Plywood for exterior walls

[qwerty11]

Has anybody used say treated plywood for exterior coverings? If so could you offer some advice if its feasible and maybe point me toward some build threads of folks who used it?

Thanks!

[doug hodder]

Since its something that you are going to be sleeping in, most people stay away from the "treated" materials. Who knows what all it's treated with, especially if any of it comes from China. I picked up a piece of OSB for under the mattress and don't think I'll use it. It's a fresh piece and it doesn't smell all that healthy. And I'm not one to worry about that sort of thing. Others opinions may vary. Doug

[qwerty11]

Since its something that you are going to be sleeping in, most people stay away from the "treated" materials. Who knows what all it's treated with, especially if any of it comes from China. I picked up a piece of OSB for under the mattress and don't think I'll use it. It's a fresh piece and it doesn't smell all that healthy. And I'm not one to worry about that sort of thing. Others opinions may vary. Doug

Maybe something like Hardie Panels could be the answer (http://www.homedepot.com/p/SmartSide-96 ... aT4LJwTU-c). Especially sense I am zero concerned about weight. I bet I could screw this stuff directly to the studs.

[mezmo]

Plywood is structural in that it can bear weight/stress. I don't consider Hardi-Plank as a
structural product. It is more of a cladding. A good product for what its intended purpose is.
Plywood can also be used as a cladding, but it then has the added benefit of being structural
as well. Just get some quality plywood with exterior rated glue and glue to it whatever other
structural pieces you are using in addition to any other fasteners you happen to use.
The 'secret' is to thus connect/combine all your components into "one" resulting unit so that
they can spread/share the loads and join/connect/reinforce all their strengths together to
act as one. Once you do that, then use whatever water sealing treatment you want on it.

As an "extreme" example:
Here's a link to a plywood based car hauler trailer. It has no steel frame per se.

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/projects-t ... taudacher/

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[qwerty11]

Plywood is structural in that it can bear weight/stress. I don't consider Hardi-Plank as a
structural product. It is more of a cladding. A good product for what its intended purpose is.
Plywood can also be used as a cladding, but it then has the added benefit of being structural
as well. Just get some quality plywood with exterior rated glue and glue to it whatever other
structural pieces you are using in addition to any other fasteners you happen to use.
The 'secret' is to thus connect/combine all your components into "one" resulting unit so that
they can spread/share the loads and join/connect/reinforce all their strengths together to
act as one. Once you do that, then use whatever water sealing treatment you want on it.

As an "extreme" example:
Here's a link to a plywood based car hauler trailer. It has no steel frame per se.

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/projects-t ... taudacher/

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

I'm going to be doing extensive boxing of the framing so I don't really think I need the extra structural strength plywood affords me.