Hey everyone! I'm looking to install some french cleats in my garage workspace, which has OSB walls. I'm weighing my options between screwing 2x4s to the studs and then adding a sheet of plywood for the french cleats, versus just mounting them directly to the OSB. My thought on the 2x4s and plywood setup is to allow for better airflow and prevent any warping. Is that necessary, or is it fine to go straight on the wall? Just to note, my garage is a freestanding structure. Thanks for your input!
3 Answers
In most scenarios, attaching directly to the studs is enough to prevent warping of your plywood. I’ve done it before and never encountered any significant issues. Just make sure you’re solidly hitting those studs when you screw in your cleats!
Attaching the french cleats directly to the studs should give you enough strength, just like if you were to go through plywood. It’s really effective and I’ve never had any noticeable warping issues when doing it this way. If you're concerned, adding a plywood sheet isn’t really needed in most cases, just keep it simple!
Honestly, just go ahead and screw them straight into the OSB and secure them with screws where you hit the studs. Don’t bother with glue, so you can switch things around easily if you find you’re not a fan of the french cleat setup. I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes they’re not as useful as you’d think!
That makes sense! I'm all for keeping things straightforward, especially if the studs are solid.