CHEAP Shop Wall Covering

If you are thinking of covering your shop or garage walls, there are many options. The 3 cheapest options are drywall, metal siding and OSB. Depending on you application, any one of these may be fine for your shop. For me, OSB was the best choice. OSB is cheap, mouse resistant, flat, and able to be screwed to. These reasons fit all of the criteria for my shop, so it's what I installed.

//Camera Gear Used:

//TOOLS & SERVICES I USE:

SEND ME STUFF:
PO Box 354
Rose Hill, KS 67133

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you!

[johnanderson]

I live in Michigan and have a small machine shop. I finally heated it with Nat Gas and decided to wall with OSB. Glad I did. I agree with your reasoning. Now I have to decide on a ceiling after two winters out there. I insulated the walls with 13 and the ceiling with 38. What's cool (no pun intended) is the shop stays cool in the summer now without AC. Plus almost zero humidity if you keep the doors closed. I'm thinking 3/8 rock up top painted white.

[quantumtechcrypto]

It needs a good sanding to get rid of the free advertising then a good clear coat, stain or french burn. Some french cleats, peg board and surround sound with 600 watt bass speaker.

[miked]

I put 7/16 inch OSB up in my workshop out back. Surprisingly, my stud finder can still locate stud through it. I was a little surprised. Plus, I can easily find where they are just by looking for the nails.

[practicallandlording]

I only use two gang receptacles for an extra few bucks you save the wire multisnakes. Also amazon has multitasker box blades which cut all four sides one and two gang boxes. We are going big bucks for trusscore in apartments. Expensive on the truck way less on the wall with decades of no paint.

[micheascott]

Wanting a very inexpensive option & having wondered about putting this in my garage (2/3 unfinished), I'm thrilled to see it done, and to have your experienced opinion. I know nothing about nothing re: building & woodwork, but this seems pretty straight fwd. Thank you!

[kenknight]

Still good practice to cut second sheet up in half and stagger the joints or go vertical with sheets assuming standard framing.

[michaeldrevyankosr]

I was going to ship lap my garage ( man space), but it is expensive, I may go with chip board or plywood now and run a chair rail 1x4 at the horizontal joints 😊

[thoroughconsumer]

Thank you so much. I have been trying to figure out for months the best way to finish a garage Im renting out of because Im absolutely tired of looking at the insulation! I appreciate you so.

[hvyduty]

Loved this is what is going to happen to my garage.

[vascotoys]

Thanks for this video! I may go with OSB for some of the remaining portions of my shop walls after seeing this.

[randallsmerna]

Whatever you use you should have raised it at least a quarter to a half inch off the floor so it wouldn't wick any water off of the concrete.

[benjaminreinhardt]

I use 7/16 OSB in the general shop area. I use 5/8 drywall in the welding room.

[ChazzCoombes]

Hi from the UK, i have just started doing this in my garage using 11mm thick OSB, I like you do like the plane look of the OSB what I have done is use counter sunk machine screws and used threaded inserts for the same reason incase I need to get behind to add a nogging or two for extra support for weight. Nice video

[robertfakler]

Not a big deal, but I would stagger the joints to add a little more stiffness to the wall.

[SpetznazSamson]

I put peg boards on my shop walls. Super cheap, easy to install, huge utility value.

[undaware]

I just took all the osb off my walls. I need the lighting benefits of a painted surface and I just can't abide painted osb.

[KateHikes]

I may have missed this, but what were the cost comparisons for sheetrock, metal, and OSB?

[ethanwanzek]

I think osb is warmer and quieter the steel also

[vladik]

Good choice. I'd paint it for a cleaner look.

[rolandpinette]

OSB is a great choice for your application. It is durable, resists dings, and provides solid backing for anchors. Drywall is a less expensive alternative, but it dings easily and could absorb moisture if installed too close to the floor. Moisture Resistant drywall on the lower course would provide some moisture protection. I like drywall because when painted, it is very bright. That becomes more important to me as I get older and require more light to work indoors. In my opinion, metal roofing/siding is a poor choice, because it could trap moisture in the wall cavity and not allow the wall to dry out because you already have an impervious barrier on the outside.
One option you did not discuss is a combination of these materials.For instance, OSB could be used on the lower 4 or 8 feet, with drywall above. This puts the durable material where it is more likely to get dinged, with the cheaper alternative above. One could paint the lower course a darker color to conceal dirt/finger prints, with a brighter color above to help with light reflection.
One last suggestion; stagger your joints. Breaking sheets on the same stud screams DIYer. You did a great job with your installation but stacking joints puts you in the same class as so many other weekend warriors. Your attention to detail tells me you're a step above that.