Sheathing a loft stairwell

[MushCreek]

I have a long set of stairs in my shop, going up to a storage loft. I just insulated the wall, so now there's fluffy insulation sticking out in the stairwell. NBD, but I'd like to cover it. Of course, plywood and OSB are at record prices right now. I'm thinking of just using Masonite sheets. $8 each, or $12 if I want to go fancy with the white ones. Do you think they'll stay put glued to studs on 16" centers? I guess it doesn't matter if they warp some, but I'd rather they didn't. For some reason, the new insulation they sell doesn't make me itch, but it makes me cough if I even go near it.

Anyone use brown or white Masonite on walls?

 

[PLOWJEEP]

Masonite without anything behind it for support will probably warp. I know that plywood is quite expensive right now, but you will be happier in the long run. Drywall would be easier. Getting tight fitting joints on a stairwell with plywood is time consuming.
Good luck, Brian

 

[wayout]

Any drywall will be damaged easily if you are moving bulky objects to your storage.
Ribbed metal panels would be my choice since wood is priced so high.

 

[Jayman17]

There is a member here (jblnut) who has a thread "Out on Quaker Road". He has just used Masonite on the walls of a finished room in his shop. It would be the last 1 or 2 pages of his thread.

Jay

 

[cdestuck]

I understand you reasoning due to the high cost rt now. If that’s a deal breaker, I’d wait til prices drop and do it rt. If you do the paneling, it will work better if you have 16” stud spacing over 24”

 

[MushCreek]

The studs are 16" centers. I figured the white Masonite is more moisture resistant, and it's already finished. I don't care about the seams; I just want to cover the insulation. Drywall is heavy, and requires a lot more work to finish and paint. The white Masonite pegboard in the shop seems to stay flat enough.

 

[Kaizen]

Why not just 6 mil plastic sheeting?
I hate doing things twice. I’d try and get by and get half inch or 1/4 inch ply install what you can on the touched areas and add more later.
I do think screwing the Masonite will be fine. Just would not waste money on it if that’s not the end desire.


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[nadogail]

I covered the Dry Wall in my Shop Toilet Room with FRP panels. IMHO, if they are tough enough for Gas Station Rest Rooms they are tough enough for my use.

 

[MushCreek]

I thought about plastic, but my wife will tear it open carrying something up or down the first day.

 

[jmarkwolf]

**** it up and go with ply or osb. Justify it by making it an air compressor closet.

 

[MushCreek]

My current thought is to use vinyl siding. Sounds hokey, but it would cover the insulation as cheap as anything else available, at least until sheet goods come back down. An added issue is that there is a doorway and a 90 degree turn at the bottom of the stairs. No way a 4X8 sheet will make the turn. I'm not sure what will fit, but vinyl siding is flexible enough to bend. White vinyl will maximize the dim lighting without painting, too.

In researching other panels, the general guideline is that 3/16" and thicker can go on studs; the thinner stuff it's not recommended. The thicker stuff starts getting expensive, though.

 

[onewheat]

I have a long set of stairs in my shop, going up to a storage loft. I just insulated the wall, so now there's fluffy insulation sticking out in the stairwell. NBD, but I'd like to cover it. Of course, plywood and OSB are at record prices right now. I'm thinking of just using Masonite sheets. $8 each, or $12 if I want to go fancy with the white ones. Do you think they'll stay put glued to studs on 16" centers? I guess it doesn't matter if they warp some, but I'd rather they didn't. For some reason, the new insulation they sell doesn't make me itch, but it makes me cough if I even go near it.

Anyone use brown or white Masonite on walls?

It sounds like I have the exact same stairs and insulation scenario as you do. I was going to do masonite as well in my stairwell and screw it to the studs. I like the screws vs glue as you know it will stay attached and if you need to remove them to run wiring or something at a later time, it's easy to do. I was thinking I'd go with the white Masonite for brightness.

 

[MushCreek]

I need to do some measuring and experimenting to see how big a sheet I can get through the doorway. I don't thing a 4X8 sheet would even come close. I could take them up through the opening for my freight elevator, but that would be a lot of work.

 

[cmandp]

How about the 1/4" (It's thinner than that not sure how they label it) Luan/underlayment plywood? It'd be cheap like the Masonite but it's pretty tough stuff.

 

[MushCreek]

I do have to watch the width of the panels I use. I tried it with a 38 X 96 sheet of OSB, and it was tight. Full 48" wide sheets wouldn't make the turn going through the door at the bottom of the stairs.