OSB in garage - any tips?

Can you do normal plywood instead? I would think that would be the better choice.

I can, but it's significantly more expensive (about 2.5 - 3 times more from what I've seen). Is there a reason 1/2" OSB wouldn't be sufficient?

Just cover the seams with 1x2 and 1x3 and make it look nice and paint it.

I have a 36’x 48’ building with a 14’ ceiling and the inside is OSB I installed over 20 years ago. I have 2’ centered studs so I used 1” drywall screws and scrap OSB to back up the horizontal seams and keep the edges even. It took 3 coats of paint but with a roller it was fast. I painted the bottom 4’ dark gray and the rest white with a 6” bright red stripe in between. Wall outlets are in the red stripe. OSB works great.

Nice. Good idea on covering the seams, I'll give that a try. I am planning on painting it all once it's installed.

My oldest son has a block garage with OSB on the ceiling. It was built 30+ yrs ago and while the ceiling could use a fresh coat of paint the OSB has held up fine. There isn't a good way to hide the joints - strips of wood or caulking is about the best you can do.


When OSB is painted a white or pastel colors it's best to use an oil base primer to seal any tannin bleed.

Joeywhat said:

Nice. Good idea on covering the seams, I'll give that a try. I am planning on painting it all once it's installed.

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Don’t cover the seams, back them up with a scrap on the back side. Then your walls are smooth and joints are tight.

And when you paint, use a sprayer and back roll. Much faster and better coverage.

And using the dark color on the bottom and lighter color on top is a great way to make the room seem bigger. (this applies to any room by the way) Having a darker color at the bottom, for example dark cabinets, gives weight to the room. And using lighter colors on top, white cabinets, lifts the eyes up giving the room a lighter feel.

Half inch will hold screws but may sag with enogh weight. 3/4 will do better there. There are paint grade sanded plywood. They are cheaper. Compare the costs. Drywall edge channels may work if using half inch.

I think osb may have wax coats. Search if osb holds paint.

There are 2 sides to OSB. The shiny side is marked this side down [or something like that] I'm not sure how well that side paints but the other, rougher side paints decent. Failure to use an oil base primer first may result in some of the chips having tannin bleed thru the latex paint.


If it's just the walls on a 2 stall garage I wouldn't bother using an airless. The extra clean up time along with any taping/shielding for spray will likely negate any time saved.

Old Thomas said:

Joeywhat said:

Nice. Good idea on covering the seams, I'll give that a try. I am planning on painting it all once it's installed.

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Don’t cover the seams, back them up with a scrap on the back side. Then your walls are smooth and joints are tight.

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Can you explain that to me?

I think your plan should be fine....

But did you consider peg/board....great for hanging stuff...and changing hanging as needed. You can get it white or brown.

Are your garage walls insulated (other than the home side).

On my Co home which served as a significant part of my shop, I intentionally did not finish the interior.

I set pegboard inside each stub bay. And it left me a heck of a lot more hanging tool space, on sides of studs, built in adjustable shelfing between studs, insetting certain tool configurations in dedicated stud bays.

Maybe not what you want, but it is great storage/organizational option.

Joeywhat said:

Can you explain that to me?

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I think OT means to put a backer (maybe 2" 3/4 pine)on any seams, placed on backside,screwed in from the front side....which prevents any lippage between sheets and reinfirces any seam that you might want to hang something from.

did you consider peg/board....great for hanging stuff...and changing hanging as needed. You can get it white or brown

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Back in the 80s I painted for one builder in central fla that used peg board paneling in most of his garages. I don't remember if the paneling in every garage was the same color or not. I don't know where he bought it or if it's still available but I always thought it was neat looking .... and practical.