OSB boards are very popular due to their characteristics, therefore they are very widely used in construction. Depending on the thickness, the plate can perform a load-bearing function even in a damp room. OSB boards consist of stacked, ordered fine wood particles held together by a binder. In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to properly lay osb.
Since the composition of the OSB board is such that all its elements are laid in the same direction and are beautifully aligned, the OSB even in its raw state looks harmonious and partially even modern. In addition, the modern development of technologies in the industry makes these panels particularly durable and resistant to the external environment. Thus, the OSB panel is used for various purposes. Thin versions of osb slabs are used for the construction of partitions or wall decoration, as well as for cladding pitched roofs. Thicker slabs are used for arranging floors.
Tools:
- level
- folding ruler or tape measure
- pencil
- forceps
- screwdriver
- manual circular
- a hammer
- bracket for laying laminate
- jigsaw
- japanese saw
- osb plate with grooves
- waterproofing film
- adhesive aluminum tape
- soundproofing underlay
- rule
- wedges
If the floor is laid in a floating way, this means that OSB floor slabs should not be attached to the base, but only to each other. This prevents the floor from creaking, which often occurs when the floor is made of wooden elements in a room where there are constant changes in air pressure and temperature. However, if the floor is laid in a floating way, it can always expand and contract freely in the direction of the walls without making annoying sounds.
Advantages of OSB boards
Manufacturers of this material produce plates in four classifications. The first OSB - 1, is a panel that is used for the manufacture of furniture and interior wall decoration, suitable only for use at low humidity.
OSB - 2 is used in dry rooms, but already has load-bearing properties.
OSB-3 boards are laid in damp rooms as bases. They are ideal for floating laying in an attic or concrete surface.
The fourth class of OSB are panels that can provide strong load-bearing properties in all areas, even in a damp room, such as a bathroom. These panels can be used if the joists in the attic are spaced far enough apart to create a solid floor. If the distance between the beams is a meter or more, then you definitely need to use OSB - 4. Starting from a distance from the beam of about one meter, you should use these panels anyway.
OSB 3 - a universal option for the floor
OSB of the third class is ideal for flooring in your home. The material has many positive properties, but pay attention to the weight of the sheets. If you want to make a floor on the second floor or attic, it will be difficult or even impossible to raise this material to a height on your own. Depending on the thickness of the plate, the weight can be from 590 to 610 kilograms per cubic meter.
Sizes of plates that are on sale
- Slab size with groove and tongue 2500 x 625 mm - 12, 15, 18, 22 and 25 mm
- Size with straight ends 2500 x 1250 mm - 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22 and 25 mm
Preparatory stage
Tip: it is optimal to choose not only thicker OSB boards - 22 or 25 mm in size, but also, if possible, made with m grooves and a spike for connection. In this way, you will get higher strength for a floor that will withstand greater weight loads.
Before starting work, check the beams and boards for damage caused by worms or rot. If you lay a new floor, then you will no longer have access to these elements of the house and the opportunity to change or change something.
Tip: When buying glue, pay attention to Note: Formaldehyde-free glue. This is a more environmentally friendly option, and it should be taken even for non-residential premises.
floor leveling
An old floor or a concrete floor that has served for many years will often be slightly uneven, so it must be leveled with a leveling layer before laying the OSB panels. Otherwise, the slabs will sag or sag over time. Perhaps even with a heavy load on the floor, they can break.
Now in every hardware store you can buy various mixtures, including expanded clay or something similar.
Before leveling, you must install guides that are covered with loose material and leveled with a rule or a high level, or finally with a flat board. In the end, you need to make sure that everything is level and tightly packed, without holes and protrusions.
When leveling you will need:
- fine expanded clay or leveling compound
- guides
- rule
- level
Especially if the laying of OSB is carried out on the old floor of wooden boards, a vapor barrier is required between them. It's just a strong plastic film that you stick with aluminum tape. The film should protrude well on the wall so that it will later be higher than your new OSB floor. After completion of all work, the film will be hidden behind the plinth.
Soundproofing installation
If you are not laying OSB on the ground floor, then you need to additionally lay soundproofing material. Otherwise, your walking on the floor will be quite audible in the room below you. Soundproofing is sold both in rolls and in small mats, it is not very expensive, so you do not need to omit this step.
Laying slabs - first row
OSB panels should have time to adjust to room temperature before laying, just like laminate or parquet. Therefore, it is recommended to store the boards indoors at least 24 hours before laying, so that they can acclimatize.
Start laying from the longest wall of the room - from the left corner. At the plates that lie against the wall, the lock is cut off from the wall - using a circular saw. Then the sheets are aligned along the wall, wedges are installed at a distance of about 80 centimeters from each other - between the plates and the wall to set a gap of 1.5 to 2 centimeters - this is an expansion joint.
Tip: If you want to glue the floor, then first you need to cut all the sheets for one row, and then apply a thin layer of glue to the joints of the groove and lock. With the help of an iron bracket, the plates are shifted into each other.
The last sheet in the first row should usually be cut off. To prevent board seams from falling directly into one row, the cut board is used as the first element in the next row. Thus, a composition similar to brickwork is created. Always use enough wedges so that the floor is clamped on all sides.
If the remaining piece of sheet that lies in the next row is less than forty centimeters, it is better not to use it, but to find a more suitable half of the sheet.
Curing and removing glue
Leave the floor alone for at least 24 hours to allow the adhesive to dry. Then you can remove the wedges near the walls. If the finish coating - laminate, parquet, linoleum, etc., will not be laid on the OSB, it should be painted or waxed for wood.
Tip: use good quality wedges, preferably plastic. Wooden wedges are partially split already at the first correct blow with a hammer. And soft fibers can't hold a big floating floor.
In a non-residential attic, you don't have to worry about installing a floating floor, you can simply screw the sheets to the base.
If possible, drill holes for the screws and go through the holes with a countersink. This way the screws will be sunk into the OSB sheets and you can't hit them with your shoes.
Tip: If the room is not heated, you should use screws that do not rust due to high humidity. Stainless steel screws are ideal for this purpose because they can be removed even after several years of operation in a humid environment.
OSB double decking
In the case of a not very strong base of rotting boards or beams, or with a large distance between them, experts recommend using two layers of OSB boards. For example, sheets with a thickness of 10 or 12 millimeters are taken, the first layer is screwed on, and then thinner sheets - 8 millimeters - are attached in the opposite direction. In this case, it is necessary to carefully ensure that the seams of the plates never coincide.
An additional advantage of this method is the price, since sheets with a straight end cost less, and the thin sheets still save money. Although the floor in this embodiment will turn out to be thinner than the floating one, it will be much more stable and stronger.
When it comes to flooring installation, the home master faces a difficult choice. Today there are many types of flooring, but many require complex installation, and making OSB floors with your own hands is quick and easy.
What is OSB board
This is a multi-layer board based on wood shavings. It is classified according to the degree of strength, and the index is indicated in numbers.
Among the advantages of these plates are light weight, as well as increased strength compared to any other products of a similar segment. High moisture resistance, low cost and ease of use and installation are also noted. Among the most popular applications for these products are OSB floors.
Types and characteristics of plates
For construction work apply:
- OSB-2 - plates with low moisture resistance for interior work in dry conditions;
- OSB-3 - universal materials with enhanced performance for indoor or outdoor use;
- OSB-4 - the most durable and moisture-resistant products for load-bearing structures in high humidity conditions.
How to choose a floor slab
Modern industry offers the consumer a variety of options for such plates. Products differ in technical characteristics, as well as in the presence of harmful substances that can harm human health.
When buying, pay attention to the manufacturer. Now one of the highest quality products are plates from European or American manufacturers. Canadian products are of good quality. These plates fully comply with all environmental and other standards.
If it is necessary to make floors, then products of the OSB-3 standard are recommended for these purposes. The material of the plate allows to provide a reliable structure for the future floor, as it has a high density and has good properties to resist moisture.
Technology
It is recommended to lay OSB floors on special wooden logs or on a concrete screed. For the first case, a plate should be used, the thickness of which is 15 - 25 mm. The exact selection of thickness depends on the installation distance of the lags. When laying on a screed, it is recommended to use a product with a thickness of up to 10 mm. If the screed has multiple defects and potholes, as well as bumps, a thicker product must be used.
Plates are produced in standard dimensions 2440×1220 mm. When calculating the required amount, it is imperative to consider the location of future plates so that there is a minimum amount of waste. A circular saw works well as a cutting tool. It gives perfectly smooth edges, which are very difficult to obtain using an electric jigsaw.
Laying on a concrete screed
Installing OSB floors in rooms with a concrete screed will provide a reliable foundation for further laying decorative floor coverings. It can be tiles, laminate, linoleum, parquet.
The plate can perform important functions:
- Leveling the floor surface;
- Soundproofing;
- Warming and waterproofing.
Usually concrete floors are characterized by the presence of various defects. Significant elevation changes are also often observed. Installation of plates on a concrete base allows you to provide the most even surface suitable for further finishing work.
Due to the special design of several layers, the plates perfectly absorb various sounds and vibrations.
OSB is based on natural materials. They allow to provide high heat-saving characteristics. In addition, these products prevent the penetration of moisture.
Installation work
On a concrete base, the logs and their subsequent sheathing with OSB sheets allows you to get the most even floor without the need to use wet screeds.
Before you start installing OSB floors, you should prepare wooden bars in advance. They will then be used as lags. Their use will help to significantly smooth out defects and errors in the concrete pavement. The greater the distance between them, the thicker the plate should be.
The number of products should be calculated in such a way as to lay products in 2 layers. So it will be possible to provide a much higher rigidity of the material and a higher resistance to various deformations. It is recommended to lay with some offset.
The first and second layers are fastened together with a special glue, and spiral or ring nails are additionally used.
If the concrete screed is even, then the installation of the OSB floor can be carried out directly on the screed. For this, one layer will suffice. You can fix the plates with dowels or self-tapping screws.
detailed instructions
The first step is to remove debris and dust from the base. The concrete surface must be completely clean, otherwise the assembly adhesive will have poor adhesion. For even better adhesion and adhesion, the concrete screed is treated with a primer. Also, the primer allows you to create a film on the concrete, which will prevent the screed from forming dust during the installation of the plates.
Using a spatula, the plate is smeared with parquet glue. Then you should put the product on a concrete screed. Be sure to allow for a gap of 3 mm. Moisture will inevitably come from below, since the plates can change their size over time. Further, using a perforator, holes for dowels are drilled in the corners. Then the plate is fixed on the screed.
When installing a floating floor, leave a gap of 15 mm between the slab and the wall.
Works on wooden bases
If the building is based on a columnar or flood foundation, then often the floors in such buildings are laid on logs made of timber. OSB board is often used as a leveling product for the installation of other finishing coatings.
Laying technology on logs
The first layer of the slab is installed under the joists. The surface of the slab is additionally treated with bituminous waterproofing or any other waterproofing material. In the free space between the lag beams and the first, draft layer, a layer of insulation should be laid, and the insulation should be covered with glassine on top.
Next - a finishing layer of OSB is mounted for the floor on the logs. The thickness of the plate in this case is from 15 to 25 mm. You can also install two layers, but perpendicular to each other. Self-tapping screws should be used to fasten the plate to the lags. Fastening is carried out every 25 mm. If several layers are used, parquet adhesive is used to give greater rigidity and higher contact. It is recommended to lay the floor, taking into account technological gaps of 3 mm.
How to process OSB for various coatings
The durable, hard, and even surface that OSB creates allows it to be a completely versatile base for all types of floor finishes.
For paint coatings, OSB products can be used as a finishing floor, which only needs decorative treatment with paints and varnishes. There is no need for additional processing of the plates. It will be enough to clean them of dust and apply several layers of paint and varnish.
When laying roll finishing materials, it should be ensured that the places where the OBS plates are joined to each other are flush with other surfaces. Any irregularities are recommended to be removed immediately. This can be done with sanding tools or sanding paper. If there are expansion gaps on the surface, they are filled with sealants.
If it is necessary to lay a tile, for better fixing on the slab, it is necessary to ensure the immobility of the product. To do this, the logs are placed a little more often than the thickness of the OSB requires. The step between the floor mounts is also made smaller. The tiles are glued with a special adhesive that is suitable for wooden surfaces.
The slab is not prepared for laying laminate flooring. If there are any minor irregularities, they are removed with the help of a substrate.
OSB boards make it possible to quickly and inexpensively make an existing floor covering perfectly even. If necessary, the floor is also quickly assembled on the logs. It won't take long and it won't take a lot of effort. The surface of the product will not require expensive finishing work, treatment with leveling compounds, means for protecting against moisture.
OSB is used on a wooden floor when repairing tongue and groove flooring, to reinforce a subfloor or to provide a continuous layer when laying small-format cladding (for example, tiles, PVC tiles, parquet).
Although oriented strand board is superior in quality to chipboard, this structural material is not suitable as a floor finish:
Therefore, OSB is used more often as a subfloor:
At the same time, it is necessary to know how to properly fasten OSB sheets to floorboards / logs, to use offset seams in adjacent rows.
There are several types of oriented strand boards:
- OSB-2 - only for dry rooms;
- OSB-3 - can be used in rooms with high humidity;
- OSB-4 - for load-bearing structures.
Important! Since the subfloor has low maintainability, it is forbidden to use OSB-2 in it. The plates are additionally treated with an antiseptic and waterproofing material.
The main characteristics of oriented strand boards are:
- density - 630 kg / m³;
- thermal conductivity - 0.13 W / m * K;
- linear expansion - 0.15% at a humidity of 70%;
- straightness - 0.6 mm / m;
- perpendicularity of opposite sides of the sheet - within 3 mm;
- thickness deviation - 0.3 - 0.8 mm (polished, not processed, respectively).
Advice! Manufacturers produce plates of different sizes, which must be taken into account when buying in order to reduce cutting waste for specific dimensions and room configurations.
Mounting technology
In order to properly lay sheet material on top of an existing plank floor, the following conditions must be met:
Important! When laying parquet, PVC tiles, other small-format facings, the heads of the self-tapping screws must be puttied.
Depending on the type of finish flooring, OSB boards are oriented differently on a wooden floor:
- for small-sized decorative materials, it should be ensured that the seams of tiles, PVC tiles do not coincide with the joints of OSB boards;
- when choosing a laminate, sheet piling, decking or parquet board, it is better to lay the OSB rows across the direction of the long-length facings of the finishing layer or at an angle of 45 degrees for a diagonal layout (important in rooms with wall geometry defects).
Advice! On OSB, it is allowed to apply a screed from a DSP or self-leveling floor. However, the surface of the oriented strand board must be pre-treated with a waterproofing material to prevent leakage into the lower floor and swelling of the structural material itself.
Finished floor repair
The main problem of the boardwalk is the floorboard or several boards, in which, with a periodic change in humidity or in the process of drying out, a transverse “hump” appears. This leads to an increase in the repair budget:
In other words, OSB with a thickness of 22 mm or more should be used. This problem can be solved by preliminary grinding or sanding of the base:
- a grinder or scraper will smooth out the “waves”;
- the contact area of the layers of the subfloor will sharply increase;
- you can get by with oriented strand boards of smaller thickness.
However, this is not always possible with a small thickness of the existing floor covering.
OSB subfloor top layer
- provide an even base for flooring;
- increase the spatial rigidity and strength of the base;
- reduce labor intensity and material consumption of works.
Unlike floorboards, self-tapping screws are screwed into OSB boards strictly vertically. When the hardware is tilted, a change in geometry may occur, warping of the material over time.
The main problems arise when opposite walls diverge (a trapezoid instead of a rectangular room). In this case, it is necessary to mark the existing wooden floor in order to cut only the slabs of the first row:
Thus, the OSB structural material is suitable both for creating the top layer of a subfloor and for repairing a finished floor covering made of grooved boards, if the dismantling of this cladding for some reason is not advisable indoors. When choosing an oriented strand board, the labor intensity of the work is reduced, the home master completely manages with the available arsenal of tools.
Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for their selection. Just send in the form below a detailed description of the work that needs to be done and you will receive offers with prices from construction teams and firms by e-mail. You can see reviews of each of them and photos with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.
Not so long ago, when arranging a dry screed, sheets of plywood were used. But they are not waterproof. Therefore, it was necessary to additionally deal with waterproofing. Today, consumers are presented with a moisture-resistant sheet material made from wood chips, which is an alternative to plywood sheets. It's called OSB.
In the manufacture of boards, in addition to wood chips, waterproof resins are used. The material consists of three layers of wood chips. The second layer of chips is laid perpendicular to the first, and the third layer is perpendicular to the second. Thanks to this arrangement of layers, fasteners are securely held in the material. The resulting material is quite durable.
There are 3 types of material on the market: OSB-2, OSB-3 and OSB-4. The first material is not moisture resistant. It is used exclusively for interior work. At the same time, it is impossible to lay OSB-2 in rooms with high humidity.
Class 3 slab is a versatile building material. It is used for both indoor and outdoor work. It is resistant to moisture and has a fairly large margin of safety.
If you need to level the floor in rooms with high humidity, then it is better to opt for class 4 material. They can even be used to build load-bearing structures.
If the room has a normal level of humidity, then it is better to opt for the universal OSB-3 material. It will not warp under heavy furniture or equipment. If the subfloor does not have significant defects, then it is enough to use plates with a thickness of 1 cm.
If there are potholes and bumps on the draft base, then it is better to lay material 1.5 cm thick. When arranging the floor on the logs, it is necessary to use material whose thickness is 2-2.5 cm. After laying the OSB, there is no need to level the draft base. The decorative flooring can be installed immediately.
Since wood chips are used to create oriented strand board, the resulting material has a low thermal conductivity. Accordingly, after laying the material there is no need for additional thermal insulation of the floor. It is also worth noting the fact that this building material absorbs noise.
Selection and installation of material for concrete base
If needed level concrete floor, then it is advisable to opt for a material whose thickness is 1-1.5 cm. Before proceeding with the laying of the slabs, it is necessary to prepare a concrete base. It is cleaned of all sorts of debris and dust. Then, the surface is treated with a primer. To increase adhesion, concrete contact is added to the primer. Further work begins after the soil dries.
The next step is cutting the sheet material. It is most convenient to perform trimming with a circular saw or electric jigsaw. If such a tool is not at hand, then a sharp hacksaw is an alternative. Then, the plates must be laid on the floor, using a rubber-based adhesive for fixing.
To spread the adhesive evenly over the entire surface of the sheet material, use a notched trowel. Then, the sheet is applied to the floor and pressed for a few seconds.
Additionally, the plates are fixed with dowels. In order for the fixation to be reliable, the dowels should be located at a distance not exceeding 30 cm from each other. If a high-quality adhesive composition was used when laying the plates, then the dowels are hammered only at the corners of the plates.
Since wood material was used in the manufacture, the plates should not fit right up to the walls. During operation, they can expand and narrow. It will be enough to place the plates at a distance of 1 cm from the walls. Also, expansion joints should be made between the plates themselves.
It remains to clean the surface of construction dirt, and fill the seams with mounting foam. After 4 hours, you need to remove the excess foam and you can start laying the decorative floor covering.
Selection and installation of a slab for a wooden base
The most important stage is the preparation of a rough foundation. It is necessary to assess the condition of the boards and the lag. If there are rotten or deformed elements, they must be replaced. It is advisable to treat all wooden structural elements with special compounds that protect against moisture and fungus.
Then, armed with a building level, you need to examine the surface for the presence of bumps and depressions. If there are any, then you will have to remove the boards and level them according to the level of the log. Next, using a grinder, you need to clean the boards from the remnants of paint and varnish products, finally level the surface. After that, you can start laying sheet material.
Since the laying of OSB will be carried out not on logs, but on boards, you can stop your choice on slabs 1 cm thick. the material is laid in such a way that there is an offset of the seams. When laying on a boardwalk, the presence of cruciform joints is unacceptable.
Fixation of the material occurs with the help of dowels. To increase the strength of the floor, you can lay another layer of oriented strand boards. But do not forget about the expansion gaps between the plates and walls.
Selection and installation of the slab on the logs
The presence of a log not only allows you to get a perfectly flat surface without the use of wet solutions, but also makes it possible to isolate the room. Insulating materials are placed in the gaps between the joists. Fix the logs to the rough base with anchors.
Over the lag lining oriented strand boards thickness 1.5 - 2.2 cm. When laying sheet material, it is necessary to ensure that the seams are located in the center of the lag. Otherwise, the plates deform over time and depressions form on the floor.
Oriented strand boards are fixed to the logs with self-tapping screws 4.5 cm long or more in increments of 1.5-3 cm. To prevent the plates from cracking, you need to start drilling holes for self-tapping screws at a distance of 1 cm from the edge.
Processing of oriented strand boards
If a laminate or ceramic tile is chosen as a decorative floor covering, then oriented strand boards do not need to be treated with anything. If there are small irregularities, then they are leveled due to the adhesive composition or substrate. Before laying linoleum, it is advisable to walk on the surface with a grinder. Then, all seams must be sealed with sealant.
If oriented strand boards are coated with varnish or paint, then it will not be necessary to lay a decorative floor covering at all. Paintwork products are applied in several layers.
Using oriented strand boards, you can level the base yourself without spending a lot of time and money. In this case, it is not necessary to lay a decorative floor covering.
More and more new materials are constantly appearing on the market, with which you can level the concrete base. One of them is oriented strand board (OSB). It has become a full-fledged replacement for plywood or chipboard. OSB boards also have excellent thermal insulation qualities, which brings them to a leading position. At the same time, you need to know how to properly level the floor with the help of and what are the subtleties in the work.
Types of plates
OSB boards are presented in the form of layers of glued wood chips, which are also very strongly pressed. Usually everything is done in three layers. Inside, the chips are located perpendicularly, and along the outer layers - along the entire plate. There are the following main types of OSB boards:
As for the thickness of the plate itself, much depends on the purpose of use. If it is necessary to get rid of minor defects in the floor surface, then 10 mm will be enough, but significant potholes - 10-15 mm. An even greater thickness will be required for flooring on logs. In this case, it is already necessary to choose a layer of 20-25 mm.
Application area
When laying OSB on the floor is used, it should be understood for what purposes this is all done. There are main areas where this material is used:
At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the fact that there is enough, thanks to which you can fully perform laying on various grounds.
Advantages
Any room can be brought to an ideal state if you use an OSB plate in your work. In some cases, you don’t even have to do the subsequent finishing of the subfloor. There are other weighty arguments in favor of choosing this material:
Right choice
Due to the huge range of products on the market, it is very difficult to choose a specific option for the job. In order for the laying of smallpox on the floor to be of high quality, you should follow certain tips regarding the choice.
In work, it is best to refuse to use a jigsaw for cutting, for the reason that the side surface very rarely remains flat.
Laying on a concrete base
If it is necessary to level the floor with an OSB slab, the bases for work should be carefully prepared. Repair all possible cracks and potholes, get rid of defects to the maximum. There shouldn't be any trash. After all, the mounting adhesive must have excellent adhesion to the base. It will not be superfluous to cover the concrete floor with a primer to create a dense film on the surface. During operation, this will save the screed from dusting.
The next steps are laying out the sheets over the entire surface in the room. Cut slabs to size along walls and other structures. The reverse side of the boards is covered with parquet adhesive based on rubber. To apply the adhesive across the entire width of the material, a notched trowel is used. After that, the sheets are glued to the concrete floor. 
For the reliability of the entire structure, the OSB plate is fixed with driven dowels. So that everything is strong here, the fasteners are located at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. An exception here is a dry room, when there will be enough dowels only at the corners of each of the plates.
Between the plates should remain, about 3 mm wide. A seam is also maintained between the wall, but a little more - 12 mm. These gaps will help compensate for the expansion of the plates under the influence of temperature changes and changes in humidity. No swelling throughout the process of use will occur.
The final stage is cleaning the surface of dust and debris. Having seams along the wall in the room are sealed with mounting foam. The whole "pie" will dry for about 3-4 hours. More accurate data is displayed on the instructions from the manufacturer. If there is excess foam, it should be cut off with a sharp knife. In the future, you can perform work on finishing and flooring.
Lag installation
You will not need to use leveling screeds to create a flat surface in the room if you buy OSB boards. Time is saved due to the fact that do-it-yourself mortar is not prepared for leveling the floor. This reduces the overall repair costs to some extent.
In this case, you will have to perform. In addition, materials can be placed in the created structure to improve the protective functions from moisture, excess sound and noise, as well as improve the thermal insulation qualities. In addition, the leveling of the floor takes place here quickly and in the shortest possible time. 
Fastening the log to the concrete base is carried out using anchors or dowels. Depending on the thickness of the purchased OSB board, the distance between the lags will be determined. The thicker, the wider the distance. With a step of 40 cm, a plate with a thickness of about 15-18 mm should be available. If the distance between the lags is more than 60 cm, then the material itself must have a thickness of at least 22 mm. This provides for the floor leveling technology osb.
After the device of such a design, there will be a space inside that can be filled with various materials. Basically it's isolation. For the first cold floors, it is perfect in the form of mineral wool or foam, and in the presence of a damp basement, vapor barrier films or membranes. 
The location of the plates should be carried out across the lag. We must not forget about expansion joints, which should be determined in the middle of the lag. Gaps are set not only between different plates, but also along the wall in the room. Used sheets can be attached to the logs with nails or self-tapping screws. True nails are best to choose spiral or ring. A fastening pitch of 15 mm should be maintained along the perimeter of the sheets, and 30 mm on intermediate supports. When using nails, a distance of about 10 mm should be measured from the edge of the slab. As for the size of the fastener, the length should be approximately 2.5 times greater than the thickness of the OSB sheet used. In this case, do-it-yourself leveling of the concrete floor will turn out at the highest level.
OSB processing for finishing
When the answer is received, how to level the OSB floor, you can think about finishing. Processing must take place in strict accordance with. The easiest option is to cover the existing sheets with varnish, put them along the perimeter along the walls of the plinth and enjoy the natural look of the material. But still, in most cases, when they think about how to level the concrete floor with their own hands, they subsequently perform flooring. The processing feature depends on the type of coating, as well as the desired result.
- Ceramic tiles on the floor. The base structure should not move, move. This is more about the floor on the logs. The surface should be sanded with a metal brush or sandpaper. In the work, only special glue is used that can connect wood and. Only in this case will excellent alignment be obtained with subsequent tiling.
- Clean finish. As mentioned earlier, the surface is not covered by anything. But at the same time, you should think about carefully protecting the plates from external influences. To do this, several layers of varnish or other special means are applied on the upper part. They will create a barrier against wear and tear. Special components in the composition of the covering elements prevent the appearance of various insects and in particular the bark beetle.
- Durable and tough materials is . It can also be used to cover the OSB leveling layer. In addition, the laminate has special fasteners that allow you to forget about many other requirements for the base of the floor. The end result should be a smooth surface. The interior will be not only beautiful, but also durable.
- Linoleum. There is also an alternative to this flooring - carpet. For their flooring there is a very important requirement - the base of the floor must be perfectly flat. Otherwise, over time, you may encounter serious defects. In addition to performance characteristics, elevation changes will negate the appearance and attractiveness. Stepping on such a surface, it will be possible to feel every defect (cracks, cracks, gaps, bulges, screws, etc.). One level will allow you to get the cycling process, which will need to be done before laying the flooring.
The use of OSB boards for flooring in any room allows you to get a flat surface on which you can subsequently lay almost any type of flooring. Compliance with technology will lead to a positive result. The main thing is to correctly choose a specific type of stove for work and follow the instructions.
