Creative (cheap) solutions to cover unfinished wallss

[Cypress]

Hello all,

I have an approximately 5' x 20' hidden space within my finished basement that has 4 walls with exposed studs / insulation / electrical. I am turning this space into a gun room and looking for creative solutions to cover up the exposed materials to make the room a bit more desirable. I do not want to use drywall, stuffs a pain in the ***.

The first thing that came to mind was doing a painted pegboard system across all of the walls with a drop ceiling. This amounts to around $450 in material.

Do any of you have any other creative solutions / ideas for something of this nature? All ideas welcome!

thanks,

Paul

 

[mikec35]

I used Hardi panel on my garage walls. They were primed and ready to paint. No taping, mud, sanding... plus you can nail things to it unlike sheetrock where you have to anchor everything. You’d need to find a stud for the heavy stuff though. https://www.homedepot.com/p/James-H...-_-pip_sem_mobile-_-305684630-_-100072921-_-N

 

[infinkc]

corrugated metal? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gibralt...MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-202092810-_-N

 

[sublime68charger]

Look on Facebook or CL for free pallet's wood and due a pallet wall will take time to due is all.

or old barn wood as well?

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Insulation and a vapor barrier, of course. Then, tongue-and-groove boards. Simple to install. Just have to make a few cuts around outlets, etc. Will give the room a nice appearance.

 

[bdbecker]

Have you considered slatwall?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Proslat-PVC-Slatwall-8-ft-x-4-ft-White-88102/203496104

 

[TriumphFan]

Pallet wood. It's free...
Not walls but on my man cave ceiling I used four-panel interior doors painted black.

 

[Justind97]

Pallet wood has nasty stuff in it to stop rot and bugs. I’d be leery of that

 

[nadogail]

Paper it with Harbor Freight Ads.

 

[Cypress]

I used Hardi panel on my garage walls. They were primed and ready to paint. No taping, mud, sanding... plus you can nail things to it unlike sheetrock where you have to anchor everything. You’d need to find a stud for the heavy stuff though. https://www.homedepot.com/p/James-H...-_-pip_sem_mobile-_-305684630-_-100072921-_-N

That's not a bad idea. super cost effective.

thoughts on this stuff: https://www.homedepot.com/p/LP-Smar...VYuW1Ch11cgDCEAQYASABEgIKwfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Cypress]

Pallet wood. It's free...
Not walls but on my man cave ceiling I used four-panel interior doors painted black.

that looks great man. Nice work!

 

[Dumber than lumber]

OP
How many Square feet do you need to cover?
I know some guys who have used leftover flooring (NOT carpet, but wood) to cover walls in man-caves, etc.
You can get some nice looks IF you can find a bunch of assorted pieces cheap.

 

[Cypress]

OP
How many Square feet do you need to cover?
I know some guys who have used leftover flooring (NOT carpet, but wood) to cover walls in man-caves, etc.
You can get some nice looks IF you can find a bunch of assorted pieces cheap.

roughly 400SF of wall surface.

 

[strutaeng]

Cheap? Fast? That simulated woodgrain 4x8 sheets (like <1/8" thick?) that everyone had in the 80s? Do they still sell that stuff? Will make the room dark, so maybe use some cheap light-colored paint from the returns at the paint desk?

You said cheap, right?

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-paint-paneling/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90111045acb

 

[Dustball]

I've done fabric curtains before- looked decent.

 

[jrsulo]

Paper it with Harbor Freight Ads.

 

[Ralf11]

burlap

 

[Cypress]

burlap

Hmm... the more I think about that the more I like it. Could prob keep it super taught with just a staple gun into the studs.

 

[mcj115]

Masonite or luan?

 

[no704]

Can get heavy duty “tarps” cheep from sign company where they put up new ones.

 

[Ralf11]

Hmm... the more I think about that the more I like it. Could prob keep it super taught with just a staple gun into the studs.

and if you don't like it, you are out little time or $$

or ... tent canvas

 

[Skiff Builder]

Better than Burlap?
You can get 9x12 canvas drop cloths at HF for $16.99. Stretch them tight on wall and paint em. Solid color or get creative as you want.
See examples- search hand painted canvas floor rugs/mats.
Wood boat decks were covered/painted this way.

 

[Augus7us]

Cardboard?

 

[mikec35]

That's not a bad idea. super cost effective.

thoughts on this stuff: https://www.homedepot.com/p/LP-Smar...VYuW1Ch11cgDCEAQYASABEgIKwfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I actually used the stuff from Home Depot that you linked, I think Lowes sells the Hardi product and Home Depot sells the Smartside. I've got some pics I'll try to find.

 

[jake28]

Osb.

 

[joey1320]

https://www.homedepot.com/s/paneling?NCNI-5

 

[strutaeng]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hardboa...0-115-in-x-47-7-in-x-95-7-in-832777/202189720

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hardboa...ual-0-175-in-x-48-in-x-96-in-832780/202404545

This stuff is pretty economical. I've got some 8' tall hollow, flush doors that I built with the 3/16 material and they are pretty sturdy. My kids routinely bounce off them and sometimes slam them shut and they've held up well. Much better than the simulated woodgrain cardboard stuff sold at the home center.