Q. I am siding a building that was framed and roofed two years ago and is sheathed with 15/32-inch OSB. The building paper blew off one of the gable walls, and now the OSB has turned gray and some of the strands are lifting from the surface. Is the OSB still sound as structural sheathing? I cut out one of the window openings, and it looks like only the top surface - less than 1/32 inch - is affected; the rest of the panel is still tightly glued and has its original color.
A. Bryan Readling, P.E., an engineered-wood specialist for APA, responds: For APA-rated structural panels - both plywood and OSB - there are two exposure durability grades: Exterior and Exposure 1. These are also known as bond classifications, because they relate to the moisture resistance of the glue bond, and thus to the structural integrity of the panel. Bond classification does not relate to the panel's physical resistance to, say, erosion or ultraviolet degradation, or to its biological resistance to mold, fungal decay, insect damage, and the like.
Although both panel grades use the same moisture-resistant adhesive, only Exterior-grade panels (such as sanded A-C and B-C plywood, T-111 siding, and overlaid panels like MDO) are intended for long-term exposure to weather, and even then they must be properly finished and maintained.
Exposure 1 panels, by contrast, are supposed to be able to resist the effects of moisture caused by construction delays but are not suitable for long-term exposure; they are commonly used for roof and wall sheathing and subflooring, and should be protected from the weather as soon as practical. The longer these panels are exposed and the more severe the exposure, the greater the effect on panel performance. However, panels exposed to long construction delays may be less than aesthetically pleasing - as in your case - yet still structurally sound, especially if they're located on walls where there is less rain exposure.
Exposure to UV rays causes wood to gray, but this is only superficial, because the graying wood fibers on the surface offer UV protection to the wood immediately underneath. Surface flaking as seen in the photos is not unusual for OSB panels that have been exposed to surface wetting; this generally is not a structural concern. During the current economic slowdown, I've inspected several projects that were placed on hold for an extended time. In cases where the panels are able to fully dry between rain exposures, changes in structural performance are normally insignificant. Where panels are subjected to moisture levels over 20 percent for an extended period, structural degradation can be expected - as is true for any wood that is not preservative-treated or naturally decay-resistant.
