Fiberboard or OSB 5

[8282006]

The new company that I am working for is pushing the use of fiberboard. I have always used OSB on my projects in California. Can anyone please give me the benefits of using Fiberboard in new construction for exterior sheathing and bracing?

All help is much appriciated.

 

[DaveAtkins]

I also prefer OSB, but I do recall that fiberboard can be used as sheathing. Its design values are lower than OSB, I believe.

DaveAtkins

 

[boo1]

Consider the mosture impact too. Most walls leak...

 

[woodengineer]

I prefer 7/16” OSB, (Method 3) over using fiberboard (Method 4) of IRC 602.10.. Fiberboard performs poorly it inevitably becomes wet during construction. Additionally, builders tend to over drive the pneumatic nails/staples thus rendering the sheathing essentially useless. I specify Method 3 specifically R602.10.5 continuously sheathed. This method gives the architect more flexibility with aperture sizes and spacing. The minimum 4’ panel length may be reduced to 24” when the adjacent opening is 65% of the wall height (for an 8’ plate height). Section 602.10.5 discusses these reduced panel sizes for other wall heights. In addition, there are significant reductions to percentage of braced wall line requirements using this method (see R602.10.1)

I hope you found this useful.

woodengineer

 

[archeng59]

I prefer APA rated sheathing (OSB or plywood) to fiberboard or gyp board sheathing. Moisture affects the strength of fiberboard and gyp board. APA rated sheathing typically is not affected by moisture unless the sheathing becomes saturated.