Opinions needed for my shop

[Gump]

While this isnt a welding project, it is where i do all my welding.
I have a small 16x24 detached garage with a 6/12 raftered roof and 9' walls. I plan to insulate and drywall it pretty soon. Tired of freezing my *** off out there. So, drywall for the walls of my shop; wont take me long to accidently stick a piece of angle or something through it i'm sure. Thought about painted OSB; too ugly. Plywood; any ive seen screwed onto wall studs wouldnt stay straight. Barn metal; I dont like the ribs and its too expensive. So i'm back to thinking about drywall.
Next is the ceiling. I use the ceiling joists to store various things like pvc pipe and other lightweight stuff i dont use often. So i thought about just insulating the rafters right up to the roof but leaving an air gap between the sheathing and the and the insulation from the soffit to the ridge vent. It would be nice to have open access to my "attic" area but then i think 'why would i want to heat all that space too. So ill probably end up dry walling the ceiling and insuling between the ceiling joists.
I really value the info i get from you guys and I'd like your input on what you all think i should do.
Drywall on the walls or is there a better material to use?
Just insulate up at the roof leaving the attic area open or drywall the ceiling and insulate between the joists?
Sorry for any mispellings and what not, I typed this on my phone.
Thanks

[Boostinjdm]

I dry walled part of my garage and now I'm wishing I went with OSB. Painted OSB doesn't look that bad. That's my 2 cents.

[Albie]

Finished the interior of my pole barn in Oct. Studs 24"on ctr. Used 7/16 osb for the walls. Lots of 20amp outlets. 240v outlets here and there. One coat primer sealer, and two coats of of Gloss white. Came out pretty damn nice Real durable, and easy to install even for a wood butcher like me. White gloss really makes it bright. Didnt want drywall because of banging into it with things, but you may be more careful than me. But you know your needs........just some info

[wb4rt]

In my new shop, I am running 1x4 pressure treated on the concrete as a baseboard. The pressure treated is in case I want to wash out or have a leak. Then I screwed 1/2" plywood for the bottom 4' above the baseboard, and drywall above that. Looks pretty good, and I haven't even finished or painted yet. I figure the wear and tear is usually low, and I can unscrew the plywood to replace if necessary or run electric outlets, etc.

[DSW]

One nice thing about plywood/OSB that hasn't been mentioned so far is that you can locate shelves and brackets any where you feel like.

I'd go with plywood or OSB myself. The walls of my current shop space are plywood and if I do a shed or small detached garage at the house it will have plywood or OSB interior walls as well.

[ThorsHammer]

You could get some exterior sheeting T111 without the lines. Then you've got a wood look, and easy painting.

I'm for OSB or MDF. MDF would have a smoother finish. Though it's not as strong as OSB and I would make sure you hit studs if you're going to hang shelves on it.

[Mick120]

Originally Posted by wb4rt

The pressure treated is in case I want to wash out or have a leak.

I'm a bit concerned.....does 'have a leak' refer to water leaking in....or out.....

[leightrepairs]

Drywall is much more resistant to fire then wood products

[Old Doug]

Dry wall does not last long in a shop wear climat is all ways changing. Any thing is better than drywall.Go around and look at some shops around you.

[TheJackal]

I just did my garage also.. I used 1/2" osb slash chipboard. 2 coats of Primer, and 2 coats of gloss white and I think it looks great.. Then you can weld up some triangle shelf brackets and sink a 7/16" lag where ever you want. Just 1 bracket easily holds me doing chin ups on it. (3/4 16 gauge square) and I am 185

Before you insulate caulk all the studs in if you want, it will give you a better air seal.. I am also going to insulate the roof. and leave the "attic" open. Also my work benches will be hinged so they fold up and latch tight against the wall, I have a 2 car joke of a garage. Could barely fit 2 civics in there.

[Sparky0908]

I have OSB painted gloss white in my shop and love it! Holds up better than drywall and easier to hang stuff on.

[Jeonlyep]

If you're building it for looks, drywall....

If you're building it for function, OSB.....


That's why my office is drywall and my shop is OSB....



.

[fredschrom]

" I dry walled part of my garage and now I'm wishing I went with OSB. Painted OSB doesn't look that bad. That's my 2 cents "

OSB is much better in a shop, sheetrock doesn't hold up long term, figure out where your going to put your torch cutting setup and use concrete board behind that section ( usually just one sheet ).

Mine isn't painted.

[TheJackal]

That is a good idea Fred, Never thought of that. Cheers.

[farmshop]

If you want to leave the ceiling open you could spray foam the bottom of the roof. R-7 per inch plus its air tight

[kolot]

OSB then cover with green board bathroom drywall, good fire resistance, hang shelves anywhere you like and will take a hit as good as wood, if you ding the drywall you just put some joint compound to the ding, it will be just dings and not big cracks or holes as the OSB serves as a good strong backer ,more money, more work initially but in the long haul a good wall and better flame retardant.

[Boostinjdm]

You guys keep mentioning flame resistance. OSB takes a lot more than a few stray sparks to light. I use it to lay on when cutting/welding underneath something in the dirt. I have yet to see it flame up at all or smolder more than a few seconds.

[jman]

I'm fortunate in that I have 40" of concrete walls on left side and far wall (entry-way) and all have a nice 4" lip (great for a VERY long shelf). Those two entire walls above the concrete are OSB and the other wall is 5/8" Drywall (Fire-Proof). I can use my Torch, Plasma, Grinders or Welders anywhere in the Garage and I'm pretty well safe from any fire. Since we get REALLY NASTY cold snaps, I insulated with sprayed foam and regular insulation on top of that. I use a 220 heater now and it gets nice and cozy in my 26' x 24' workspace in a hurry. Proper insulation is Key and since my Garage is built 'into a small hill', the dirt surrounds the concrete, thus adding to the insulating factor in both the Winter and Summer.

I'd probably go with Drywall (I like the Fire-Proofing idea) and then cut up a 2 or 3 sheets of inexpensive 4'x8' thin galvanized sheeting (cheaper than some Drywall!) as a barrier and screw it into the studs. Makes a great fire-resistant welding and grinding area and if you decide to move things around, you can just 'unscrew' the sheet and move them to the 'other wall'.

[weldbead]

i have a few things attached to my garages bare walls after living here for 30 years..it would be easier to knock it doen than remove everything to insulate it..but i find that when the thermometer in the garage says 20 degrees, fifteen minutes with a propane salamander and it says 40 degrees..i can live with that ..

[jman]

Originally Posted by Boostinjdm

You guys keep mentioning flame resistance. OSB takes a lot more than a few stray sparks to light. I use it to lay on when cutting/welding underneath something in the dirt. I have yet to see it flame up at all or smolder more than a few seconds.

For me the BIG reason I don't like OSB and ESPECIALLY MDF is that they are Full of RESINS, WAXES and for some people, they can make them VERY ILL due to the release of Formaldehyde (especially MDF). If you have or 'develop' chemical sensitivities, OSB and MDF will be unbearable for some of those people...
The OSB I have installed was from Picture Framing stands and all the panels (6' x 3') were 'coated' with with a Poly-Resin (had weird detachable fabric on them too...) and It's the only reason that I took them and used them in the Garage...

Cheers,

Edit: Forgot to mention the Fire hazard I experienced with my hunk of OSB...
I have a table that I sometimes use with my Torch (a VERY nice 2" thick 3' x 4' OSB top) and it will immediately light on fire (Once I move away from my Fire-Bricks..) with even a 000 tip! I also tried brazing some SilBronze with my TIG using the same top and the result was very similar... Maybe it's the Thickness or amount of Glue in mine? I dunno..., but now I don't know what to do with it!
/Cheers,

[jman]

Originally Posted by weldbead

i have a few things attached to my garages bare walls after living here for 30 years..it would be easier to knock it doen than remove everything to insulate it..but i find that when the thermometer in the garage says 20 degrees, fifteen minutes with a propane salamander and it says 40 degrees..i can live with that ..

Yeah, I can get two or three weeks of -30 degrees here!~
I can't use a Propane heater for more than 20 minutes without getting a Headache in my semi-airtight garage.. Stuff just doesn't agree with me.

[blackpowder]

Put roll plastic on studs to stop air leak, cover with OSB prime then 2 coats of white paint, looks good takes a ton of abuse, dosent take much to freshen up. If you are worried about fire hazard put up a spark deflector around chop saws, welders etc.

[Pavinsteelman]

Use light guage metal deck and screw it to studs galvanized and fireproof .

[Albie]

Lots of good ideas about the walls and insulating them, but i aint sure if i would want to use osb for the top of a table where hot work is being done...just sayin?

[thejonn2524]

Sheet rock it and put smooth FRP if you want to brighten it up and never worry about it again. It is expensive but, it does have its advantages as far as cleaning and how long it will last.