What are the advantages of painting?
The use of properly selected paint materials will give the owners of the house, sheathed with OSB, the following benefits:
- less effort and time when compared to traditional wall finishing;
- the ability to mask the texture, if it is created by sufficiently large chips;
- Moisture protection. the surface won’t suffer from deformation, because water won’t penetrate.
Painting OSB for interior decoration is used only for interior decoration, because the outside boards will be seriously affected by the environment. The substrate will require more protection. This should be remembered by everyone who is interested in what to paint OSB boards inside houses.
A layer of varnish is used when the painting of the boards is complete. then the pigments will not burn out, and the base itself does not deteriorate at such a rate.
Which paint is right?
The choice of paint depends entirely on the type of board to be treated. In this regard, the most versatile boards with no or moderate resistance to wetting. In practice, even the budget variants of water-dispersion paints based on acrylic or PVA recommend themselves well. They have good hiding power, but the consumption can be up to 50% more compared to plywood or wood because of the presence of large pores on the surface.

In general, it is believed that for the processing of chipboard paint must have a polymer base, and the usual water-based emulsion is not suitable for this. Compounds with acrylates will make the coating washable and cleanable, and if additional protection against moisture is required, latex, alkyd or polyurethane based materials are used.
The specifics of dying OSB lies in its very pronounced texture. The paint spreads along the edges of the projecting chips and therefore a complete coating may require two or even three applications in a row. Sometimes, however, this is even beneficial: the use of tinted compounds in several layers can achieve interesting visual effects.
Multicolor coating and tinting is possible mainly for boards with at least a pronounced absorption of moisture. On the other hand, a high aesthetics coating is usually important in interior decoration, which, in fact, and are used mostly boards of class 1 and 2. If you work with moisture-resistant board, use solvent-based enamels: alkyd, oil, polyurethane paints and varnishes.
How to paint OSB properly
OSB is a board made of layers of pressed wood chips, in which the chips in the outer layers are perpendicular to the chips in the inner. 90% of it is made of wood and 10 % of it is made of resin. The main problem of this material. insufficient resistance to sun and moisture, under their influence the board may swell and deform.
But practice shows that if you cover the board as quickly as possible from adverse external influences, it will not swell (provided that for external finishing used OSB-3 and OSB-4 boards). Such facade will serve long and reliably.
Most paints do not adhere well to OSB because of the binder resins in the board. Bad adhesion between the materials is really a big problem and many members of Mastergrad forum are literally stumped by this:
“The country house is lined with moisture-resistant OSB (oriented strand board). Surface smooth. It looks like wood, but on the other hand there is almost nothing left of the “pure” wood.
What paint to paint it all with, wood or just a normal facade paint?”
How to properly paint OSB
Finishing OSB is a process that consists of several steps:
- surface cleaning;
- protection of the material;
- OSB surface preparation;
- OSB decorative coating;
- OSB finish.
As a result we get smooth, perfectly coated surface, protected from external influences.
Everything is clear with the cleaning of the surface: before starting the finishing work, the surface of the board must be clean, dry, free of dust and traces of old coatings.
Let’s dwell on the sealing of joints. this is an important step that can not be skipped, if we are interested in ensuring that the facade will serve long and flawlessly.
OSB boards, like any material made of wood, react to increasing temperature and humidity and increase in volume. Therefore they are mounted with a gap width of 3 mm or more.
The most vulnerable place of OSB. it’s ends, they are not waterproof, swell under the influence of precipitation, they just loves to settle mold and fungi of all kinds.
Therefore, the joints have to be sealed. only then will the material be protected against moisture penetration. The joint must be elastic, and for sealing it is recommended to use a compound with elasticity up to 200%, specially designed for long-term protection of OSB boards. One of the main advantages of such a sealant in its high adhesion to the paint materials. It is resistant to ultraviolet light and moisture, retains heat well and protects the board not only from getting wet, but also from freezing. This sealant has high thixotropy, so it can be applied to any surface: whether vertical, horizontal or inclined at any angle.
Let’s remind you again that all the boards to be bonded must be:
To make a neat joint, it is necessary to protect the front edges of the construction with masking tape before starting the work.
The cap of the cartridge is cut to the width of the seam, the sealant is applied with a special gun tight joint without voids and smoothed with a flat spatula. If the joint is not as flawlessly smooth as desired, it can be corrected with a damp cloth. It is very important that during the first five hours the seam did not get wet, so in rainy or snowy weather to apply sealant can not. And once dry, it becomes moisture-resistant. Sealant dries at a rate of 2 millimeters per day, but forms a surface film in an hour.
If everything is done correctly, such protection will last at least 15 years.
- Adhesives. are simpler formulations designed to create adhesion to the substrate. In the case of OSB this is relevant due to the weak absorbency of the board.
- Insulating. it creates a solid coating. For OSB it is relevant primarily because it eliminates the yellow stains of tannin from the board on the painted surface.
According to our experts. When you are dealing with OSB, you need a primer designed specifically for this difficult material. It guarantees good adhesion between the board and the subsequent coatings. Decorative plaster, putty, paint will fit perfectly on OSB treated with this primer, and if we are talking about interior finishing, the primed surface will perfectly adhere to wallpaper. A normal primer will not guarantee this.
Furthermore, the OSB primer protects the board against precipitation and UV radiation, and it can even protect the facade until the final coating is completed. You can treat OSB with such a primer and safely leave the facade for a year before finishing.
The primer is vapor permeable, elastic and has good adhesion, so it is easy to apply to the board. It protects OSB against mould and mildew, strengthens the porous structure of the board, makes it less absorbent and saves the expense of the finish coat.
This is a finished compound, it is applied in 1-2 layers with an interval of three hours. The compound is applied evenly and does not form voids. Primer white, matte, translucent.
In principle, after the drying of the last layer of primer can move to painting the OSB-plate, but it would be better to fill it with putty. So we level the board, fix all the remaining irregularities and joints. Our experts recommend puttying OSB, regardless of whether it is inside or outside. The surface will not only be smoothed, it will become stronger, more durable, and most importantly, it will never have cracks.
It is very important not to change the sequence of steps and be sure to apply the primer before puttying. If you putty on a board that is not primed, it is likely to crack.
The putty should be thoroughly mixed before application. The putty is applied in two layers.
After each coat must dry. At air temperatures of 5 to 35 degrees, it takes anywhere from a day to two days to fully dry.
When the putty is completely dry, it needs to be sanded and you can move on to painting.
A special paint for OSB does not just create a beautiful semi-matt finish. It will be vapor permeable and allow the board to “breathe” and will provide excellent protection from the sun and moisture. The paint can be both an independent finishing coat, and a solid base for the final finish.
Painting a clean, dry, primed and. ideally. leveled OSB is quite different from painting an untreated board. And the process is much easier (as if you are not painting OSB), and the result is better.
Before applying the paint, stir well and add any acrylic tint. It is better to paint with a roller with a good set, in two layers, in good weather (windless, clear and dry). The paint dries in half an hour on the peeling surface and in 24 hours on the whole surface.
How to accelerate the painting of facades
If this technique seems too complicated and time-consuming, you can use the product “three in one” to paint the facade. It is a special exterior paint, a primer which can be applied directly to the board. Practice has shown that it is a very good option. This particular paint, specially developed for OSB, has good adhesion to the board. It stains the panel well and doesn’t leave those famous see-through stains. It contains bioprotection components and is resistant to humidity and UV, i.e. it slows down the aging of the board.It requires only one thing from the surfaces to be coated: they must be dry and clean: no dirt, grease or flaking. The procedure is simple: stir the paint and, if it is too thick, dilute with water (but not more than 5%) and paint the surface with a roller or brush. You can paint at an air temperature of at least 10 degrees, the same should be the temperature of the composition.
You can do “as the neighbors”, to buy any paint, if only at a cheaper, wear yourself out while you apply it, and get an incomprehensible coating. Such stories on the forum Mastragrada a lot:
“Of those available (for free) was a paint PF-115. That to achieve at least some meaningful results, the paint had to paint in three layers. The first one soaked up like a sponge. The ceiling has been lined with another OSB, obviously of better quality. Painted with latex paint, but it did not stick very readily. Dragged by a brush and the coating turned out streaky”.
So that the correct and ultimately more profitable when working with such a complex material, like OSB, will use formulations specifically designed for it. Only in this case we get an even, perfectly painted surface, and the OSB will be reliably protected from destruction. Time, rain and sun cannot harm it.
What are the advantages of painting
The structure of the material provides easy painting of OSB-board indoors with any varnish and paint materials. Painting OSB boards has such advantages:
- the ease and simplicity of applying paint;
- Increase of moisture resistance properties of the material;
- Reduction of deformation due to water-repellent properties;
- aesthetic appearance;
- the possibility of creating any interior with painted flat surfaces;
- painted boards are distinguished by their durability.
The use of pigmented dyes is recommended for coloring. the finish will last longer and will not lose its original appearance.
Pay attention to: Ways to remove paint from the ceiling
Painting OSB boards is desirable after thorough preparation of the rough surface: unprotected material becomes dirty, is exposed to the negative impact of moisture, reduces the adhesive properties of wood.
Which paints can be used to paint OSB boards?
You can paint the boards with any paints that are suitable for wood.
Acrylic paints are odorless and form a solid matte film. These paints can cover the boards inside and outside the premises.
If you need to paint board in premises with unusual humidity. use latex paints. The elastic film they form can withstand cleaning with detergents.
Before you buy a paint, decide what kind of work you want to do. For walls and ceilings are excellent for water-dispersed compositions, but for the floor it is better to take alkyd or oil enamel, it is more resistant to mechanical stress.
What and how to paint OSB
In today’s construction market is becoming more common OSB boards. They have excellent technical and operational qualities and are affordable. All this allows to speak about excellent compatibility with other materials and overall reliability and durability. The production process is highly technical: coarse wooden chips are taken (the main component) and a special binding agent (wax or formaldehyde) is added to them. It tends to be used for a variety of roughing work. However, do not jump to conclusions: at the moment, designers use paint and get a quality result. Professionals at Stroyka.Ru will tell you how to perform these manipulations in the interior decoration of the apartment or house.
Various types of oriented strand board are popular in construction stores and websites. Their dissimilarity is reflected in such basic categories as: thickness, resistance to water, safety, complexity of connections (are there lock elements or not).
In general, OSB has four types. Before you buy this or that material, decide on the specific area of its use. Now we will provide you with the best knowledge.
The most budget option is considered OSB-1. Hence the not high life of the board: they serve to create temporary structures, as an auxiliary material.
In second place is OSB-2. Their peculiarity is that they are installed only in dry rooms, without damp factors. Otherwise, these boards will not last long. Ideal for cladding partitions.
- Products that can be called a universal one. Boards are used both in dry rooms and in conditions of high humidity, including outdoors. They are used to cover the walls, form interfloor ceilings, lay rough and clean floors under the decorative coating. Often used as a material for continuous crates for some types of roofing.
- OSB-4 products with high moisture resistance and excellent durability. Therefore they can be used for various building applications, including self-supporting, load-bearing structures.
- Boards are mostly made in the size 1250×2500 or 1220×2440 mm. Thickness range from 6 to 25 mm. Other length and width dimensions are also available, so it is worth paying attention to. Sometimes non-standard sizes allow choosing the best option for a particular area of coverage. That is, they allow you to avoid a lot of waste when cutting material.
OSB boards can be ordinary and tongue and groove.
- Normal OSB sheets have smooth edges. When cladding the surfaces at the joints it is necessary to observe technological gap of 3÷5 mm, which keeps the coating in one piece during thermal expansion of the material. Such boards must be fixed firmly to the substrate with self-tapping screws, screwed in at intervals of 350÷400 mm. Large OSB plates are recommended to be attached not only along the perimeter, but additionally along the diagonals.
- Tongue and groove boards are fitted with a tongue and groove joint This option is more convenient if the boards are to be used as a finish coating, including for further painting. The joints are cleaner and the gaps between the boards are barely visible. When fastening OSB boards to a flat substrate you do not have to use a lot of self-tapping screws. In addition, products can be used for floating coating when mounted on a concrete base.
Another important criterion for choosing the OSB boards is the materials used in their manufacture. This parameter is particularly important if the board is purchased for surface cladding inside a dwelling.
Formaldehyde resins may be used as a binder for wood chips, releasing toxic fumes into the environment. These materials have a formaldehyde emission class E2 or higher, and are not suitable for indoor use.
For such application OSB boards produced according to European standards and marked as ECO or GREEN are suitable. The production technology excludes the presence of toxic substances in the material. Wood raw material is pre-treated with paraffin-wax impregnation, and as a binder polyurethane resins are used, which after polymerization become completely harmless to the environment.
On the level of formaldehyde emission is indicated by the class. The residential environment can be considered as permissible E1, but better E0,5. And the best option already mentioned above mark ESO.
Such a variant is fully suitable for residential premises. And it can safely be used for painting.
But in order to be sure of the purity of the material, when choosing it is necessary to carefully study the markings on the sheets. And to confirm this information should be a certificate of quality (conformity), presented by the seller at the request of the buyer.
Paint Chip Floor Over Wood Subfloor | Commercial Kitchen Transformation!
What paint compositions are used for OSB boards?
Variety of paints, suitable for OSB
As a rule, several types of protective staining compounds are used for staining wood and wood-based products:
- Dispersion acrylic paints, based on polyacrylates and their copolymers, as film forming agents. When cured, they form a sufficiently strong polymer layer on the surface of the wooden board. This type is used for both interior and exterior applications. They are environmentally friendly, protect wood from moisture and are reasonably priced.
- Polyurethane paints also create a protective and decorative layer on the board. This compound is mainly used for interior construction and finishing works.
- Latex paint is highly elastic and resistant to detergents. These formulations are non-toxic and highly suitable for internal coatings.
- Alkyd paints are based on alkyd resins. The film that forms on the surface of OSB is more durable than water-based solutions. Alkyd paints do not contain toxic substances, they can effectively protect material from moisture and UV rays, are resistant to burning and quickly dry after application. During the painting process, the paint gives off a strong odor, so it must be carefully ventilated.
- Oil paints are thick, so they form a distinctly thick layer on the surface. They are excellent for application on the edges of boards, as they can protect them from moisture absorption. The paints have a characteristic odour that takes a long time to evaporate after application. In addition, oil paint, unlike the above paints, requires a longer drying time.
In addition to universal paints for all types of wood, there are compositions specifically designed for painting OSB. They are commonly referred to as primer paint and have the following features:
- They can provide solid protection for OSB boards against external moisture and UV radiation.
- The composition has excellent adhesion properties to the surface of these boards.
- High elasticity and vapor permeability.
- The density of the layer prevents the natural color of the OSB from shining through.
- Primer is produced in base white color and can be tinted in the shade you want.
- Primer coat is an environmentally friendly compound. It is made on a water basis with the addition of a special acrylic polymer, mineral fillers and antiseptic additives.
Primer can be used as the main coating or for surface preparation for further application of decorative coat.
Criteria for choosing paint for interior work
When choosing a compound for painting OSB indoors, there are some factors to consider:
- The type of wood chips and the type of binders used in the production of oriented chipboard.
- The method of decoration, i.e. it is planned to preserve the surface structure of the board, or make it smoother.
- Application area (floor or wall).
- Features of the room where installation will be carried out.
Paint should be chosen based on the following recommendations:
- Considering that OSB boards consist of 90% wood, oil-based paint is the universal coating for them. High quality are characterized by such compositions of brands Coloray, Syntilor and others. They have excellent adhesion, minimal absorbency, and the base on which the paints are made (olifa) significantly reduces the consumption of the material. Oil paint forms on the surface a reliable long-lasting protective layer, so it is well suited for painting OSB boards laid on the floor.
- Alkyd enamels are good for painting both walls and floors. They also create a strong and durable coating. However, the consumption of this type of paint composition exceeds that of oil-based.
- Water-based paints are not too resistant to moisture. They are good for painting walls in dry rooms. These are environmentally friendly compositions, so they are used for decorating the walls of children’s rooms and bedrooms. The best brands on the Russian market are Tikkurila, Teknos, Sadolin, etc.п. By the way, some of the compositions still attached to the resistance to regular wet cleaning.
- For OSB finishing, especially if the rooms with high humidity are covered with it, polyurethane paint made on the base of organic solvents is well suitable. Traditionally high quality of such paints distinguishes brands International Paint, Sterling and Coatings. When applying polyurethane compositions on OSB, they create in combination with resins that are in the material, high-strength compounds, which makes the coating durable and wear-resistant.
- If you plan to preserve the original structural pattern of OSB, as well as to improve the surface quality, the walls are coated with aqueous transparent varnishes.
If the OSB is planned to be laid as a finishing material on the floor, and it is necessary to achieve a smooth surface, an epoxy composition can be used for coating.
The surface can be decorated by giving the composition the desired color or by adding inclusions (glitter, chips, etc.).п.). Or retain the natural color and pattern of the boards. And the epoxy composition is applied in accordance with the technology used in the creation of poured polymer 3D floor.
It is necessary to prepare the boards before painting them. This is to ensure that the paint adheres and holds well to the surface.
If you plan to coat the walls and ceiling with particle boards, it is easier to make preparatory work before installing the boards on the crate.
Depending on the chosen technique of painting, it may be more advantageous to make it in advance, before mounting the sheathing. This is because some of the decorating methods involve several cleaning and painting steps.
If it is planned to keep the surface texture of OSB, it is necessary to choose an emery tip with a coarse grit (about P120) to free the surface from the protective layer of binder. If the board needs to be smoothed to a smoothness for the solid painting, firstly the sweeping is carried out with coarse (P80), and then the fine grit (P200 and above).
After the upper protective layer is removed, the primer or paint can easily penetrate into the structure of the material.
If you purchased OSB-3 or OSB-4 boards, then their cleaning should be done most carefully, because they have a more reliable lacquer coating of the surface.
- The second step of board preparation is masking of joints and self-tapping screws. Various means are used. These include, for example? can be readymade parquet on an oil-glue base or a special elastic putty. Sealant or special elastic tape is used.
If the joints and the hole from the screws needed to hide completely, while retaining the natural color or make it a few tones darker, the putty should be added sawdust, which will remain when cutting sheets. In this case, the gaps must be filled very carefully, without exceeding their limits. And if necessary, after the putty hardens, the seams are grinded with a grinder with a sanding pad.
If the surface must be smooth and monotonously painted, then elastic tape is used to mask the seams.
- The next step, under a solid one-color painting on the boards is applied as a primer, which can be used polyurethane-acrylic, acrylic or alkyd varnish. The choice of composition depends on the base paint, which will be used to cover the surface. If you use a water-based varnish as a primer, it must be diluted with water in the ratio of 1:10.
If you choose an alkyd varnish, White spirit is used as a thinner
Except for these options? For preparation works, the adhesive primers are used, e.g. Aqua Filler. This type of primer is designed to insulate wood from the paint coating. Such compositions are particularly suitable for covering boards made of coniferous wood, as the primer will prevent the resin from seeping onto their surface.
In addition to the primers listed above, a special primer-paint can be used to pre-prepare OSB for painting.
What are the advantages of painting?
The use of properly selected paint materials will give the owners of the house, lined with OSB boards, the following benefits:
- Less effort and time when compared to traditional wall decoration;
- The possibility of masking the texture, if it is created by sufficiently large chips;
- protection against moisture. the surface does not suffer from deformation, because water does not penetrate.
Painting OSB for interior decoration is used only for interior decoration, because the outside of the board will have a serious impact from the environment. The substrate will require more serious protection. Everyone who is interested in how to paint OSB boards inside houses should remember that.
A layer of varnish is used when painting the boards is complete. then the pigments will not burn out, and the substrate itself does not deteriorate at such a rate.
The use of primers and primers in different conditions of exploitation of OSB.
The surface of OSB plates is temporarily protected against moisture at the factory, it is necessary to safely deliver the goods to the consumer. For this purpose, they are coated with waxes, and sometimes the ends are painted. Such protection is good for transportation, but not suitable for finishing and covering with decorative protective layers. the adhesion of any material with paraffin will be weak. Whether it is paint or plaster, over time, they begin to flake, crack, and, in the resulting gaps, moisture enters and damages the material, making it unusable for further use.
Therefore, before facing or without it, it is necessary to carefully prepare and protect the surface of the OSB board. This kind of preparatory work is called priming. The protective coating to be applied is called a primer. Primer sometimes also called primer or primer. it is the same thing.
Any priming of OSB boards includes scraping their surface from the factory coating and the application of a protective and adhesive composition. The primer is always the first layer and has a number of important functions that are equally important for any type of future finish.
- Secure bonding of decorative and protective coatings to wood fibers.
- Improve the evenness of absorption of liquid compositions.
- Closing of pores and access of bonding resins to the decorative surface.
- Protecting against mold and mildew, and sometimes against combustion.
- Revealing the texture of the wood.
When OSB boards are installed outdoors, they are exposed to very adverse conditions. Rainfall, temperature extremes, direct sunlight. all these factors have a destructive effect on the wood and the bonding resins. Moisture and frost can penetrate under cladding or roofing and undermine the OSB substrate.
Indoors, the adverse effects are lessened, but there are nuances. Important conditions are: maintaining a healthy non-toxic atmosphere, protection from ultraviolet light, which enters from windows, preserving the aesthetic appearance of the room, preventing damage to the finish with resins, which seep from the OSB sheets.
What are the advantages of painting
The structure of the material provides easy painting of OSB-board inside the premises with any paint and varnish materials. Painting OSB boards has the following advantages
- simplicity and ease of application of paint;
- increasing moisture resistance properties of the material;
- reduction of deformation due to water-repellent properties;
- Aesthetic appearance;
- the ability to create any interior with painted flat surfaces;
- Painted boards are characterized by their durability.
For dyeing it is recommended to use pigmented dyes, the finish will last longer and will not lose its original appearance.
It is desirable to paint OSB board after careful preparation of the rough surface: unprotected material gets dirty, is exposed to negative effects of moisture, reduces the adhesive properties of wood.