Best Interior Wall Finishing

[jordan_paul]

So I just got the funding together to build a shop on my property. I've researched everything I need and want to put this building together but what I'm conflicted about is how I should finish the interior walls. I was thinking either steel (vertical ribbed siding steel) or flame resistant drywall.

The shop is 30x40' "c-channel" steel building with 11' walls and will be heated and air conditioned, used mostly as a metal fab shop.

If you guys have any opinions on how I should finish the interior I'd love some input.

 

[jetnow1]

Heating and cooling, metal is a lousy insulation but tougher. Drywall is a better air seal
but easier to damage. Either can be painted to reflect the light etc.

 

[keen]

used mostly as a metal fab shop.

If you guys have any opinions on how I should finish the interior I'd love some input.

just to mention -

as an old friend of mine learned the hard way - if you're doing a lot of electric arc welding, you don't want silver/galv or anything near it. White is ~ok. The arc reflections have a tendency to wind up reflecting back into your mask, across the glass inside your shield, and into your eyes. It took him years to figure out why he was going blind - 8-10 hours a day of that with galv tin on the walls did it.


Beyond that - my shop walls are posts and girt and the white inside of the bubble wrap insulation. I dont think I'd like a ribbed metal - it would make it that much harder to hang things on the wall - like cabinets. Probably can work pretty well on the ceiling.

drywall, otoh, presents its own challenges.... definitely keep in mind that you'll still want access to the structure (studs, posts, girt, whatever) behind it, so whatever ends up holding the wall should be well fastened and studded for when you need to hang stuff.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Where are you located? Pole barn or standard stud wall construction?

In general I'd prefer drywall but it depends on the structure. People always talk about how it's easy to damage, but that's only if you go around jamming stuff into the walls.

 

[keen]

In general I'd prefer drywall but it depends on the structure. People always talk about how it's easy to damage, but that's only if you go around jamming stuff into the walls.

...and drywall is a whole lot easier to fix than metal when you -do- go jamming stuff into (or through...) walls.

had a van break loose at a shop I worked at, door open, driving backwards. caught a table and shoved the table through a set of wood cabinets, then the wall.... drywall was easy to patch. Putting the cabinets and table back together, otoh.....a bit harder. body shop had fun straightening that A pillar out too. yay insurance.

 

[jordan_paul]

Where are you located? Pole barn or standard stud wall construction?

In general I'd prefer drywall but it depends on the structure. People always talk about how it's easy to damage, but that's only if you go around jamming stuff into the walls.

Steel building, located an 1.5 hrs west of Toronto Ontario.

 

[Stuart in MN]

1.5 hrs west of Toronto Ontario.

In that case, I assume there will be plenty of insulation installed as well.

 

[rburke65]

Put up what ever you want. I have GP Smart Siding (I think that's what they are called). Pre primered, ready to paint. I screwed the panels to the studs so I could remove UF needed.

 

[kbs2244]

I like 1/2 inch OSB just because of the strength vs cost comparison.
Paint it white for better lighting

I never thought of the reflected UV problem.
Maybe check the paint for spectrum as well as spark resistance.

 

[6768rogues]

I used 7/16" osb. The scraps were used for backers at the horizontal seams. It took three coats of paint to look good, but I used cheap five gallon buckets of paint from a discount/overstock store. A roller made it quick. It has been about 15 years and it has held up well.