ᐅ Attic OSB board measuring device

Hello everyone,

We built a house in 2015 and shortly afterward covered the attic floor with OSB boards (including cross battens). Looking back, I’ve read that OSB might not be the best choice and can potentially lead to mold growth, but I’m not keen on tearing everything out again. It’s an unheated attic.

Now, one could cut open a few spots to check for mold, or—here’s the question—should I use a moisture meter? I have an electronic one with a metal probe on the front, which measures moisture content. I’ve already taken several readings in the attic, and all the values were good—so dry.

Would it be possible to use the meter to detect damp areas without causing damage, allowing me to identify spots with a higher risk of mold? OR is that not advisable, and should I actually remove the boards and check directly?

Thanks for your opinions.

I thought OSB is vapor-tight, so measuring from above doesn’t really make sense (but I’m not 100% sure). I’d just unscrew a few panels... it’s not that big of a deal.

BeHaElJa schrieb:

I would just unscrew a few... it’s not that big of a deal.

Well, unscrewing is unfortunately difficult because OSB boards are installed with tongue and groove joints.

You can tell that I’m a professional.
Still, I think you should make sure for yourself, and the only way to do that is to remove and inspect the underside of a panel (at least in my opinion).

Majo83 schrieb:
Thanks for your opinion

Depending on how the attic space is used, a few ventilation holes won’t cause any harm.

I simply did not position my OSB boards all the way up to the wall, leaving a continuous gap of 5 cm (2 inches) around the edges for ventilation. The boards are, of course, also supported by counter battens.