Cheaper and low maintenance vs drywall
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Boogerman
Well-known member
Drywall, smooth finish instead of texture, and 3 coats of high gloss paint. Or a coat of epoxy paint. Nothing much cheaper and easier than drywall. Just a matter of waterproofing it to make it be able to be wiped.
drywall is about the cheapest covering if you can DIY tape . after that probably OSB . plastic will be a lot pricier and would still need a backer for it probably
wssix99
Well-known member
Just curious... What are you doing in your shop that wiping down the walls is a concern? Is this just dust or something else? Will we need a black light?
For example, if you have a breach of security and your wife makes it in to the shop and decides to try oiling a bike chain that doesn't need to be oiled and then gets that oil all over the wall - this is a lot different than just wiping off dust and cobwebs. (I won't tell you how I know.)
For example, if you have a breach of security and your wife makes it in to the shop and decides to try oiling a bike chain that doesn't need to be oiled and then gets that oil all over the wall - this is a lot different than just wiping off dust and cobwebs. (I won't tell you how I know.)
BillK
Well-known member
I finished my 2 car attached garage with inexpensive 4 x 8 wall paneling from 84 lumber or Lowes. That was over 40 years ago and it still looks fine. But I don't do any type of real mechanical work in there. Depending on what you include in the price of drywall and if you can finish it yourself the paneling will probably be about the same cost bottom line.
This is similar to what I used:
I also have one 4 x 8 sheet of white pegboard.
This is similar to what I used:
1/8 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. Canyon Yew Wall Panel 980-200 - The Home Depot
The 1/8 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. Canyon Yew Random Grooved Wall Panel provides an elegant look to any room in your home. The wood pattern provides a rustic warmth and richness and the random groove adds to the panels charm. The panel format allows for quick, efficient installation for your project.
www.homedepot.com
I also have one 4 x 8 sheet of white pegboard.
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
Search and price liner panel. Available in steel or plastic.
Cost of drywall per sheet will be cheaper, but if you include labor for taping, primer, paint it may work out.
As far as damage drywall is easier to repair.
Cost of drywall per sheet will be cheaper, but if you include labor for taping, primer, paint it may work out.
As far as damage drywall is easier to repair.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Look up FRP. It's the stuff on the walls in a commercial kitchen or bathroom
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Paneling was cheaper in the 80’s, not sure what changed, but paneling is expensive now.
I got lucky about 6 years ago watching craigslist and offer up for free plywood, that’s a thing of the past since Covid though. Plywood is crazy expensive anymore.
I got lucky about 6 years ago watching craigslist and offer up for free plywood, that’s a thing of the past since Covid though. Plywood is crazy expensive anymore.
jollygreengiant
Well-known member
Trusscore PVC panels.
You can easily wipe them down or even pressure wash them, without any worries of mold or wrecking the paint.
But cheaper than drywall? Nope, trusscore is about twice as expensive per sq ft compared to drywall but it doesn't need taping or mudding or painting. I don't know if you'll find anything cheaper than drywall for a wall covering.
You can easily wipe them down or even pressure wash them, without any worries of mold or wrecking the paint.
But cheaper than drywall? Nope, trusscore is about twice as expensive per sq ft compared to drywall but it doesn't need taping or mudding or painting. I don't know if you'll find anything cheaper than drywall for a wall covering.
txvwnut
Well-known member
Drywall is the cheapest option out there if you can do DIY for the full process and maybe still cheaper if you hired out the tape and bed part and just hung the boards. I've looked at just about every option out there for my shop and all roads point back to drywall as the least expensive path. I won't be going down it but it is the least expensive.
I don't agree with drywall, mud, and tape plus labor being the cheapest option, depending on your expectations of the finish. If you are looking for a perfectly slick wall then drywall is the answer, but right now (I just checked) 4x8 OSB is $15.98. I just finished the interior of a 30x40x12 pole barn. We ran a belt sander over all joints and caulked the joints. Filled all the screw holes, too. Then primer and 3 coats of a good oil-based enamel. Those OSB walls look pretty darn good and are way more durable in my rough and tumble shop than drywall.
The paint cost as much as the OSB did! But you would have to do paint with either OSB or drywall. My shop has a white steel liner panel ceiling, and had I known how much the paint was going to cost, I would have gone ahead and used 8 foot liner panel on the walls down to the 4 foot level and then only 4 feet of OSB left to paint.
I'm really happy with the finished OSB walls though.
The paint cost as much as the OSB did! But you would have to do paint with either OSB or drywall. My shop has a white steel liner panel ceiling, and had I known how much the paint was going to cost, I would have gone ahead and used 8 foot liner panel on the walls down to the 4 foot level and then only 4 feet of OSB left to paint.
I'm really happy with the finished OSB walls though.
I just did a little math. My shop took 50 sheets of 4x8 OSB. With current prices of $16 for OSB and $10 for drywall. Going with drywall would have saved $300. I don't think you could get the drywall finishing hired out for that. If DIY, by the time you bought mud and tape and maybe a tool or two, I don't think you could come out on it either.
JasonMcElroy
Well-known member
I put up plywood and oil it after install.
Easy to hang stuff from. Reasonably resists mess. Stands up to abuse.
Must admin that I have little concern for appearance in the garage . . . function above all else.
Jason
Easy to hang stuff from. Reasonably resists mess. Stands up to abuse.
Must admin that I have little concern for appearance in the garage . . . function above all else.
Jason
75gmck25
Well-known member
You can make drywall much easier to clean by using high gloss paint, preferably oil based. Cleaning up a quality gloss paint surface vs. the typical flat paint finish you find on house interiors is like night and day.
What about metal siding its running about $18.50 per 2'x8' sheet at lowes which is more than a board of drywall, but by the time you add up the mud, tape, primer, and paint it should save time and money, unless you want to put up fancy molding as well. 
I like drywall. My shop was built in 1989, all drywall, taped and textured. I did a major repair about ten years ago where the drywall got rotten from snow melting and dripping off my truck over the years. Because of continuing moisture conditions in that area I replaced the lower 3 feet with durarock and RFP, reinforce fiberglass panels. The rest of the walls are fine. I have repainted twice, and it is due again. I will touch up the big dings, there are very few, and repaint. All stark white, semigloss.
Last fall I removed three windows that were shot and just sheeted them over. Drywall, taped and textured in the inside.
I would do it all over again, no question.
Last fall I removed three windows that were shot and just sheeted them over. Drywall, taped and textured in the inside.
I would do it all over again, no question.
JEFFREYWisconsin
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If you wanted to use drywall and gloss paint, it will look like horseSH— if you do a bad job taping and mudding it. However, I have seen a guy who knew he couldn’t tape or mud. He hung all the sheets and filled the screw areas fine. He then used a 1x2 and went over all the seams rather than finishing it, he just primed and painted it all. Looked pretty good for a garage.
rebelranger
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Drywall. I did my drywall in my shop after comparing to OSB, plywood, PVC panels, and FRP.
The only close initial cost was OSB which after all the coats of paint it costs even more then drywall.
I used 1x6 PVC board along concrete for kick protection then 12ft drywall panels hung vertical two step mud/tape, 6in knife then 14in knife [wasn't seeking home finish] then painted white PVA and grey paint from 48in down.
Would do it again 100%
The only close initial cost was OSB which after all the coats of paint it costs even more then drywall.
I used 1x6 PVC board along concrete for kick protection then 12ft drywall panels hung vertical two step mud/tape, 6in knife then 14in knife [wasn't seeking home finish] then painted white PVA and grey paint from 48in down.
Would do it again 100%
I have a few different samples of EZ Liner, EPI (Extrutech Plastics, Inc) and the Trusscore and really like the ease of the install and not worrying about expansion cracks in a large section of drywall. The finished drywall costs are almost of the same as material costs with PVC panels. EZ Liner looks like you can get it at Tractor Supply and HD, but in short 8' lengths and 5 packs and not cheap. Same with Trusscore on the HD prices. Anyone have a good distributor source on PVC panels?
Cutting, welding, grinding, exhaust soot... It all adds up and walls get dirty.
Jeff
Well-known member
I did drywall and gloss off-white enamel. Holy ****, it was too glossy and bright. Then I went with a light grey satin enamel.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Why are you comparing the “labor cost” of drywall but ignore it on the OSB you installed? Especially on a forum that is mainly DIY?
Bring up the cost of cheap drywall tools and tape/mud but ignore the belt sander and caulk you used on OSB?
And OSB absorbs much more paint than drywall does!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Guessing he is smart and would hire out the drywall work.
Crazyjake8493
Well-known member
If you need to wipe down the walls I assume you're doing some kind of wash bay or something like that? In that case, maybe FRP panels.
If you don't actually need to wipe down the walls, OSB is hard to beat for a garage. Drywall might be cheaper, but it's a garage not a living room.
If you don't actually need to wipe down the walls, OSB is hard to beat for a garage. Drywall might be cheaper, but it's a garage not a living room.
billconner
Well-known member
I'll stick with my rough sawn pine. Under $20/4x8 ,(.60/bf), easy to handle and install, no finishing required, looks good, and even smells good.
JEFFREYWisconsin
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GrayFlattop
Well-known member
Nothing else (short of brick or block) will offer the same fire resistance as drywall. If you are paying someone to hang it, the labor cost is typically the same for 1/2” or 5/8” and the latter typically meets fire code. Tape it sand it, prime it and give it a couple coats of good quality paint and you shouldn’t have to do a bit of maintenance for decades.
If you’re going to be washing down your muddy truck inside, you should consider a different material.
If you’re going to be washing down your muddy truck inside, you should consider a different material.
nadogail
Well-known member
For that reason I paint my rentals with Eggshell or Semi Gloss, bedrooms and kitchens get Eggshell, Kitchens and Bathrooms get Semi Gloss.
I have standardized on the same shade of “off white”so repairs are easier.
No maintenance is laughable. Drywall in a garage is going to be full of dings and gouges in a year or two.
A friend just bought a new to him house and garage. The previous owner nailed 1" foam to the ceiling and left it that way. I helped my buddy hang 1/2" rock over, (under?!) the foam, 16" on center. When we got done, he caulked all the seams and painted it white. He didn't do any thing with the screw heads. It really doesn't look that bad.
$15 drywall... maybe 20 years ago!
larry4406
Well-known member
1/2" 4x8' drywall is $14.97 a sheet and 7/16" 4x8' OSB is $15.45 at Home Depot near me.
5/8” sheets are $12.25 at the home centers by me. Granted, I’d imagine your location would ramp the price up.
I really like hanging and taping drywall so i am biased but even I have to say that it’s not a practical choice for a home garage shop. It’s just not durable enough
billconner
Well-known member
$15-16 near me. 5/8 or half.
There is abuse resistant drywall. Very tough skin. Have seen it used in schools.
There is abuse resistant drywall. Very tough skin. Have seen it used in schools.
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Notgrownup
Well-known member
I did OSB, I pre painted the panels on sawhorses and screwed them with deck torx screws . Easy to wipe off if I need.
Wiz02
Well-known member
The drywall or another surface question seems to need a qualifier. Are we talking about a garage where someone occasionally does "heavy duty" work vs a shop where wall dings, dirt etc. are a common occurrence.
racecougar
Well-known member
Not a fan of drywall in a garage/shop (I prefer R-panel / liner panel), but every time this statement comes up, I question how/why folks are beating the heck out of their walls. I've used the heck out of my buildings for decades, and I can't think of a time where I've damaged a wall.