I have a three car attached garage with some drywall already up. By code the wall between the house and garage is 5/8 drywall and that must stay, but I also have one other wall that has been insulated and done in drywall. My question is this and I understand much of it is up to opinion. I want to insulate and cover the other two walls but I was thinking of using OSB, then I started to think I should tear off the one outside wall already done in drywall and replace that with OSB. That would leave me with drywall on the wall with the house and OSb on the other three, or I guess I could finish the other two in drywall. What would you do?
Drywall vs OSB walls
- Thread starter garfgo
- Start date
spotco2
Well-known member
OSB is more forgiving and easier to finish than drywall. Once installed just a little caulk over screw heads and on the seams and you can soak it down with a couple of coats of primer/sealer and paint whatever color you want. Without looking close it's hard to tell the difference.
The perks of OSB is you can just screw whatever you want to the wall without having to search for studs (within reason). It also takes abuse of hits, rubs and scrubs much better than drywall.
The perks of drywall is it looks very clean (with a good install), is cheaper (if you DIY) and fire resistant.
If it's just going to be for parking and you don't have toddlers that will be bouncing and scrubbing things down the walls and you can half way mud and finish it, drywall will give a better appearance and is less expensive. Otherwise, I would go with OBS. That's what I did.
The perks of OSB is you can just screw whatever you want to the wall without having to search for studs (within reason). It also takes abuse of hits, rubs and scrubs much better than drywall.
The perks of drywall is it looks very clean (with a good install), is cheaper (if you DIY) and fire resistant.
If it's just going to be for parking and you don't have toddlers that will be bouncing and scrubbing things down the walls and you can half way mud and finish it, drywall will give a better appearance and is less expensive. Otherwise, I would go with OBS. That's what I did.
tfinniii
Well-known member
Water base paints will raise splinters.
matt_i
Well-known member
Also the drywall is more or less air-sealed by virtue of taping the joints. OSB would require caulking all of the joints and hiding it with paint. Clear could be used if leaving it natural, but i think it might highlight all of the joints.
Toomanytools?
Well-known member
If it's just a garage not your work space, I would leave the drywall if it's in good condition. Then install OSB on the other walls, when painted white it really all looks about the same. For me it's more about getting things done and ready to use and keeping costs low. My area OSB is like $8 and drywall $11.
Sevenhills1952
Well-known member
My contractor friend prefers OSB to drywall in a garage or workshop. As he said drywall you're always patching holes when things bump into it.
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If it were mine, I'd leave the drywall alone and add insulation and OSB to the other walls. If you still want OSB on that third outside wall, I'd put it right over the drywall. There's no real reason to remove it. It's less work, less mess and you're going to have to dispose of the drywall.
Slowgsr
Well-known member
Finish it all with 5/8 type x. 3 coats of tape, airtight. Keep fumes, etc out of the house. 5/8 type x is strong as well.
HoosierMark
Well-known member
I think the real question is, what type of garage do you want: basic or nice. Also how much of the wall will actually be seen based upon what you will put on or in front of the walls? Are you going to finish the floors etc. I finished my barn with OSB because it is a barn. I have friends whose barn is finished like a house. Do what you like.
curiousB
Well-known member
Drywall has better fire resistance (especially 5/8 type X) . You can always mount ledger strips for screws and such.
Slowgsr
Well-known member
If you put osb and ever have a fire there's a good chance your house will be a total loss. If you use type x there will be a chance. That was one of the deciding factors for me as I frequently use my welding machine, torches and my grinders, I have x4 fire extinguishers in the corners of my shop as well.
My shop walls are 5/8" drywall, taped, with a spray knockdown texture, back room that the shop is attached to was done with OSB when it was rebuilt. Prefer drywall but OSB was quicker but it stunk for a long while. The photos below show the contrast between the two, as OSB really is not a finish material.
Shop
Back room
personal preference. as you can see, you're getting varied replies here.
John15511
Member
You have some walls already finished in drywall and some walls unfinished correct ? Move on to the unfinished wall with your insulation. If you want to try the OSB idea first then go for it. Try 1 sheet first. Step back , then decide which you like better. Worse case if you decide the OSB wall isn’t for you then take it down and use it for another project , then finish the rest in drywall. I’m currently in the same boat. I insulated my walls in a detached garage then decided I wanted white pegboard on the walls. I tried it. I’m not fond of it ONLY BECAUSE I want to do a French cleat wall on OSB . So back to the drawing board for me, a couple hundred pissed away. At least I can use the pegboard for cabinet sliding doors( for ventilation ). 
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Attachments
fteufert
Well-known member
OSB, and prime it with Kilz oil based primer.
Oil based seals it better than latex.
You can put latex based over the oil based primer
Oil based seals it better than latex.
You can put latex based over the oil based primer
Wow, thanks everyone for helping me think this through. I am strictly a weekend warrior, just sold my mustang and I wanted to finish the garage before I bring home my next car or truck, whenever that may be. I love the look of wood but the fire resistance of drywall is big as well. I absolutely hate taping and sanding but from the pictures I also like a really clean look, even if it's only twice a year when I clean the garage. So I am going to put drywall on the wall opposite the other one and OSB around the garage doors because that is just an bunch of small areas, not much square footage so I won't even paint it. I thin k I will hire someone to do the taping and sanding then I can get onto building my wall cabinets.
Indy_500
Well-known member
If it were my garage I'd tear down the drywall, obviously leave the fire barrier wall to the house, and insulate and hang up OSB on the walls. I would never put drywall in a garage again. Mine looks fantastic in my opinion with about 3 coats of cheaper paint and has held up for over 3 years. Here's the pic of when i did mine 3 years ago, looks a bit different now, few things i dont have anymore like that wheeler, but also added A LOT
I don't think I would quite agree with that statement but to each their own. Houses burn down everyday across North America and they are lined with drywall.
Falcon67
Well-known member
They are also decked with OSB. And probably at least the corners formed as shear walls using OSB. I grind, weld, etc, etc and my shop walls, ceiling and decking are all OSB. I use a chunk of OSB laid on the ground on July 4th for fireworks to keep from catching the grass on fire.
Jazz1
Well-known member
OSB looks like **** IMO. I’ve done 3 frame off restorations in my garage the past 20 and only one gouge in wall, where I pitched a wrench, lesson learned
The concerned over marking drywall is unwarranted
The concerned over marking drywall is unwarranted
b-boy
Well-known member
Not to complicate things, but if I had it to do again, I'd use 1/4" plywood over OSB.
I still like my OSB finish over drywall, but plywood doesn't splinter as much and holds nails/screws better.
I still like my OSB finish over drywall, but plywood doesn't splinter as much and holds nails/screws better.
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Indy_500
Well-known member
You won't be thinking that after you watch the plywood warp everywhere...
Lucid Moments
Well-known member
I have just finished my shop and chose to do it in OSB. A secondary reason will be that it is harder to damage, but primary would be that it will make mounting everything I want
to mount to the walls easier and more solid. Plywood would probably hold screws better, but plywood cost nearly twice the price when I priced it out.
The aesthetics are arguable. Your preference your choice. But that was my choice and my decision.
to mount to the walls easier and more solid. Plywood would probably hold screws better, but plywood cost nearly twice the price when I priced it out.
The aesthetics are arguable. Your preference your choice. But that was my choice and my decision.
CraigStu
Well-known member
Just this week I am hanging 8 cabinets in my drywalled new garage. this is the third garage they have been in. These are hung on french cleats. The studs are on 16 in centers and I have found I can put the cabinets almost anywhere by drilling a new set of holes in the cleats. Over the years there have been very few things I need on the walls where I need to screw a 1x4 to the wall to catch the studs and then screw the object to the 1x4. My previous garage I drywalled myself. Like you I hate mud and sanding. Really couldn't get the wall to ceiling joint looking good so I ended up up making 'crown molding' of strips ripped from 1/4 inch plywood. 4 in wide on the wall and 2 inch wide on the ceiling. I also had a joint running down the center of the ceiling where the non-chamfered ends of the drywall met. Tried to mud and sand, had to strip to my undies to go into the house to shower. Next day I cut some more 4 inch strips to cover that joint.
rattle_snake
Well-known member
I did drywall and would do drywall again. OSB has it's uses and positive attributes but at the bottom of my material list. Even if it was free i wouldn't use to sheath interior walls.
Show garage: Finished drywall.
Working garage: OSB.
Mine 33x80 is OSB with 3 coats of Kilz Oil Based Primer. Looks and works great.
20190508_115446 by Sean Connell, on Flickr
20190508_115442 by Sean Connell, on Flickr
Working garage: OSB.
Mine 33x80 is OSB with 3 coats of Kilz Oil Based Primer. Looks and works great.
20190508_115446 by Sean Connell, on Flickr
20190508_115442 by Sean Connell, on FlickrOptionalStop
Well-known member
If you have the patience and prefer OSB for the benefits others have stated, you could spread a light coat of drywall compound over the OSB to hide some of the imperfections and possibly prevent splinters from popping up. Smooth out the surface to mimick drywall. I've never done this, but might attempt it when I get to that point in my build.
TractorJeff
Well-known member
I drywalled my detached, as far as taping and mudding, it will get done as smooth as practical but it isn't going to get sanded after all it is a garage/shop!
Let the Millennial do it when he buys me out to put his microbrewery or grow house in there!
Let the Millennial do it when he buys me out to put his microbrewery or grow house in there!
LX-Markham
Well-known member
OSB might be less prone to dings and damage, but 5/8" type X is stronger than you think. And easy to patch if damage occurs.
And in my opinion looks way nicer.
And in my opinion looks way nicer.
tncatadjuster
Well-known member
OSB properly caulked and painted is great, and is rugged enough to provide an enjoyable work space.