OSB or ply for lining timber stable walls?

L

LBird

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 July 2013
Messages
57
Visit site
I'm spec.ing our new stables and have a preference for ply over OSB. However, the guy who will be putting up the stables says that ply will delaminate and that I'll be better off with OSB. I have OSB delaminating nicely in my field shelter but I have no idea how old it is. Does anyone have any thoughts / experience?

TIA.
 
Most people use OSB, I suspect there's not much in it tho ply looks smarter. But remember it's a pretty nasty environment for either.

It's the edges where the moisture gets in. Worth going nuts on sealing those, two or three coats of varnish, ideally epoxy, before they're installed. And you may as well do the whole lower part which will in contact with the bedding too....
 
If it is for the inside and you are open to alternatives have a look at Solway recycling stockboard. They do a cattle version and an equestrian version and as far as I can see the only difference is the price. Easy to keep clean, doesn't delaminate and no need to treat year on year. I think that Hobo on here uses something similar in her field shelter.

I have one of their chicken arks, it still looks like new and gets pressure washed to keep it clean. As a company they are easy to deal with and extremely prompt when delivering.
 
My stable suppliers recommend OSB over ply. It withstands kicks and abuse better, in that the damage is limited to the local area and is easily patched. Ply will splinter and split over a much wider area.

This hole was made my maxicob, who was breakdancing in his stable whilst I mixed up the feeds next door ;). It was a massive impact, the noise was incredible and the whole building shook, but it left this neat little hole which was easily repaired. (And not a scratch on the perpetrator!).



 
Mine have OSB, and been in situ for getting on for 10 years. No sign of rot, even at the bottom where wet bedding can collect, or the damp areas round the external door. I can see what he means by delaminating, ply can do that when it gets consistently wet, unless it is marine ply which is very expensive.
And if you are worried about how it looks, you can easily paint it with emulsion type paint - mine has white above and dark brown below the height of the top of the doors.
 
Last edited:
Thank you everyone for your replies. Like everything to do with horses (it seems) it is not clear cut!! :-) I have some considering to do......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top