Highlands housebuilder on the benefits of SterlingOSB Zero

“I can remember Sterlingboard from the very early days and, as it has been developed, it has virtually taken over from plywood”

After four decades in the industry and 30 years of running his own joinery business in the North of Scotland, Kevin Rodgers has seen the panel board product market evolve both in application and performance; and has developed a particular liking for the OSB which is manufactured close to him.

While his business, Kevin Rodgers Joiners Ltd, is centred on Inverness, he works across much of the Highlands and the West Coast of Scotland, mainly building houses for private clients and small developers.  He and his team are currently fitting out a four-bedroom detached property whose timber frame construction is making good use of the SterlingOSB Zero’s strength, versatility and all-round user-friendliness.

The 200 square-metre two-storey house has been designed by the Inverness-based consultancy, Colin Armstrong Architects, and was conceived from the outset as a panelised timber structure.  However, rather than utilising a factory fabricated kit, Kevin’s firm has fabricated all the components on site to a high degree of accuracy, carrying out the erection and coordinating closely with other trade contractors.

Kevin Rodgers comments: “This is a high specification property where two of the four bedrooms are en-suite while energy performance is being maximised with very good levels of insulation and underfloor heating to optimise output. We’ve worked with Armstrong Architects on a number of jobs in the past and the project partner, David Cameron, specified the SterlingOSB Zero. The ‘stick-built’ wall panels are 2700mm high and have SterlingOSB Zero as the sheathing across the entire envelope while taking the racking loads for some of the internal walls.  I can remember Sterlingboard from the very early days and, as it has been developed, it has virtually taken over from plywood for most applications.  It is very easy to cut and fit while the accuracy is very good, and conditioning has got over the problems you sometimes suffered from moisture getting into the wood if you couldn’t get it sheeted over and watertight quickly enough. 

“We’ve used both the 11mm and 18mm boards here, with the latter ones being T&G which we’ve laid as the flat roof decking for a couple of balcony features. We buy most of ours from Caley Timber in Dalcross but get it elsewhere depending on where we’re working.”

SterlingOSB Zero is available in a range of sizes and thicknesses up to 22mm as well as a T&G version ideal for flooring and decking applications.  The high-performance panel product, free of added formaldehyde, has also earned BBA approval and meets the requirements of NHBC Technical.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/