Looking for help with wall coverings

[davidjay]

I have a 40x40x14 metal building. I had the walls and ceiling spray foamed using closed cell foam and now am looking to cover the walls. I figure my options are drywall or plywood. I'm leaning more towards plywood.

What thickness plywood should I use?
Do I need to get tongue and groove?
If not T&G, do I have to leave space between the sheets?
I had electric wired after the spray foam. Would it make more sense to take it down and put it on top of the plywood then to try to put the plywood on top of it?

Has anyone used plywood for the walls then wished they had used drywall?

 

[The Cobbler]

let me ask this first. is it framed or pole barn style. what are you attaching the plywood to, how far spaced are they.
so the wire is on top of the foam. it needs to be 1-1/4 behind the wall sheeting or be protected from damage . sounds like a lot of time & expense to now remove it & redo it . on top of the plywood would probably need MC or conduit . romex probably wont cut it on the surface of plywood

 

[nadogail]

There are too many unknowns for me to make a recommendation.

What is the intended use of the building?

 

[davidjay]

sorry, it looks like my pictures didnt upload on the original post. The building is a metal framed eagle carport building. The longest horizontal span between the studs is 7 ft and the longest vertical span is 4 ft. All the wiring is MC and attached to the metal studs. The building is being used as a home gym and robotics workshop.

 

[dante2]

I have a building similar to yours. My plan if I ever did was to go with metal wall on the inside. I have electrical conduit screwed to the frame like yours and I was going to unscrew it and install panel behind it.

 

[racecougar]

Why not liner panel and EMT?

 

[The Cobbler]

if that was mine I would probably strap with 1x3 or 4 vertically on 16" or 19.2" centers . pull off the electrical, put up 3/8 plywood and put back your electrical

 

[GrayFlattop]

if that was mine I would probably strap with 1x3 or 4 vertically on 16" or 19.2" centers . pull off the electrical, put up 3/8 plywood and put back your electrical

As long as I’m spending someone else’s money, I’d do this but use 3/4 plywood for the lower 8’ as you’ll be able to hang a fair amount of weight off it. Thinner plywood or Sheetrock above that. Before hanging a single thing, prime and paint - there will never be a better time to do it.

 

[davidjay]

if that was mine I would probably strap with 1x3 or 4 vertically on 16" or 19.2" centers . pull off the electrical, put up 3/8 plywood and put back your electrical

Do you need to put a small gap between each sheet or should I **** them against each other?

 

[The Cobbler]

**** them .

 

[billconner]

Just a different perspective. I'd strap vertically it with metal furring - hat channels - 2' on center and cover with impact resistant drywall. Would need extenders at electrical boxes but those are easy and cheap.

If you're under permit and/or will have it inspected, plywood over the foam may not be adequate, though you can always put an intumescent coating on it.

 

[cgrutt]

I'd check with manufacturer if structure is rated for any wall coverings and/or weight for storage/shelves. I was working to put shelving on a commercial steel building that had hat channel and drywall. Building was near completion and GC was still on site. Full stop on hanging anything on interior walls architect stated structure was only engineered to support drywall and electric. Came as quite the surprise to customer who was building space for retail store lol. Guess nobody thought to ask if they would be able to put shelving up when they spec'd the building. That was an eye-opener...

 

[metalmagpie]

The big difference between plywood and drywall is that plywood burns and drywall essentially doesn't. The town I am in is a big fan of two layers of 5/8" drywall all fire-taped. I didn't want that **** on my walls but acquiesced in the end.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I did the main working part of mine with unfinished exterior grade 15/32 plywood. I haven't and won't hang anything of significance without using the studs. Several people have commented that it will buckle. I hung it 10 years ago in the heat of summer and didn't **** the sheets very tight. All of my wiring is behind the plywood through studs (which are 24"OC).
You will need closer spacing than you have for drywall, plywood or OSB.

I believe steel liner panels can span 4 ft (which is what I did on my ceiling).
With your situation I'd probably keep the wiring surface mounted but put it in EMT.