Getting to the point of covering walls and am wondering if I want to use drywall or maybe plywood around the lower four feet to prevent drywall from getting beat up. The plywood would be painted the same as the drywall. 26 by 32 with 10 ft ceiling. This will be a working garage with sparks from welding and cutting from time to time but just a 60 year olds play garage. I do not want steel because its to loud and looking for a nicer appearance. Thx.
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Drywall or What to use
- Thread starter gearjam
- Start date
MFolks
Well-known member
If you go with drywall, please avoid any made in China(yes they do make drywall), as there's been lawsuits about how the gas/fumes emitted has affected people's health, and there are reports that wall heaters & furnaces have become corroded, due to exposure to them.
The massive flooding of some years ago, and the sudden shortage of good drywall in the US, kinda opened the door for other countries drywall to be sold here.
http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/chinese-drywall-3224/
The massive flooding of some years ago, and the sudden shortage of good drywall in the US, kinda opened the door for other countries drywall to be sold here.
http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/chinese-drywall-3224/
James-W
Well-known member
I have drywall, but I don't do much much welding or working with metal these days. I do mostly woodworking and minor vehicle maintenance like oil changes, etc. Just offhand I would think that plywood would be more apt to start a fire than drywall if hit with welding sparks. If you are going to use a cutting torch or a welder I would at least have the immediate area around where you are working "spark protected".
RunninOnEmpty
Well-known member
Could do cement board or metal or something if you want, though drywall does insulate a bit more. Could also just make sure to put some of that around the welder and not the whole garage. Granted you could be welding in multiple spots most likely.
Welcome to GJ. Lots of great shops and advice from gurus.
How much sheetrock depends on several things . . . . . Detached or Attached ??
WHERE are you located ?? You'll find that best advice comes with all information so Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.
Also, nothing stopping you from putting cosmetic metal covering on top of layer of sheetrock that is your primary fire safety and air envelope of garage to minimize heating and cooling costs after insulating.
How much sheetrock depends on several things . . . . . Detached or Attached ??
WHERE are you located ?? You'll find that best advice comes with all information so Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.
Also, nothing stopping you from putting cosmetic metal covering on top of layer of sheetrock that is your primary fire safety and air envelope of garage to minimize heating and cooling costs after insulating.
APEowner
Well-known member
There are a lot of advantages to plywood as a wall material but to me they don't out weight the lack of fire retardation. I'm convinced that my NY shop would have burned down if it had not had drywall walls. I once discovered a fire smouldering in a corner way on the other side of the shop from where I'd been using the plasma cutter several hours earlier. if that wall had been plywood I'm sure it would have ignited.
If you go with drywall, please avoid any made in China(yes they do make drywall), as there's been lawsuits about how the gas/fumes emitted has affected people's health, and there are reports that wall heaters & furnaces have become corroded, due to exposure to them.
The massive flooding of some years ago, and the sudden shortage of good drywall in the US, kinda opened the door for other countries drywall to be sold here.
http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/chinese-drywall-3224/
There were houses that had to be basically torn down due to the toxic chemicals in the CHINA made drywall.
Who knows what toxic mess was in it, kinda like the China made toothpaste nightmare as well.
I went with 1/2" plywood on the bottom and steel on top.
That is definitely an option. Basically a wainscoting. Sheet rock the bottom portion and do whatever you want with the top portion.
rburke65
Well-known member
I think you have pretty much answered your own question.....