Belmlu
Hello everyone,

I've taken on my very first major home project by replacing insulation, the vapor retarder (from vapor barrier), and interior walls (from drywall to OSB and drywall) in the garage. It's been very educational and feels like a good first project as a hobby DIYer.

However, I've hit a snag that I believe comes from my own lack of knowledge, as after putting up the OSB boards, I've noticed that there can be a difference of up to 8-10mm in depth at the joint between two boards. I believe the reason for this is that I chose not to have the joints over studs in an attempt to be "smart" and save on material, since the studs that were installed in the mid-70s do not follow any standard regarding center distance and instead vary between 520-740mm. I thought I could almost just go with the width of the boards as is, which quickly turned out to be a mistake. Luckily, I noticed it after putting up half a wall, and the problem resolved itself on the remaining part of the wall when I followed the studs.

To my actual question: considering that 13mm drywall will be installed on top of the OSB, I wonder if this is something that needs to be addressed, for example, to avoid unwanted tensions in the drywall and potential vertical cracks as a result when it gives way? If it should be addressed, is there a simple way to solve it? If this were inside the house, I would redo the wall entirely, but since it's in the garage and the aesthetic demands aren't as high, a simple solution would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
 
  • Close-up of an OSB wall showing a gap between two panels, illustrating the alignment issue discussed in a home renovation project for a garage.
  • Close-up of a seam between two OSB boards showing uneven alignment and a gap, part of a DIY garage wall insulation project.
A
Usually goes well, as long as the screw takes. And of course, that the OSB hasn't overlapped.
 
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Belmlu
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Take down one of the boards, glue-screw a 10cm strip of OSB behind the board that remains, at the joint, put back the other board and also screw into the strip. The level difference is gone.
 
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ZipLock and 3 others
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Best answer

So you have no control at all near the edge? If you press, does it get better?

You should have taken down the boards and where you can't screw into a batten, place a splice piece behind so you bridge the boards with an extra piece of osb Drawing showing a construction technique with screws and OSB sheets bridging gaps using additional support pieces.
 
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Belmlu
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Belmlu
Many thanks! Have to take down one of the boards and attach a strip behind it :)
 
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freak86
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A
Hadn't glued myself though, it's good if the boards can swell and shrink at the joints, which they do.
 
If you just place the joint of the drywall offset, it doesn't matter there. So no drywall joint in a section where there is a joint on the OSB.
 
Last edited:
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1
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The unevenness disappears when you screw up the drywall, but for the sake of rigidity, I would have placed some form of strip behind where the joint lands far from a stud.
 
Handyman 1 said:
I would not have glued it myself, it's good if the boards can expand and contract at the joints, which they do.
my suggestion was to glue and screw the strip into one, not both. Maybe that was unclear.
 
A
Ok, read more carefully now, it appears that you only mean to glue one edge, then I'm on board :oops:
 
Belmlu
Problem solved, big thanks for the help!
 
  • OSB wooden wall panels with a small window opening in a garage, a blue vacuum cleaner and concrete floor visible, related to problem-solving project.
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Rabbithole and 2 others
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What was the solution then?
 
Looks like Belmlu followed Mathias/Johannes' tips...
 
Belmlu
Correct and right! Became about a 10 cm vertical strip along the irregularities, glued and screwed on one side and screwed on the other.
 
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ToRy and 1 other
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