[Strawbale] Message from Jenik in Hostetin [off-gas sealer]

[Mark Bigland-Pritchard]

Shody -
MDF is different from OSB - you need more glue to hold it together, for 
a start.
I'm wondering - this could just be a shot in the dark - if your location 
has anything to do with your problems.  When I was in Britain, I was 
advised not to use OSB externally unless very well protected because of 
the risk of water damage.  (The general view is that OSB is a lot more 
vulnerable to moisture than plywood because there are far more potential 
entry points.)  Here in Saskatchewan, that concern is not shared to 
anything like the same extent - but it doesn't rain much here, and when 
it does things generally dry out quickly because of the low relative 
humidity of the atmosphere.
So I'm wondering what normal practice is in Portland (where both 
rainfall and humidity levels are similar to what I experienced in 
Britain), and whether, as a result of either water penetration or 
interstitial condensation, you end up with frequent mould growth on 
OSB.  If this is the case, then you could be having problems with mould 
spores.  Alternatively, manufacturers may be compensating for this by 
putting in extra (or more potent) preservatives.
Just a thought.
Mark



Shody Ryon wrote:

>I have heard that plywood commonly has toxic
>preservatives. I have noticed that my sinuses react
>when I am around MDF/OSB. I haven't noticed a reaction
>around plywood unless I am exposed to the saw dust,
>and even that is minimal. I plan on using building
>techniques that require minimal wood in the future, it
>is just that I am in the middle of a conventional
>project that I would like to be as nontoxic and green
>as possible (in that order).
>If MDF is entered on google the second site that comes
>up is ask.com
>http://www.design-technology.org/mdf.htm
>which states a concern of toxins there.
>I don't think I would use SIPs, though I don't know
>until faced with the option. I am interested in
>wheather any manufactures of SIPs have addressed this
>issue (of off-gasing). Does anyone know the name of a
>manufacturer of SIPs they have seen on a job site or
>that is commonly used?
>Shody
>Portland, OR
>
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