I built a 40' x 50' x 14' tall stick built building. I tinned the roof and installed vinyl siding and the shop is dried in. I am going to be insulating and wiring in the next few weeks and am struggling to figure out what to use for wall covering inside. I would prefer not to tin it and drywall is a lot of work and doesn't hold up very well. Has anyone used truss core or anything else on the interior of shop walls they would recommend? I would like it to be bright and durable but am struggling with any other ideas besides truss core... thank you.
Shop interior wall covering selection ???
- Thread starter Racer6
- Start date
ct01r
Member
I like using wood. I have thin luan subfloor on my walls. Holds paint well, and is extremely easy to work with. I've also seen tongue and groove flooring/siding used, which has the advantage of being thick enough to screw things to (small signs and other decorations). You can go for the rustic look and not hide your screws or nails. Curt
Dennis Leigh Henry
Well-known member
Cover them with tools... 
I prefer pegboard (obviously).... Makes for some good tool Tetris when something new comes along... Since this is in my home, its naturally got drywall backing..
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I prefer pegboard (obviously).... Makes for some good tool Tetris when something new comes along... Since this is in my home, its naturally got drywall backing..
View media item 71058
matt_i
Well-known member
Personally I'd drywall at least the ceiling. The vinyl is likely a system of "hooked laps" like typical outdoor siding. Which is just fine but it looks like a giant air leak to me when it comes to trapping heated air...I suppose you could plasticene the ceiling first with some generous laps (taped?) but that sounds like a lot of work to me.
finn
Well-known member
Steel.
I have steel, osb, and drywall in my buildings, and prefer steel.
It stays cleaner, is fireproof, and, if you run a couple of extra purloin at strategic heights, hanging shelves or cabinets is not an issue.
Drywall is messy and time consuming to install, and not very durable or moisture resistant.
Osb looks crappy, even when painted, is difficult to keep clean because of the texture, and has poor resistance to fire.
I have steel, osb, and drywall in my buildings, and prefer steel.
It stays cleaner, is fireproof, and, if you run a couple of extra purloin at strategic heights, hanging shelves or cabinets is not an issue.
Drywall is messy and time consuming to install, and not very durable or moisture resistant.
Osb looks crappy, even when painted, is difficult to keep clean because of the texture, and has poor resistance to fire.
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Jon_E
Well-known member
My preference was OSB. Some don't like the look, some think it's a major fire hazard. I installed mine with 1-1/2" screws at 12" o.c. and then painted the surface with a coat of oil-based Kilz and two coats of a cheap flat white wall paint.
Off on a tangent, I really don't get the fire hazard issue. Having been a volunteer firefighter, I've yet to see a situation where the interior wall covering was a significant contribution to a structure fire. Especially where most shops have all kinds of other flammable items in them. My shop is constructed of rough-sawn pine framing, with zipwall sheathing and pine board and batten exterior. Not to mention the 5000+ board feet of lumber inside the building, plus I've got paints, solvents, etc. stored inside, and various benches, tables and cabinets made of flammable materials (i.e. wood). I hardly think that a well-painted OSB wall surface is going to be the tipping point as to whether my shop is a fire hazard or not.
Off on a tangent, I really don't get the fire hazard issue. Having been a volunteer firefighter, I've yet to see a situation where the interior wall covering was a significant contribution to a structure fire. Especially where most shops have all kinds of other flammable items in them. My shop is constructed of rough-sawn pine framing, with zipwall sheathing and pine board and batten exterior. Not to mention the 5000+ board feet of lumber inside the building, plus I've got paints, solvents, etc. stored inside, and various benches, tables and cabinets made of flammable materials (i.e. wood). I hardly think that a well-painted OSB wall surface is going to be the tipping point as to whether my shop is a fire hazard or not.
jonesg
Well-known member
Cover them with tools...
I prefer pegboard (obviously).... Makes for some good tool Tetris when something new comes along... Since this is in my home, its naturally got drywall backing..
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Thats the way to do it.
Looks like the Christmas tree shop for men.
Never understood the idea of putting everything in cupboards with nary a tool in sight, thats something my wife would do. Girlymen hide their tools.
tjdux
Well-known member
I have some tools on the wall but i think with everything else stored in my shop theres honestly not enough usable eall space to hold all my tools. Thank goodness for tool chests
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Dennis Leigh Henry
Well-known member
I guess on a serious note.. From a wall coverings perspective, what do you plan to use your walls for? Some advertising items / posters, or all tools, or whatever.. that will help you decide if floor to ceiling cabinets are necessary, or if all pegboard might make more sense, or some combination .. In my small 2.5 stall garage at home, I have a lot of peg boards (maybe 30' x 4' wide) with a lot of bare drywall covered in various other items like fishing pole rack, advertising items / wall hangers, and some practical items like air compressor FRL station, wheel barrow storage hanger, long handled tools rack, etc. So maybe a bit of planning this way would go a long way to figuring out what you want to do with the walls from a covering perspective..
Behind my pegboards in my basement workshop (~50'+ lineal feet of 5' pegboard, I have unfinished drywall (I mudded and taped the joints one time and / or covered them in furring strips of 1x4), with the lower 3' or so finished drywall with paint. In the garage, there are peg boards over open wall studs and some over drywall (like the photo above).
I know a lot of folks like the OSB because it allow you infinite ways to set storage solutions in place without a lot of worry about where the studs are.
Lots to consider I suppose..
Behind my pegboards in my basement workshop (~50'+ lineal feet of 5' pegboard, I have unfinished drywall (I mudded and taped the joints one time and / or covered them in furring strips of 1x4), with the lower 3' or so finished drywall with paint. In the garage, there are peg boards over open wall studs and some over drywall (like the photo above).
I know a lot of folks like the OSB because it allow you infinite ways to set storage solutions in place without a lot of worry about where the studs are.
Lots to consider I suppose..
astroracer
Well-known member
I used drywall thirty years ago. Didn't tape the seams, just primed and painted. Been like that ever since.
I do a lot of welding, grinding and painting in the shop and have never had an issue with the sheet rock. And no, no one has ever said anything about not mudding the seams...
Mark
I do a lot of welding, grinding and painting in the shop and have never had an issue with the sheet rock. And no, no one has ever said anything about not mudding the seams...
Mark
bullfrog123
Well-known member
Painted OSB and tin in my shop. Both have pros and cons. Tin is harder to hang stuff on but doable with self tapping screws or pop rivets. OSB to hang tools and decorations on is great too. Good painted OSB will allow you to still lightly pressure wash when needed as the steel will too. I love the steel in my metal fab area so sparks and such are of no concern as far as fire. Main bench area is OSB and good for hanging stuff.
Also......... an "errant flying wrench" is not much of an issue vs drywall
Also......... an "errant flying wrench" is not much of an issue vs drywall
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Dennis Leigh Henry
Well-known member
AStroracer, Bullfrog.. nice set ups!
rburke65
Well-known member
I used metal ceiling liner and LP SmartSide paneling. This comes pre primed and ready for paint. Hang anything anywhere. Love it.
I have a few TIG welders, mill and lathe so the walls need to be able to be cleaned and handle welding flash for a long time. I am running all the electrical and airlines in the wall as I am not a fan of surface mounting. Drywall is cheap and easy to hang but by the time I am done mudding, sanding, repeat etc... it's not so cheap. I have slat wall to bolt to the walls over the benches but do not intend on any other open tool storage as I prefer tool boxes and a clean appearing less clutter shop at the end of the day.
I have designed a pretty unique "waynescot" for the bottom 4' of wall. It is removable to allow easy access to the air lines and electrical for repairs etc... once I have it installed I will share pictures as I think this could be a great idea for others. I am stuck on what to do for the remaining wall area and ceiling. I am not a fan of osb, tin is a headache and reflects sound so much, drywall is not durable.... ??? Has anyone used the I span or trusscore products inside their garage?
astroracer
Well-known member
What's not durable about it???
Go back and look at my previous post. This stuff has been hanging in my shop for 30 yrs.... If you aren't beating on it or welding directly on the surface there is nothing that is going to hurt it. It IS fire resistant, more so then "wood" in my book. A coat of satin paint and it is cleanable. I have never had the need to wash the walls in my shop though. It's a shop, a lot of work gets done in it. It is not a kitchen or party room.Mark