How To Install Osb Wood Stud Exterior Sheathing Wall?

This instructional video teaches the process of installing OSB wall sheathing in exterior walls to ensure the building’s resistance to design wind pressures. OSB is the standard sheathing used for exterior walls in wood frame construction, available in large 4-by-8-foot panels. The panels form a boxing perimeter and are installed after the wall frame is in place. The video covers the steps to frame a 9-foot wall, sheath it with OSB, and saw out rough openings.

Foam board should be installed directly over the sheathing or if using bracing, it can be installed directly to the studs. In rare cases, foam board can also be used to cover up existing walls. Georgia-Pacific Building Products provides tips for correctly installing plywood and OSB wall sheathing products, including product information.

To install OSB wall sheathing, measure the sheathing so that the side edges land in the center of a wall stud, wear safety goggles, and use a circular saw to cut the boards. Nail each panel of sheathing into place by driving one, 8d nail every 6-inches along the seams and wherever a stud is behind its plane.

This guide provides an overview of wood structural sheathing in exterior walls, focusing on applications in hurricane-prone regions or other high-wind areas. Squaring the wall carefully before beginning is crucial for aligning the sheathing to the wall.