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obtusemoose399
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2013 08:30am
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Hello everyone- I've been a longtime reader here, and having just purchased a 120 square foot cabin in the Adirondacks of NY state I'm very excited to take advantage of the collective knowledge of everyone here.
My first question: The cabin's walls are currently OSB plywood, which have been painted. We are considering installing tongue and groove or beadboard paneling, and I was wondering whether such materials could be installed over the existing plywood, or if we would be better off pulling down the plywood (which I suspect will prove quite difficult).
Any input is appreciated!
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2013 09:05am
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I'm quite sure you can, but OSB and plywood are two different things. OSB is glued together aspen chips and plywood is thin veneers of , usually pine glued together. And I'm assuming you're talking about the inside.
Owen
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obtusemoose399
Member
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2013 09:18am
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Owen,
Yes- the OSB is the glued together 'chipboard,' and it is on the inside only.
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OwenChristensen
Member
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2013 09:24am
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It's always been my opinion to not have OSB where the fumes are inside. It would be good to cover it up. Then it's no problem.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 3 Nov 2013 11:16am - Edited by: bldginsp
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OSB has a lot of glue in it, and though they are reducing the amount of formaldehyde in the glue, it's still there. Having that stuff as interior paneling is going to subject you to some exposure, but I have no way of assessing how dangerous it is or isn't. Covering it with T+G won't reduce the interior exposure, I don't think. Just remember that the French doctor who invented formaldehyde died of exposure to it.
If that OSB on the inside is what is providing the lateral strength for the cabin, removing it would structurally compromise the cabin. If it has OSB or plywood on the outside, it's not a problem. Could be they used it inside cause it's the cheapest sheet in the lumberyard.
Your call. No reason why you can't cover it up. But if you do remove it you then have the opportunity to install insulation and wiring, if they are not there already. Removing it is not as hard as you might think. You just need a couple of cats paws and a crow bar, and pull nails till the panels loosen. But then you have a pile of gargage to deal with, which itself may take as much or more time to deal with as actually removing the panels. DON'T burn it. When the glue burns the pollution is hideous. Gotta go to the landfill, if you don't think you could use it on some other structure (outhouse?)
Post pics!
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Barbee Lake Cabin
Member
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# Posted: 8 Nov 2013 12:25pm
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I built a 700 sq ft cabin 2 years ago and every square inch of ceiling and walls are covered in 7/16 OSB plywood. Since the cabin is costantly changing temp, I didn't want to use drywall and to put up T/G pine would of cost a fortune. We painted it with rustic colors just like you would drywall. I will tell you that I did ask about the health issues and I was told that although it might stink for a little while, it is not dangerous. That being said, when we arrive to the cabin on a hot day after it has been closed up, it does have a gluey smell to it. Hopefully the advise I was given was correct. In your case, if it has been up for a long time and you don't smell anything funky, I would think you would be OK to cover it up.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 8 Nov 2013 12:51pm
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Quoting: Barbee Lake Cabin Since the cabin is costantly changing temp, I didn't want to use drywall
Personal experience has shown that to be of no concern. All our walls except one is 5/8 drywall. The cabin is heated only when we are present. It has gone through 6 years of winter thru summer cycles, occupied and then unoccupied, including many dozens of heat/cool cycles from below zero ti 75 F. No cracks anywhere.
People making/selling the osb will say it is safe to breath the off gassing. I', not sure about that. Drywall, done right, can seal the off gassing from osb and ply.
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scout100
Member
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# Posted: 9 Nov 2013 03:46pm
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Friend, just built an OSB cabin.. I went in there and started sneezing up a boat-load. Granted, I have bad allergies regardless. I hate that crap and hate the smell of it... That and poly carpeting. I'd tear it all out and go with plywood. 
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obtusemoose399
Member
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# Posted: 10 Nov 2013 08:08am
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I think that we will end up putting shiplapped pine up over the existing OSB. Hoping that it has had time to off gas enough prior to when we purchased it!
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dsaw
Member
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# Posted: 11 Nov 2013 09:29am
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I have OSB outside sheathing on my 240 ft cabin, insulation, and pine car siding on the inside. The ceiling is car siding, vapor barrier, then insulation. When I show up after it's been closed up, I only smell the pine.
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woodspirit
Member
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# Posted: 29 Nov 2020 12:40pm
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I have a similar situation the interior walls are just plain plywood. Not osb. Is it better to remove plywood or just cover it with T n G pine?
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 29 Nov 2020 01:10pm
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Leave the plywood unless you need the thickness of the ply as extra interior space. 
If you leave the plywood you then have the option of using adhesive to mount the T&G. There is also some very thin T&G made that is easily glued; I have done that over drywall.
The plywood also acts as an air barrier, something that T&G is not so good at.
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Fanman
Member
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# Posted: 29 Nov 2020 08:13pm - Edited by: Fanman
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Unless the cabin was built very recently, the OSB has probably outgassed all it's going to. My inclination would be to leave it in place and just cover it up.
We redid our cabin with beadboard throughout, then stained it with an exterior transucent stain. It stunk for a few weeks, but the smell faded, and we really like the result.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 30 Nov 2020 06:56am
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The only benefit I see to removing the interior plywood would be to make sure its insulated properly.
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