On Monday, February 18, 2013 at 2:35:48 PM UTC-8, wrote:
On Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:48:49 -0800 (PST), DD_BobK
wrote:

On Feb 17, 4:03�pm, wrote:
On Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:50:27 -0500, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:









wrote:

-snip-
I seriously doubt that they would stand-up well
to getting wet as they are bound to do
sooner or later if there is a leak somewhere some day,
and labor to repair them isn�t relatively cheap
here in the U.S. like it is in Europe.

Since those beams have been around [in the US] for 40 years, I think
they've proven they hold up 'well enough'.

As for OSB-- I had a 3/4" pice covering a sump hole in my basement for
5-6 years. � Now backing, framing, or protection from moisture. � � An
18" square hole covered with a 30" square chunk of OSB. � I stepped in
the middle of it regularly. � When I finally got around to covering
the floor and making a proper cover, that piece kicked around in the
garage for years as I whittled it down for various small pieces.

OSB does a lot better than it looks like it ought to do.

As long as it doesn't get soggy it's fine. �For decking I'd spend the
extra for plywood. �There's too much chance of water on floors.. � OSB
doesn't hold nails well, either, so it's iffy for sheathing. �There
doesn't seem to be much downside to the beams. �They seem to be coated
with a waterproofing that should repel water that may come in contact
with them (leaks, and such).

OSB doesn't hold nails well, either, so it's iffy for sheathing.

Urban legend ... I've done the testing.

So have I. In my own houses. It sucks.

http://netinfo.ladbs.org/ladbsec.nsf/d3450fd072c7344c882564e5005d0db4/180e63b3b0caa3e588256b200081a4f3/$FILE/CoLA_Rpt.pdf

If anyone is interested, I could probably find an electronic copy of
the report & attendant data.

It's fine for sheathing. Visit APA website for information about OSB.

If you get the nails into the framing, it's fine. Otherwise it sucks.

But then it is not meant to have driving "into" it, only through it.

Same as gyp rock.