Hoarding

The primary function of hoarding in construction is to create a protective perimeter that will safeguard the construction site and conceal the often noisy and unsightly works from the surrounding environment. Internal hoarding similarly conceals and protects parts of already functioning sites, such as shopping centres, during refurbishment works. This is to ensure a minimum visual and acoustic impact on the surroundings, the stock, and the users.

Hoarding provides valuable advertising space that can maximise the impact of a marketing campaign. Although most hoarding assemblies are temporary, they can become a long term feature and need to be robust and durable to offer the required level of protection. A variety of timber manufactured materials are used for hoarding, but oriented strand boards (OSBs) and plywood are often used as they are practical, cost effective and sustainable.

OSBs and plywood are used in both outdoor and indoor hoarding assemblies because they are light, easy to transport and simple and fast to assemble. They are mechanically strong and offer dimensional stability that helps to secure the relevant area. They can be rapidly dismantled and re-used. As a sustainable building product, they can help reduce the carbon impact of a construction project.

Although OSBs type 3 has a level of moisture resistance, all timber manufactured boards need additional protection to ensure they retain strength and stability. The board surface will need to be primed and waterproofed. Hoarding boards are often smoothed, primed, and painted to achieve the required visual impact. They are often painted or printed on if they are used as marketing canvas.