MDF or Plywood for interior walls

[Durasmack]

Hi all! I'm in the process of building a new shop and wanted to solicit opinions from the experts on this forum. I've read hundreds of forums/ threads and 3/4" plywood seems to be the wall covering of choice.
Finished shop will be 54x56x16
The inside of my shop will be finished as follows.
4' white metal wainscot then 8' of either 3/4" plywood or 3/4" MDF, then 4' of white metal panel to the ceiling.
I went with 4' of metal at the bottom to combat any water that the walls may see from washing cars, etc....
I know that MDF is not at all water friendly, so I am sure that is why most people do not use it! However, since I am going with Metal on the bottom, why not use MDF on the top? MDF takes on paint much better than plywood.

Any thoughts, or would you still go with 3/4 Ply?
It's not a cost thing as MDF is roughly $33/ sheet and ACX Ply is roughly $38/ sheet. I figure I need 26 sheets so the difference is only $130 or so...

 

[Ainsley]

If you can tolerate the texture I would do 7/16 OSB. It runs about $7-9 per sheet around here.
I would NOT want to be hanging 3/4" MDF on the walls, that **** is HEAVY!

 

[ishiboo]

What about MDO if you are concerned about water?

 

[transplant_wi]

As Ainsley says, MDF is very heavy and also not good for attaching things to, in addition to the lack of water resistance. I think it would swell with any humidity.

 

[jgorm]

MDF ***** for anything other than speaker boxes, or maybe a benchtop that needs to be super smooth. I used 3/4" 5 ply on all the walls. It's bad ***. you can hang anything off it and hardly ever have to look for a stud.

 

[Durasmack]

Good points guys. I didn't think about the humidity issue with MDF!
I really want to go with something smooth. I have 3/4" OSB in my small barn and don't like the texture.
WHat is MDO?

 

[ishiboo]

Good points guys. I didn't think about the humidity issue with MDF!
I really want to go with something smooth. I have 3/4" OSB in my small barn and don't like the texture.
WHat is MDO?

MDO is an exterior-grade plywood, with a perfectly smooth face like MDF impregnated to it. So you get the best of both worlds.

 

[Durasmack]

Yeah, I just searched MDO.... looks fantastic! but it's about $60/ sheet. 3/4" Birch is about $43/ sheet....
Looks like Birch it is!

 

[Modern Jess]

Someone here (can't remember who) did 3/4" tongue-and-groove OSB, painted white. Came out really nice, and I have to say the t-n-g part appeals to me greatly.

 

[ishiboo]

Yeah, I just searched MDO.... looks fantastic! but it's about $60/ sheet. 3/4" Birch is about $43/ sheet....
Looks like Birch it is!

MDO you can tape and finish just like drywall, although there is a bit more work to feathering the tape joints as there are no recessed edges like drywall has on the long sides.

Looks the best AND the most durable for hanging stuff

 

[Ainsley]

Looks like Birch it is!

What about Good one side fir?

 

[61falcon]

I am putting 3/4 plywood on my walls. im about 80% completed. I am painting the boards before I hang them so not to worry about taping or edging. I like that I can hang anything anywhere and the boards are screwed to the walls so if I were to crack one I can easily replace it.

 

[hotdogstand]

Not to thread jack, but what are you guys doing to keep water from getting to the footer behind the metal? Caulk? I would like the option to pressure wash my floors, but am worried about water retention? This seemed like a good place to ask.

 

[kjenkins41]

Maybe I missed something, but why not use sheetrock?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jgorm]

Maybe I missed something, but why not use sheetrock?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can't hang anything off it without finding a stud, and you will bust holes in it if you bump it with heavy stuff. I had a table saw kickback bust a hole in the drywall 15' behind me. Being able to stick a screw in anywhere and not worry that it will hold is nice.

 

[Durasmack]

Not to thread jack, but what are you guys doing to keep water from getting to the footer behind the metal? Caulk? I would like the option to pressure wash my floors, but am worried about water retention? This seemed like a good place to ask.

I'm gong to caulk the **** out of the joint between the metal and the concrete.... much like between a tub and shower stall..... seal will only be as good as the "caulker"!

 

[mhoss44]

I furred with 2x4s, White Pine,nand treated for a bottom plate. Ran the electric. I used 1/2 CDX along the bottom, and a 1X2 treated for trim againsts the floor. The plywood rested on that. The pegboard on top. I caulked everything, the a coat of Kilz to seal. Then 10 yr old Sherwin-Williams house paint.looks great, and solid.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kevin54]

OSB, then drywall over the top. You get the best of both worlds. A nice outer finish that you can fasten everything you want anywhere.

And how hard is it to find a stud? On most garages that have a block foundation, look where your mortar joints are and look where your studs are.

 

[Jamie V]

Someone here (can't remember who) did 3/4" tongue-and-groove OSB, painted white. Came out really nice, and I have to say the t-n-g part appeals to me greatly.

I did it in my 24x40 barn. It worked great.

I primed it with an oil based primer (I was told that the glue in the OSP was water-based and that a water-based primer might loosen some of it up) then I used a water-based high-gloss paint over that once the oil-based primer dried and sealed the OSB. Those tongue and groove sheets were around $17 each.

 

[kjenkins41]

Can't hang anything off it without finding a stud, and you will bust holes in it if you bump it with heavy stuff. I had a table saw kickback bust a hole in the drywall 15' behind me. Being able to stick a screw in anywhere and not worry that it will hold is nice.

Thanks, that makes sense.


~ KJ

 

[Norcal]

Another option is plain rough sawn fir siding, it was used on the outside of my shop w/ 3" batts 16" on center but there is no reason other then cost why it could not be used inside, BTW the siding was water stained & the whole unit was bought for $7 a sheet, local lumber yard sells 5/8" "shop siding" for a lot less then premium fir siding just for a FYI, won't pass inspection as siding, but should not be a problem inside.

 

[ADSR]

I did it in my 24x40 barn. It worked great.

I primed it with an oil based primer (I was told that the glue in the OSP was water-based and that a water-based primer might loosen some of it up) then I used a water-based high-gloss paint over that once the oil-based primer dried and sealed the OSB. Those tongue and groove sheets were around $17 each.

Nice work! That looks great. I'm too cheap to use T&G and used sq **** OSB. I did sand the joints like you did and turned out pretty good. Best part is OSB is 8.50 / Sheet for 32sq feet.

 

[Durasmack]

I did it in my 24x40 barn. It worked great.

I primed it with an oil based primer (I was told that the glue in the OSP was water-based and that a water-based primer might loosen some of it up) then I used a water-based high-gloss paint over that once the oil-based primer dried and sealed the OSB. Those tongue and groove sheets were around $17 each.

The idea of tongue and groove really appeals to me.... I may do the same thing in 3/4" plywood. But I really like the 3/4" MDO.... I'm hitting the home improvement stores this weekend to price out all options.... I only need 26 sheets, so in the grand scheme of things even a few $'s more a sheet for good material won't break the bank!

 

[smttysmth02gt]

I used to have drywall before our housefire in 2013. When I redid it, I only did sheetrock on the wall on the house. The other 2 walls I did OSB. Glad I did too.