What to finish walls with

[tec508]

Hi guys,

Been lurking off and on for years, signed up last year. Finally I'm in the process of purchasing a house that has 2 garages. One being a 3 car detached with loft. Needless to say I'm all pumped up.

The 3 car will be where I do all my projects, everything from working on our vehicles, building speakers, to teaching my self how to weld.

The 3 car isn't insulated or finished up at all. The walls are open and I want to insulate and close it up. I'm thinking I may have spray foam done and sheet rock the walls, but then I think about how fragile sheet rock is in a garage environment.

I'd like the walls to look done but also be strong so I'm looking for suggestions.

 

[Whitworth]

It’s not fragile. I don’t get this fragile thing. Maybe if you’re in the habit of throwing ball pein hammers at your walls ?? Or super clumsy while carrying 2*4’s around the shop. The other issue that comes up is fastening stuff to the walls. OSB or plywood will allow direct screwing to the wall, but anything of substantive weight has to anchored to a stud or other framing part anyways.

 

[bad_idea]

Drywall is sufficient. I have accomplished quite a bit of fab work in my garage w/ sheet rock. Sheet rock is fire retardant (assuming you get the fire rated stuff), where as OSB or plywood will burn. It's not as fragile as you think. Just use a bit of sense when working in the garage. No need to bash things into the walls. It will happen, but it is a garage after all.

 

[kelpaso1]

After you get everything in there (tool boxes, shelves, benches, machines) you won't hardly see the walls. In my garage I can see maybe 15-20% of my walls and that is the top 1/3rd.

 

[jdepiero]

I used fire retardant drywall in my 30 x 60. sprayed 2 coats of primer and 1 coat of finish. looks great. Although Kelpaso 1 is correct, with everything on my walls,i.e. cabinets, shelves, old signs etc. not much of the walls is left to see!

 

[garage guy1of38]

Have a look at Trusscore.

 

[James-W]

I have drywall in my garage and it is a little over 5 years since it was built. I have not had any issues whatsoever with the drywall.

 

[rburke65]

I used GP Smart siding panels. 4'x10' panels, shiplap edges, pre primed. I screwed my panels to the studs so, if needed, I could open the wall without a problem.

 

[ard]

Ive got sheetrock in my garage, shop and barn. 20 years. Welding & Fab, cabinet making, wood working, painting, everything. (The horse stalls have OSB, then 1x6 T&G, on the walls to 8ft. Sheetrock above that.)

High quality gloss paint on the sheetrock, I powerwash the barn once a year, in the heat of summer- drys out nicely.)

my 2 cents

 

[Lelandwelds]

Ive got sheetrock in my garage, shop and barn. 20 years. Welding & Fab, cabinet making, wood working, painting, everything. (The horse stalls have OSB, then 1x6 T&G, on the walls to 8ft. Sheetrock above that.)

High quality gloss paint on the sheetrock, I powerwash the barn once a year, in the heat of summer- drys out nicely.)

my 2 cents

You powerwash just the horse stalls? I know they make exterior gypsum panels but they are expensive. The green and purple would not play nice with a pressure washer. I have never seen the fiberglass drywall. Is that the new Kryptonite paint?

How wild do you get with the (4000 PSI? 1500 PSI?) pressure washer?

 

[stm317]

This has been discussed ad nauseum around here. It's personal choice that should be based on your intended use and preferences.

My plan is to use OSB for my walls. They're more impact resistant than drywall, and if they become damaged, I can simply unscrew a panel and replace it in short order. No taping/mudding required. For me, the functionality and flexibility outweighs the aesthetics of drywall.

 

[Fishingfoolemjak]

My garage is ~25 years old with Sheetrock inside.... it does fine for me. But if I were building one, I would use plywood for functionality and like stated above, the ease of replacement. Also, considering you may have an electrical panel inside, if you ever wanted to redo/add wiring it’s much easier if you can remove a section of wall covering!

 

[fourjeepin]

White pegboard was my choice after insulation.

 

[yeldogt]

I used GP Smart siding panels. 4'x10' panels, shiplap edges, pre primed. I screwed my panels to the studs so, if needed, I could open the wall without a problem.

LP Smartside?

That's a good idea ... do they make a smooth panel? Or did you use the exterior wood look?

I guess you just painted?

 

[Jinks]

I found some silver peg board (but you can paint peg board any color) for use in mine. The upper walls are mostly covered in cabinets, but the rest provides plenty of room to hang stuff.

 

[TractorJeff]

If you put up OSB or Plywood then you don't mud/tape.
Why does everyone insist on mud/tape if you put up Drywall?

 

[ard]

If you put up OSB or Plywood then you don't mud/tape.
Why does everyone insist on mud/tape if you put up Drywall?

Because it looks better? So you aren't looking at 4x8 sheets and 1x8 pieces and 3x4 pieces in a mosaic on your walls and ceilings? Because it helps create a better vapor barrier?

If I needed more protection, I'd drywall and THEN add something over that in the areas that need it.

 

[mcgruff38]

I just went through this in a 2 car garage. I put fiberglass insulation in the walls. Its fast, cheap, and easy to do. Just wear gloves and long sleeves. I finished the walls with 5/8" plywood and screwed it to the studs. If I have to remove a piece, I can just unscrew it and pull it off.

 

[Lelandwelds]

finished the walls with 5/8" plywood

And, when it rains you can play baseball indoors without repairing walls.

 

[CraigStu]

If you put up OSB or Plywood then you don't mud/tape.
Why does everyone insist on mud/tape if you put up Drywall?

Exactly. My next one will have the drywall installed back side out so I don't see the thin edges that are there to accept the tape and mud. An untaped joint on drywall isn't any different than an untaped joint on plywood or osb.