Options for boarding out new shed

Nobbie1967

I’m just about to order this shed and want to improve its longevity by boarding out the walls and floor. I’m thinking 11mm OSB for the walls, but wondering if it’s suitable for flooring or if the particles will start to come apart with foot traffic or dragging stuff around. Slightly more expensive is 9mm exterior plywood. Any thoughts or other options?

https://www.diy.com/departments/empire-2500-pent-14x8-pressure-treated-tongue-and-groove-wooden-garden-shed-door-left-side-panel-14-x-8-14ft-x-8ft-14x8-/5060659532135_BQ.prd

grumbler

By boarding out do you mean coveryng the wall with OSB externally? I don't think it's a good idea. It'll look very cheap and deteriorate fast.
For shed floor OSB is a common material and, most likely, "sheet material" in the description is OSB. I don't see how adding another layer of OSB can improve anything.

Nobbie1967

grumbler said:

By boarding out do you mean coveryng the wall with OSB externally? I don't think it's a good idea. It'll look very cheap and deteriorate fast.
For shed floor OSB is a common material and, most likely, "sheet material" in the description is OSB. I don't see how adding another layer of OSB can improve anything.

No, internally to help stiffen up the structure and prevent damage to the outer skin from tool lent against the walls. I’ve seen OSB used for roof panels, but never for floors, even on the cheapest sheds, but it does say sheet material for the floor as well as roof, so maybe this one does. I think I may go for the exterior plywood on the floor as should be a bit more hard wearing than the OSB sheet. There’s probably a reason they board out vans with the stuff.

Section62

Nobbie1967 said:

grumbler said:

By boarding out do you mean coveryng the wall with OSB externally? I don't think it's a good idea. It'll look very cheap and deteriorate fast.
For shed floor OSB is a common material and, most likely, "sheet material" in the description is OSB. I don't see how adding another layer of OSB can improve anything.

No, internally to help stiffen up the structure and prevent damage to the outer skin from tool lent against the walls. I’ve seen OSB used for roof panels, but never for floors, even on the cheapest sheds, but it does say sheet material for the floor as well as roof, so maybe this one does. I think I may go for the exterior plywood on the floor as should be a bit more hard wearing than the OSB sheet. There’s probably a reason they board out vans with the stuff.

OSB is commonly used for shed floors.

I'd use 18mm for the floor, preferably on stronger bearers.  The supplied floor can then be repurposed for boarding one of the walls.

Ply is probably less suitable for a floor than OSB.  If you snag the ply dragging something around then you'll probably get an area of delamination which can't easily be repaired.  Snagging OSB may pull out a few pieces, but less likely to be a practical problem.  Make sure the edges are protected against damp (e.g. paint them) even if the board is nominally suitable for outdoor use.

Also make sure the wall panels are square before you board them.

Albermarle

Nobbie1967 said:

I’m just about to order this shed and want to improve its longevity by boarding out the walls and floor. I’m thinking 11mm OSB for the walls, but wondering if it’s suitable for flooring or if the particles will start to come apart with foot traffic or dragging stuff around. Slightly more expensive is 9mm exterior plywood. Any thoughts or other options?

https://www.diy.com/departments/empire-2500-pent-14x8-pressure-treated-tongue-and-groove-wooden-garden-shed-door-left-side-panel-14-x-8-14ft-x-8ft-14x8-/5060659532135_BQ.prd

The blurb says they use thicker framing timber than others, so in theory should be quite sturdy as it is.
It seems a bit odd though that the tongue and groove cladding has been pressure treated, which usually means it is a good quality shed, but they have used OSB for the roof . Opinions vary but normally tongue and groove throughout the shed, including the roof, is seen as better.
Hopefully they will have used a good quality moisture resistant OSB. If the roof leaks and it keeps getting wet the OSB will deteriorate, whereas wood would probably just dry out later and be OK.
In my limited experience Pent sheds are more prone to leaks than apex ones.

Section62

Albermarle said:

The blurb says they use thicker framing timber than others, so in theory should be quite sturdy as it is.

The text claims 28x44mm. If used as in most sheds of this type with the 44mm face to the outside then the 'depth' of the section resisting horizontal loads on the walls is only 28mm,  which is stick thin in my view.

There are pros and cons of using natural wood (e.g. T&G) for the roof.  Natural wood is less dimensionally stable than OSB so there will inevitably be movement, and that movement can lead to premature failure of felt, especially cheap shed felt.

Personally I'd adapt the shed to make the roof with OSB supported on 4x2's and covered with plastic coated steel sheeting.  Having spent the best part of a grand I don't think it makes sense to skimp on the roof - which is subject to the worst extremes of weather and is critical for the longevity of the structure.

Nobbie1967

Section62 said:

Albermarle said:

The blurb says they use thicker framing timber than others, so in theory should be quite sturdy as it is.

The text claims 28x44mm. If used as in most sheds of this type with the 44mm face to the outside then the 'depth' of the section resisting horizontal loads on the walls is only 28mm,  which is stick thin in my view.

There are pros and cons of using natural wood (e.g. T&G) for the roof.  Natural wood is less dimensionally stable than OSB so there will inevitably be movement, and that movement can lead to premature failure of felt, especially cheap shed felt.

Personally I'd adapt the shed to make the roof with OSB supported on 4x2's and covered with plastic coated steel sheeting.  Having spent the best part of a grand I don't think it makes sense to skimp on the roof - which is subject to the worst extremes of weather and is critical for the longevity of the structure.

Upon reflection, I’ve decided to build the shed from scratch as it appears that once I’ve bought the extra stuff to bring the B&Q one upto a decent standard I may as well use the money to build something better.