ᐅ Timber frame builder replaces OSB with gypsum fiberboards – are they equivalent?
Created on: 18 Aug 2021 13:02
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Reltaw2021
Hello everyone!
After months of searching for timber frame house manufacturers offering reliable wall constructions, I finally chose one from Bavaria. I also adopted the mantra that “OSB is a universal solution” because it is ecological, more or less breathable, very rigid, load-bearing, sound-absorbing, and so on.
Now, due to material shortages and price increases, the builder has informed us that as an alternative, they plan to use gypsum fiber boards instead of OSB. This would be cost-neutral for us and technically advantageous. Until now, gypsum was intended as a single layer in addition to the OSB board. Now, the entire wall will be constructed using gypsum fiber boards.
I doubt that gypsum fiber boards, due to their material properties, can be an equivalent or even superior replacement for OSB.
What is your opinion?
After months of searching for timber frame house manufacturers offering reliable wall constructions, I finally chose one from Bavaria. I also adopted the mantra that “OSB is a universal solution” because it is ecological, more or less breathable, very rigid, load-bearing, sound-absorbing, and so on.
Now, due to material shortages and price increases, the builder has informed us that as an alternative, they plan to use gypsum fiber boards instead of OSB. This would be cost-neutral for us and technically advantageous. Until now, gypsum was intended as a single layer in addition to the OSB board. Now, the entire wall will be constructed using gypsum fiber boards.
I doubt that gypsum fiber boards, due to their material properties, can be an equivalent or even superior replacement for OSB.
What is your opinion?
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Reltaw202118 Aug 2021 17:56Reltaw2021 schrieb:
..."OSB is a versatile solution" because it is ...more or less breathable, HarvSpec schrieb:
There is nothing breathable about OSB at all.I could have expressed it in numbers as well: the realistic diffusion resistance ranges between µ = 70 (OSB/3) and µ = 200 (OSB/4). Gypsum is between 5 and 10, concrete around 150.
According to your definition, diffusion either exists = 1 or it does not = 0.
However, I do not want to go deeper into this topic.
Thanks to everyone who contributed!
Reltaw2021 schrieb:
After months of searching for timber frame house manufacturers offering reliable wall constructions, I decided on one from Bavaria.Whatever a "reliable" wall construction is supposed to mean, you found a Dane—a Dane does not lie, as Otto says—in Bavaria. I assume you are referring to the construction of the external wall. If I understand correctly, the OSB sheathing under the room-side gypsum fiberboard panels is now to be replaced with gypsum fiberboards as well. I still assume that the outer bracing sheathing is OSB, and it seems to me that vapor diffusion is not really at issue here, since replacing a vapor membrane has not been mentioned.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Daniel-Sp18 Aug 2021 21:24Building exterior walls without a vapor barrier is not uncommon nowadays.
I had already asked about the exact wall construction.
I had already asked about the exact wall construction.
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Reltaw202118 Aug 2021 22:31The builder hasn’t specified the details any further! I only received the letter a few hours ago and wanted to equip myself with your collective expertise before asking any questions.
By now, I’m not as shocked as I was at first. When I first opened the letter, I felt quite uneasy at the thought of moving into a gypsum-based house. However, I now actually see the advantages of the alternative and feel much more relaxed: it is vapor-permeable, just as strong for mounting purposes, non-combustible, free of emissions, able to bear vertical loads—which means it is structurally and statically reliable—more soundproof compared to OSB, better resistant to summer heat, and it may allow for omitting a membrane (vapor barrier/house wrap).
By now, I’m not as shocked as I was at first. When I first opened the letter, I felt quite uneasy at the thought of moving into a gypsum-based house. However, I now actually see the advantages of the alternative and feel much more relaxed: it is vapor-permeable, just as strong for mounting purposes, non-combustible, free of emissions, able to bear vertical loads—which means it is structurally and statically reliable—more soundproof compared to OSB, better resistant to summer heat, and it may allow for omitting a membrane (vapor barrier/house wrap).
Reltaw2021 schrieb:
and I am much more relaxedThen you can now get started, answering questions or responding to assumptions.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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