sheets themselves, it is recommended to make compensation distances of 2-3 cm. So plywood will better tolerate high humidity and temperature changes, it will not be when walking. Plywood sheets are attached to the logs and to each other with self-tapping screws, which are installed in increments of 5-10 cm.

Additionally, it is recommended to use PVA glue between plywood layers. The layers can be stacked on top of each other or offset technology can be used, as in brickwork. When using the second option - working waste is minimal. After laying, you only need to putty the gaps. As a result of such work, you will get a perfectly flat floor, ready for laying any floor coverings.

Leveling a wooden floor with an OSB slab

OSB boards are used in cases where, for some reason, it is impossible to do the same by pouring the floor with a cement-based mixture. Giving perfect smoothness to the surface with OSB boards is a quick way to level a wooden floor with your own hands. It will require:

lags;
OSB boards;
screws or nails;
dowel;
jigsaw;
a powerful drill, and preferably a hammer drill.

Logs are installed and fixed with dowels to the floor. Wooden wedges can be used to adjust the installation height. They must be securely fastened. The logs are installed in such a way that on each one it is possible to fix two edges of adjacent OSB boards. Logs must be 100% dry.

It is recommended to soak them in advance with a solution for wood. Do not forget that the base of the floor must be prepared accordingly - there are many means to protect it from the occurrence of mold or fungus. For example, a solution of copper sulfate or a primer mixture.

The resulting voids between the slabs and the floor can be filled with foam or expanded clay. The second option is better: expanded clay is a more environmentally friendly material, and rodents will not be able to do anything with it. Installation of OSB plates is carried out by screwing them to the logs with wood screws.

It is important to avoid joints between the plates in the form of crosses. The gaps between them should be 2-3 mm, and the distance from the walls should be about 15 mm. Thus, the plates are not deformed under the influence of humidity and temperature changes. On the finished OSB base, you can lay any floor material. Only ceramics and finishes, for which cement or grouts are used, are excluded.

OSB flooring is an orientational strand board flooring, which is made from several layers of wood chips (mainly pine). Also in the composition of the panels there is resin, synthetic wax. Plates are three-layer, produced under the influence of pressure and high temperatures.

Pros and cons of OSB flooring

Every year the demand for OSB boards is growing, which is not surprising, because the material has the following advantages:

High level of panel strength. It is achieved due to the fact that in different layers of the board the chips are perpendicular. With the right choice of tile thickness, the structure will be able to withstand large power loads.
Lightweight panels. The standard weight of a whole board is no more than 20 kilograms. Such material can be lifted independently, you do not have to hire a special team.
The structure is resilient and flexible, which allows you to bend the boards without fear that they will break. This is very handy if you want to make OSB floors with rounded or other shapes, as well as when working with uneven surfaces.
The panels have a high degree of moisture resistance. This effect is achieved through the treatment of boards with resins. When compared with other wooden building materials, this board will be less deformed when in contact with water or moisture.
OSB is convenient and easy to work with. Panels can be installed using simple construction tools - saws, drills and screwdrivers. The cuts are even, no additional processing is required for them. On the OSB, various fasteners are well fixed - nails and self-tapping screws. Installation of plates will not take much time.
The material has high performance in thermal insulation. Since OSB boards contain more than 90% natural wood chips, they perform the function of floor insulation. Therefore, such a floor covering will not allow heat to quickly evaporate and will maintain a stable temperature in the room.
OSB provide a good level of sound insulation. The panels are multi-layered, thanks to which they absorb any noise well.
Resistant to chemicals due to resin treatment.
Particle boards are environmentally friendly. They are impregnated with special solutions that will not allow fungus or mold to form on the boards.
OSB panels are budget and affordable.
OSB flooring perfectly levels the surface. The slabs can be installed on a wooden or concrete floor, thus creating an even surface, on which the main finishing material can already be laid on top.
They have a stylish color "under the tree", so that they do not require additional design processing.

There are not many shortcomings in the material. Of these, the following can be noted: when cutting boards, it is necessary to work in a mask or respirator, since wood chips and dust are harmful to the respiratory organs. Moreover, some types of low-quality panels can release dangerous carcinogens when working with them.

In addition, an OSB subfloor may contain a synthetic substance such as phenol. But in the last few years, manufacturers have been actively solving this problem and are switching to the production of formaldehyde-free panels. Such material is considered absolutely safe for human health. On its packaging you will find the label "Eco" or "Green".

The main types of OSB for the floor

OSB is a panel consisting of three layers of wood chips, which are pressed and glued together with a waterproof resin during production. The direction of the chips inside the boards alternate: first along, then perpendicularly. Thanks to this arrangement, the plates are strong and hold the elements of the fastening system well.

In construction work, several types of OSB are used:

OSB-2. Such plates have a low level of water resistance, so they are used only for interior decoration of dry rooms.
OSB-3. These are universal boards. They are resistant to high humidity both indoors and outdoors. The material is very dense, therefore it is used in construction work of any complexity.
OSB-4 panels. The most durable and moisture resistant type of plates. Often they are used to create structures in rooms with a high level of humidity.

Features of the choice of OSB boards for the floor

The most versatile material for flooring in a residential area is OSB-3. It is recommended to choose products manufactured by Western European manufacturers. Such panels meet European quality standards and have a high density.

The thickness of the OSB floor slab can be different, but in order for the panels to retain heat well, perform soundproofing functions, and also level the surface, it is recommended to choose products with a thickness of eight to ten millimeters. When mounting boards on logs, the recommended thickness of the panels is 16-19 mm. OSP-3 boards withstand various power loads and people's movements well.

To well level small defects in the flooring, it is enough to use a material ten millimeters thick. If the floor is with strong bumps and cracks, then 15-25 mm slabs will be required.

OSB is often used on the floor under linoleum, parquet, tile or laminate. This material serves as a high-quality and durable basis for a decorative coating.

Technology for mounting OSB boards on logs

The choice of material and floor design depends on the purpose of the room, its characteristics. As a rule, two main types of laying OSB boards are used - on logs and directly on a concrete screed.

Advantages and disadvantages of fastening OSB panels to logs

This version of the installation of the subfloor is quite simple, it can be done in a few days on your own. OSB panels are dense, resistant to crumbling, moisture resistant, not afraid of contact with biological and chemical substances and, most importantly, perfectly attached to the bars.

OSB joist floors are a great alternative to concrete screed. Such installation allows you to save money on building materials. In addition, the surface can be easily insulated, and the wiring of communications will not cause problems - they can simply be placed in the cracks between the wooden bars.

The advantages of laying OSB on logs include the fact that with their help the bases are perfectly leveled even with the sharpest drops themselves. It turns out a smooth surface, and the floor structure is not weighted. If some panels become unusable, they can be easily replaced.

Of the disadvantages of this installation method, it can only be noted that the whole structure turns out to be quite high, about 90-95 mm, and this will make the room lower.

Preparatory work before laying OSB on logs

The beginning of installation work is the preparation of the foundation. First of all, we inspect the floor for damage, cracks, chips, depressions, mold and mildew. If large defects are found, then they should be removed before laying the logs. Minor flaws can be left, since the height of the lags will hide them anyway.

Mold and fungus must be removed without fail. If this is not done, microorganisms will attack the logs, and eventually the OSB boards. This will lead to premature damage to the flooring. All debris from the floor surface should be removed.

Logs can be installed on the floor with a slope, but the maximum slope level should be 0.2%. To determine the angle, you must use a water level or a long building one. If too large slopes are found, they should be leveled with a self-levelling compound.

The procedure for installing lags on the floor

The dimensions of the bars for lags are always calculated according to individual measurements. In this case, the products must be of the same dimensions.

After they are prepared, proceed to the installation according to the following scheme:

We install wooden beams around the entire perimeter of the room, fix them at the same distance from each other - 40 centimeters.
The distance between the wall and the material should be no more than twenty centimeters.
We fasten the logs to the base of the floor with bolts or self-tapping screws.
The upper surfaces of the lags must be in a strictly horizontal plane. Their evenness should be periodically checked by the building level.
If the room is damp enough, then the bars must be treated with protective agents against mold and fungus.
If necessary, we put insulation in the gaps.

How to fix OSB on logs

For laying OSB panels on the floor, you will need construction tools such as a tape measure, a hammer, a water level, a jigsaw and a puncher. Also, for the installation process, prepare special fastening systems for woodworking and a nail puller.

Laying on the floor should be oriented strand boards with simple edges. Well, if they have grooves that will help fasten the panels together. To correctly calculate the required number of sheets, consider the fact that seven percent of the material will be lost during cutting.

Do-it-yourself OSB floors are easy to install according to the following instructions:

The plates are laid across the lags.
The seams between the panels should be minimal and go clearly in the center of the log. Between the OSB, you need to leave a distance of about two millimeters so that the floor does not deform over time and does not begin to creak.
Between the OSB plate and the wall we leave a larger gap - 12 millimeters.
We fix the panels to the beams by means of self-tapping screws or nails (ring, spiral).
The step of fixing the plates to the floor logs is 15-20 cm.
Fasteners that hold the plate around the perimeter are located at a distance of about 1 centimeter from the edge. This is necessary so that it does not crack.
The length of self-tapping screws or nails should be 2.5 times greater than the thickness of the plate.
The gaps formed between the walls and the rough floor covering must be filled with building foam or mineral wool.

Thus, with the help of OSB boards laid on logs, it is possible to prepare a rough base for further laying parquet, tiles or carpet on it.

Laying OSB panels on a concrete screed

The procedure for installing OSB boards on a concrete floor is preceded by a preparatory stage. From the base it is necessary to remove debris and dust. In order for the adhesive to adhere well, the surface must be clean. The base is covered with a primer. It will help the glue to better adhere to the panels, and will also prevent the screed from “dusting” during operation.

The panels are laid out on the floor surface. If necessary, cut the OSB with a jigsaw or saw.
Next, apply glue to the inside of the plate. To spread the product evenly over the surface, use a notched trowel.
We glue the chipboards on the concrete base. Additionally, they can be fixed with the help of driven dowels, which should be placed every half a meter.
Between each plate we leave an expansion joint, two millimeters thick.
Between the walls in the room and wooden boards, the gap is no more than 13 mm. These seams are necessary so that during the operation of the coating no swelling occurs due to temperature and humidity changes.
The last step in installing OSB boards on the floor is cleaning the panels from debris. We also carry out sealing of all formed seams with the help of mounting foam. It dries in three to four hours. Remove excess foam from the coating with a sharp knife.

Decorative flooring made of OSB boards

After the installation of OSB boards on the floor is completely completed, you can start finishing the flooring. If you plan to leave such a floor as the main one, then as an option, the surface can be completely varnished or painted, and skirting boards can be installed around the perimeter.

No additional preparation of OSB for painting is required. It is only necessary to clean the floor of dust and cover it with a couple of layers of varnish or paint. This can be done with a roller or a sprayer. Hard-to-reach places should be painted over with a brush.

There are panels that are more expensive, but they are already available with a glossy finish. Finishing such a coating will be very simple: just ennoble the perimeter of the room with a plinth - and that's it, the floor is ready for use.

If you are laying roll materials on top of the plates, for example, carpet or linoleum, then make sure that all joints between the OSB panels are flush with the entire surface and do not protrude anywhere. Any small irregularities can be removed with sanding paper. Compensation gaps must be filled with elastic sealant.

For laying over OSB laminate, it is not necessary to prepare the panels. Small unevenness at the joints will be leveled by the substrate.

How to lay OSB on the floor - look at the video:

Installation of OSB boards is a way to inexpensively and efficiently level a concrete base. And if there is a need, then create a floor from scratch, fixing the panels on the logs. Such a coating does not need expensive finishing or impregnation with moisture-resistant solutions, and you can even lay it yourself.

OSB is one of the relatively new materials used in construction and finishing works, moreover, OSB has recently become increasingly popular among builders and private developers. OSB is laid on a wooden floor, as well as on concrete bases. The material is characterized by lightness and increased strength, in comparison with analogues, their structure is able to perfectly withstand the effects of moisture. It is easy to install OSB, and the cost of these products is very low.

OSB is a moisture resistant material, which indicates its increased strength.

Mounting Features

When arranging floors, it is preferable to use OSB-3 brand boards, as they are characterized by high density and moisture resistance.

Figure 1. Floor installation using OSB boards.

If the floor is leveled with OSB on the surface of a concrete screed, then a material should be used whose thickness does not exceed 10 mm, but if the plates are mounted on the base of wooden logs, then more massive products should be used, the thickness of which will determine the step between the reinforced logs. The material for laying on the logs should have a thickness of 15-18 mm, if the distance between them does not exceed 0.5 meters. But if the step between the lags is above 60 cm, then the plates should have a thickness in the range of 22-25 mm. On fig. 1 you can see how the floor should be arranged using OSB boards.

The standard dimensions of products, called OSB, are 2440x1220 mm. The plates are easy to cut, for this you should use a circular saw, but it is better to refuse the use of an electric jigsaw in the process of work, since it does not allow you to get an even cut line, which is especially important for further laying linoleum.

Tools and materials

glassine;
a circular saw;
glue;
dowels;
self-tapping screws;
level;
pencil;
nails.

Leveling a concrete floor with OSB

OSB floor leveling allows you to get an excellent base for laying various finishing coatings, including: linoleum, ceramics, laminate, parquet. In addition to leveling, these products are able to provide sound insulation, which becomes possible due to the multilayer dense structure of the material. OSB boards insulate and waterproof the floor well. If there is a concrete screed as a subfloor, wooden blocks are laid on the latter, acting as floor logs, in addition, wooden logs help to smooth out the errors of the concrete base.

In order to obtain the proper rigidity of the floor and its resistance to deformation, it is preferable to cover the OSB surface with slabs laid in 2 layers.
In addition, each plate should have a slight thickness - within 8-10 mm. In the second row, the slab should be laid on the OSB floor with some offset so that the seams between the rows do not match. The layers of material should be fastened using a special adhesive, which can be replaced with fasteners in the form of spiral or ring nails.

It is possible to cover the concrete surface of the OSB with a slab without its preliminary preparation in the form of laying wooden logs. In order for such technology to have the right to life, the concrete screed must first be checked for horizontality, using a long rule. If it has no errors, then the OSB stove can be started immediately. In this case, you can level the floor using one layer of material, strengthening the products with dowels and self-tapping screws.

Leveling the surface with OSB boards should be carried out taking into account the arrangement of expansion joints, this is necessary because the products are able to deform during operation, absorbing moisture into the thickness of the wood elements, and then releasing it. Such gaps should be made between the plates, and their width should be approximately equal to 3 mm.

If the floor is leveled using floating technology, then during installation it will be necessary to ensure the distance from the walls to the flooring, which is 10-15 mm. Floating floors during the installation of the material do not imply the implementation of a rigid screed of plates and walls, as well as the base.

Leveling a wooden floor with OSB

In the premises of houses that were built on a flood or column base, the floors, as a rule, are laid on wooden logs made of multilayer boards or timber. Even in this case, it is possible to level the floor with OSB plates, which are used not only as a rough, but also as a finishing floor.

A wooden floor based on a log must be tested for strength before attaching products to it. The OSB subfloor on the logs is arranged along the underside of the log, while the surface that turns out to be facing the soil must be treated with a protective coating, which can be, for example, bituminous mastic. In the space that was formed by the lags and the draft base, a heat insulator is mounted, the latter is protected from above by a protective material, for example, glassine. Then you can begin to mount the base for the finished floor.

Figure 2. Leveling a wooden floor with OSB.

OSB panels, which form the base for the finished floor, are mounted in one or two layers, the latter option involves laying the material perpendicular to each other. The first layer should be mounted with a joint on the logs on the smaller side. The layers between themselves can be strengthened with spiral nails, and to ensure greater strength of the OSB floor surface, the boards are additionally attached with glue. You can connect the plates and logs with self-tapping screws, strengthening them at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. On fig. 2 you can see how the OSB floor is leveled with slabs, these recommendations will help with independent work.

The slabs should also be mounted on a wooden floor, providing the so-called expansion gaps, which is also the case with concrete bases.

Once the floor leveling with OSB boards is completed, it is necessary to decide whether to use such a base as a surface for laying the finish coating or leave the OSB as the floor finish, which is also often practiced. The strength and evenness of such a base allows you to immediately proceed to further finishing work on the floor, however, such a floor can be left unchanged. The plate will only need to be protected from mechanical wear, for which it is recommended to use varnish, which must be applied in several layers to the surface. Before painting, such a wooden floor must be cleaned of debris and dust by wet cleaning, and then dried.

If it is planned to lay linoleum or carpet on the floor after leveling with slabs, then it will be necessary to ensure the transition as even as possible in the place where the joints will form, this applies to all roll materials. For this, it is preferable to use plates that have a minimum allowable thickness. After the OSB floor has been leveled, the gaps formed will need to be processed using an elastic sealant.

If, after leveling the OSB floor with slabs, it is planned to lay ceramic tiles, then it will be necessary to ensure complete immobility and perfect reliability of the base. To do this, it is permissible to use a more frequent location of the log, on which the plates must be strengthened as carefully as possible and with the largest number of fasteners. The best solution would be to use when installing the plates, which are equipped with fasteners of the "thorn-groove" type. When laying tiles, you should use a special adhesive that is designed to work together with wood and ceramic products.

Before leveling the floor with OSB boards, you need to familiarize yourself with the technology, otherwise the work will have to be redone, for example, due to previously unnoticed unevenness of the base. So, the surface of the log can be leveled by planing, and the concrete floor can be leveled by laying wooden chocks. This is true for minor unevenness, as correction with concrete may not give the expected results.

The use of OSB plates guarantees quick and high-quality leveling of surfaces in any room. To carry out the work does not require special skills and tools. If the slabs are laid on logs, then the step between the latter should be 56 cm, this is great for installing all modern types of heat insulator. If you want to save money, then the use of OSB boards for leveling will be an excellent solution, because they not only have an affordable cost, but can also be used without additional finishing.