Garage finishing ideas - Alternatives to drywall?

[joecz858]

Hey Everyone,
Will be moving shortly to a new place with an unfinished detatched garage. I finished my last garage in a fairly standard way with drywall and custom plywood shelving.

After 15 years I can say I didn't love the drywall, kept getting damaged/marked up and really susceptable to the humidity.

Does anybody have any suggestions for good alternatives to drywall in a garage? I was thinking about trying out some kind of white interior metal, like what you would find in an RTU building or compressor package.

Anyhow would love to hear your ideas/experiences!

[JohnB]

I went with tin in my garage,easy to install. Was a lot cheaper than having someone do drywall, tape and mud.

I would post a pic, but too much of pain.

[spurly]

OSB and paint.

[roper1]

Originally Posted by spurly

OSB and paint.

x2. My garage small & humid, been fine for years

[Buckwheat]

Slatwall panels.

[W921]

Thick plywood better than thin because thick enough down the road when u decide to hang shelves etc.
I would go atleast half inch.

[rjlester]

I have OSB and white paint. Super durable. Can hang most items between studs using screws, and heavy items I use the studs. Wouldn't want anything else on my shop walls.

[tim the toolman]

Lots of different options. Just depends on how much you want to spend. Painted half inch spruce or fir plywood better than osb plywood in my opinion. Also half inch plywood as a solid backer for metal sheet called mesa panel or flutied liner. Can order different lengths and trims for it. Also a plastic product that I believe is called clean 16. About 1/4 to 3/8 thick and all hidden fasteners

[Trochu]

I had drywall.
Dad has a detached, did white tin on the walls and roof.

[Greatwest]

PVC garage wall panels. Google it. Buddy has them and loves them in his shop. They look awesome and he uses his pressure washer in there for his semi. I’m sure more $$ then the standard garage interior options.

[Irina]

I would plywood it, looks nicer than osb IMO. Paint it white.

[FishOutOfWater]

Originally Posted by Greatwest

PVC garage wall panels. Google it. Buddy has them and loves them in his shop. They look awesome and he uses his pressure washer in there for his semi. I’m sure more $$ then the standard garage interior options.

Brian Baeumler endorses / sells them... Trusscore- interlocking PVC wall & ceiling panels.

Not cheap either, but extremely durable. Home Hardware is a licensed retailer.

https://trusscore.com/products/wall-...lingboard.html

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by FishOutOfWater

Brian Baeumler endorses / sells them... Trusscore- interlocking PVC wall & ceiling panels.

Not cheap either, but extremely durable. Home Hardware is a licensed retailer.

https://trusscore.com/products/wall-...lingboard.html

That slats all looks awesome.

[ghfalls]

In a shop I built for a buddy, we did 8’ of 3/4” plywood, then white low rib tin to the ceiling and on the ceiling. Then stained and cleared the plywood. Looks awesome and you can easily put up shelves and hang things anywhere.

[brendan's dad]

For those that did osb and paint, did you need to use an oil base primer?

[mryimmers]

OSB or plywood, see what prices look like for you. I did OSB and sprayed with
white paint, don't remember if it was oil based or not, it was awhile back.
Would do it same today, far more durable than drywall.

* added- use air stapler/nailer, especially for OSB, makes life far easier.

[-JR-]

It all depends what you are using the garage for. If its just for storing the car and some toys nothing wrong with drywall Dry wall is so easy to patch up and repaint to make it look new again .

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by brendan's dad

For those that did osb and paint, did you need to use an oil base primer?

Yes. If you don't the wood will swell and start to delaminate. Wear PPE. Been there done that.

[graybeard]

Originally Posted by Irina

I would plywood it, looks nicer than osb IMO. Paint it white.

^^ Right Here ^^

I had OSB but over time, chips of wood lifted leaving a chicken pox look everywhere..
Second time around I use 3/8" plywood and white paint, Best decision, and yes to the white paint.

With either wood finish, it was easier to find the studs for shelving etc. Screw don't nail your wood.
Good luck

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by graybeard

^^ Right Here ^^

I had OSB but over time, chips of wood lifted leaving a chicken pox look everywhere..
Second time around I use 3/8" plywood and white paint, Best decision, and yes to the white paint.

With either wood finish, it was easier to find the studs for shelving etc. Screw don't nail your wood.
Good luck

x3. If it is not heated, like the detached double out back which my wife uses for storage and a potting shed, then I don't insulate and I don't sheet the inside. The attached garage was already heated, insulated and dry walled so I left it as is, but I would have preferred plywood and paint.

[fishtank]

Just plywood it with screws not nails

[stob]

Originally Posted by spurly

OSB and paint.

x2

[CanuckShooter]

Rather than paint I'd recommend a waterproof stain, Behr brand sold at HD. I used it on my trailers plywood deck and on the walls of a canvassed camper I built. Good stuff and any wayward water won't get into your wood if that is the way you go.

[IL Bar]

I did Trusscore in my new shop mechanical room and bathroom. It’s not cheap and I don’t love the stuff. It does not cut nice and I didn’t enjoy cutting the end pieces to finish the wall. Was tough to get ends to fit tight.

I would do painted or stained plywood or else I would do aluminum diamond plate wainscoting with that corrugated metal on top.

[jungleboy]

My garage is insulated but not heated unless I am out there and light the stove.
I have had OSB on the walls and ceiling for at least 15 yrs and no issues with chipping or delaminating. I did not put any finish on the walls. It looks as good as when it was installed , except dirtier. I also ran a welding / Plasma cutting business in there for 6 years , no issues with osb whatsoever.

I have never seen painted OSB that didn’t look crappy over time and I think it’s because the panels are so impregnated with glue that paint cannot penetrate the surface ,causing it to peel or flake over time

[CNP]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

My garage is insulated but not heated unless I am out there and light the stove.
I have had OSB on the walls and ceiling for at least 15 yrs and no issues with chipping or delaminating. I did not put any finish on the walls. It looks as good as when it was installed , except dirtier. I also ran a welding / Plasma cutting business in there for 6 years , no issues with osb whatsoever.

I have never seen painted OSB that didn’t look crappy over time and I think it’s because the panels are so impregnated with glue that paint cannot penetrate the surface ,causing it to peel or flake over time

Yes. OSB, unfinished, is just fine in a heated or unheated detached garage/shop.

[Fastfred]

I did OSB and then Painted with a primer sealer. Having the white walls provided a lot more light in the garage

[Drewski Canuck]

Whatever you are planning to do, think fire code.

If you run grinders, have gas powered equipment, weld, etc, you really want something with a fire rating, regardless of how soft it is.

Every garage will have cans of spray paint, solvent based cleaners, possibly gas for the lawn mower, etc, and it all will burn very fast on you if something happens.

Plywood is a no for fire protection as is OSB. Some OSB is fire retardant treated, but then you have green walls, if that is what you want.

If you want to use tin, that is fine, and obviously drywall.

Attached Garages have to have drywall or fire rated wall material, and apparently current code requires that it be taped and patched drywall now.

Just a thought.

Drewski

[DOGFISH]

White metal or plywood painted or plain as the best options for finishing inside of a garage.

[curtz]

I have drywall but if I built again I would go with white tin. As far as humidity, I have a dehumidifier in mine and it helps a lot.