OSB vs Metal vs Pallet Walls

[PoorUB]

I'm a drywall type of guy. My shop is drywall, taped and textured. I have done a complete repaint once in 35 years, but it does need another. I see a lot of comments of poking holes in the drywall, but I don't have any issues, I haven't poked a hole in it yet. I will admit it has a few scuffs, but a quick dab of drywall mud and re-shoot with texture and paint. Steel you will have a dent, or scratch that isn't simple to fix. You guys that poke holes in your walls need to settle down!

I despise OSB, looks terrible.

Metal would probably be my second choice.

I have a buddy that moved into a "new" place a couple years ago. I helped him drywall the ceiling and he just caulked all the seams and painted it white. It actually doesn't look that bad.

 

[peternguyen]

Plywood is worth the premium over OSB for garage walls if you plan on hanging anything heavy. OSB holds screws fine initially but the edge swell from humidity cycling weakens the pull-out strength over time. Plywood cross-grain layers keep it dimensionally stable through seasonal moisture changes — I've seen OSB panels mushroom at the edges in uninsulated shops after a couple humid summers. For a 30x40 build I'd do 1/2 inch CDX plywood on the walls, paint or seal the cut edges, and you'll get decades out of it.

 

[sjvicker]

with 12' walls, what about doing 12' sheetrock mounted vertically with 1x3 or 1x4 over the screw lines. Caulked and painted it would look just like board and batten, would be cost effective and give some fire protection. More if you added a coat of mud under everything.

 

[bdbecker]

Dad used OSB on his garage walls and had spray texture applied before painting. Unless you are really looking close, you wouldn't know it was OSB underneath the texture and paint.

 

[ATC]

I would go with metal.

I may be a little biased, as most of my work is with metal....grinding, plasma, torch, welding...and the added fire protection would be beneficial. Right now, my garage is open studs and most of my work is done outside. Long story short, my garage is a mess and I'm trying to make it functional again so I can work inside. The plan is to put metal up on one side and the back wall of the garage.

 

[Prospecter]

First time around, I did OSB. Second time, I had access to factory second V match Tongue and Groove, which I installed vertically. Third time around I had access to 2'x4' t&g refinished plywood panels (seconds). They all worked fine. I like the V match best. I can attach stuff anywhere. Nice thing about metal is that it is pre-finished,

Panels would look a little better with lath over the seams. It's a garage. I go with the less costly solutions.

 

[mrhemi426]

Metal is the only way to go. It has been a few years since our home was built, but at the time cost of completing the shop in sheet metal (Vic-West I believe) was comparable to drywall installed, taped / mudded and painted. I do not find any acoustic issues once there is stuff in the space.

 

[bassJAM]

Metal is certainly easy, the only time I've noticed issues with noise is when people have parties inside with loud music, it gets painful to listen to after a few minutes.

Speaking to pallets, I built an office in my basement and lined one wall with pallets I had. I stained them which added a LOT of work but for my use it was worth it. Since then one of my buddies has used pallets just behind his workbenches and toolboxes, so just 1/4 of one wall, but it turned out nice and adds a nice "warm" feeling to that area where he tends to spend more time.

Also, I used a sawsall to cut the nails, both to avoid splintering the wood and because I liked the way it looked. I haven't had an issue with splintering when adding screws, but I also don't hang anything heavy and when I do, I know where the studs are behind the pallet boards.

I "stained" with vinegar I had dropped steel wool into for a couple days. It makes a unique stain where the coloration depends on the type of wood. Believe it or not every piece you see here started out looking like normal white-wood pallets, and all the stain came from the same batch of vinegar/steel wool.

 

[CraigStu]

I did drywall in one garage. Did it myself. Dang that mudding and sanding is horrible work. Current garage I had the builder finish it in drywall. I have never had a problem damaging drywall. but I have done enough repairs and mods in house drywall that I could fix anything I need to. I don't understand how metal would be better. If you dent it, it has that dent forever. Unless you replace the panel.

 

[tarbellb]

Wood and metal are worth the extra just to avoid drywall dust cleanup

 

[cpakalolo]

In the debate of how I want to eventually finish the interior of my 30x40x12 stick build.

Im planning white metal for the ceiling to keep it bright, and the ease of install/maintenance.

Was originally planning OSB walls, due to it being cheap, and the ability to mount stuff anywhere.

I've thought of metal, as it will be clean, bright, and easy install. However I'm concerned about A) the price, B) how loud that will make the shop, and C) the lack of ability to mount stuff everywhere.

I've also considered tearing apart pallets and doing a shiplap style. I'm pretty sure the labor might make me homicidal to tear down all the pallets, but it could be a good winter job. I realize it will be in the realm of 170 pallets for the entire building.

It should also have the same mount everywhere ability as OSB, but look much cleaner.

Thoughts?

OSB is ugly is some ways. It doesn't look so good to paint and boy does it use up a gallon of 80 dollar paint. If you strip the seams to get a 4x4 panel look, it will be somewhat better. I like the look of metal, but you want to hang stuff on it. You can hang on it, you will just have to hit a stud which is easy to find with exposed screws. Wood is quieter. The pallets would have to go over some house wrap or something because there would be too much air infiltration.