Wall covering questions

[Ries]

Hi guys so I’ve got a few contractors coming in to quote cleaning up my drywall install from my home builder in the garage to make it ready to paint and then painting it as well.

The whole garage as of right now is planned to be a light gray on the side walls and then smooth white ceilings. However I was thinking to try and spice it up a bit and do something different on the large back wall, which is 46’x18’, making it an accent wall. I’ve seen the rustic wood planking, stone veneer, corrugated metal panels, etc. All of that, while nice looking, seems ridiculously expensive for a wall of this size.

I’ve been thinking maybe I could use a vinyl sheet floor covering that resembles the texture and look of wood planking or maybe even stone. Although with a wall of this size I’m unsure if the look would be all that great. I’ve also considered using a vinyl wall paper, but have the same concerns.

Any thoughts on adding an accent wall like this? Something cost effective, but yet still provide a good look? I’ve done some searches in the forum but haven’t really come across anything.

 

[bushmechanic]

I used cheap stick-on floor tiles under a bar area, broken up with actual tile embellishments. It would take a while to find the picture, but just poke around that stuff. Doesn't take much to hang it; you can use what's there or just double sided tape.

I've also used printed vinyl before. It's not just for cars, in the end. There are all manner of ready-made patterns, as well; from forests to clouds and bricks.

It really does add a kick in the pants to a room when you accent a wall. Just make sure whatever you use is fairly easy to clean and doesn't attract tons of cobwebs.

I've seen someone curse about splinters for years over unfinished reclaimed wood they used. Looked great, though.

 

[nadogail]

Repeat after me: It's just a garage, it's just a garage about 98 more times.

 

[Ries]

Repeat after me: It's just a garage, it's just a garage about 98 more times.

It’s not though. It’s a shop, man cave, party area. I have a bar with couches and a mini fridge in the loft and a bar on the main level with a full size fridge and a finished bathroom. I want the place to look good. I just don’t want to spend $8000 to put up a stone wall in the back.

 

[CraigStu]

Corrugated roofing comes in a million varieties of metals and plastics and colors and they are relatively inexpensive. And since it will be inside it's easy to hang because you don't have to be concerned about leaks. Google will bring them up. I even saw what looked like old used metal roofing that was cut into squares of about 2'x2'.

 

[Ries]

Corrugated roofing comes in a million varieties of metals and plastics and colors and they are relatively inexpensive. And since it will be inside it's easy to hang because you don't have to be concerned about leaks. Google will bring them up. I even saw what looked like old used metal roofing that was cut into squares of about 2'x2'.

Ah great thought! I’ll have to look into that, thanks!

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[Ries]

I found this stuff that looks pretty good for the price....

https://www.decpanels.com/product/stone-wall-panels/

They sell it at all of the major retailers and Menards has it for $26 for a 4x8 panel.

 

[Ries]

Bah. The one I have shown is discontinued. Also found out the stuff isn’t intended to be exposed to water or high humidity. I could coat it with a polyurethane to protect it, but now I’m not sure about it.

 

[glentre]

If you are like most guys, you will end up hanging tools and all sorts of garage stuff on the walls. If that's what you do, then it makes no sense spending money on something "different" or extra nice. Garage or man cave look.....your choice.

Glen

 

[bdbecker]

Two things I'd point out...

The first thing is that bold choices can make or break a space. I totally get wanting something interesting and different, so you'll hear no argument from me about whether or not to do an accent wall like this. But accent walls draw attention, which will also draw scrutiny. Whatever option you go with, make sure you can stand in front of it and be proud of your choice when someone asks you about it.

The other thing to keep in mind is that there is a good chance that what is trendy today will be the '**** carpet on the walls' of the future. It would really **** to sink a bunch of time and money into a finish that might be considered an eyesore you regret down the road. Personally, I think the pallet board/roughsawn wood/rusty tin accent wall is already on its way out and will be dead within a few years. If that is what you want, go for it, just be aware that it will probably not age well.

Given those points, what does that leave you with? I don't think vinyl sheet flooring is an option because it lacks physical texture and won't give you the look you are after. If you want the stone look without as much of an expense, maybe the lower portion of the wall gets the stone treatment while the rest of the area above is left as drywall painted a complimentary color. If going with wood, T&G pine would be a more timeless option instead of a rustic board wall. You could even play around with breaking the wall up into three different sections and changing the way the boards are installed between them (vertical, horizontal, vertical, alternating 45 degree angles, etc). At the end of the day, leaving it in drywall and painting it a different color (or colors) is also a respectable option that can still make a statement and add interest if done correctly.

Good luck in your endeavor - decisions like this are never easy.

EDIT:
Also, some large format wall art could also be an option. No firsthand experience with this company, just the first that popped up on the search...

https://www.wall26.com/search?f=&o=163&u=&s=48&c=40&p=1

 

[Superwilly]

IMHO any vinyl flooring product would look terrible on a wall... a garage/shop doubling as a mancave is fine (I'm somewhat doing the same), but you want to keep the look industrial. So wood planking would be ok, corrugated metal also... with a wall that size you're right, it will be somewhat costly. I'd say either bit the bullet and do it well, or don't do it at all. A cheap "faux" finish will cheapen the look of the whole interior.

 

[Superwilly]

Having said all that, the one "faux finish" that I did on a wall once was used 1/4" painters tape to lay out mortar lines like you would see with cinder block (staggered rectangles)... then did a flood coat of drywall mud about 1/8" thick... once the mud had started to set, i pulled off the painters tape, then used a damp sponge to add texture to the drywall mud and finally run a wet finger over my fake "mortar" grooves. Paint with a base color, then dry brush a darker color for accent... it looked incredible.

You could get this type of look, which would be great for a shop/mancave accent wall: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/302937512426053548/

Lay out the mortar lines yourself, get a drywaller to do your flood coat of mud, as they are super fast. This is a family/friends type project for a wall that size, lol

 

[glentre]

Some time ago, our architectural woodworking firm installed a diamond plate metal laminate wall in a new foreign car dealership. Also did one for an office in a private airplane hangar. Both looked great, were durable and easy to keep clean. Check out Wilsonart and other laminate manufacturers for a wide selection of patterns. Our installation was standard 4x8 plastic laminate sheets with embossed "metal" facing contact glued over a plywood wall. Easy installation for any DIY guy or gal.

Glen

 

[Ries]

If you are like most guys, you will end up hanging tools and all sorts of garage stuff on the walls. If that's what you do, then it makes no sense spending money on something "different" or extra nice. Garage or man cave look.....your choice.

Glen

Yes you’re right with the tools. I currently have a “home” for all my tools in my various tool boxes and carts, but with the NewAge cabinets I bought I’m thinking it would be nice to have a slat wall above the work benches. So with that said I’m thinking since I plan to have the majority of the back wall covered at ground level with my cabinets, welder, powder coating oven, and work bench it would make more sense for the first 8’ to be all slat wall.

 

[Ries]

Bdbecker many good points. That thought has crossed my mind. This space would probably sell as a sport court if the house were to be put on the market. That’s why I was thinking something like a stone or beick would be more fitting. However as you say leaving the drywall and just painting it a different color might be enough or perhaps like you say break it up in sections. My wife and I were actually thinking to perhaps do the center section in a vertical or horizontal wood pattern and leaving drywall on the top and a slat wall that would be mostly covered by the items I mentioned above.

 

[Ries]

Superwilly point taken. Whatever I end up with I don’t want it to deter and cheapen the look. The panels I looked at in person in Menards did look and feel the part, but I could see some potential issues with it for sure with respect to water and humidity and the general durability of the product.

I’m almost to the point of just purchasing bricks and doing the masonary work. We’ll see where things go. I was really hoping for any idea that would achieve something good looking, stood out, but doesn’t break the bank. I’d rather point that money towards my lift or a lathe.

 

[Copymutt]

Wonder if you could do the epoxy colored chip floor treatment on the vertcle?

 

[Ries]

Wonder if you could do the epoxy colored chip floor treatment on the vertcle?

Never seen that stuff used that high up. 1’ or so but nothing close to what I’m looking at with 18’