What Can I Use To Cover Garage Walls
The best material for finishing garage walls is usually considered to be drywall. It increases the fire resistance of walls and is easy to install. However, you do have another garage wall covering option. Oriented strandboard can be screwed to the wall framing, but does not require taping and finishing.
Is drywall cheaper than plywood?
Drywall is cheaper than plywood Most wood materials are expensive. Plywood is no exception. While it is not as expensive as regular wood, it is slightly more expensive than drywall. Fixing drywall is also a lot cheaper and less time consuming than plywood.
Cheapest Way To Finish A Garage Wall
When intending to finish your garage wall, you need an estimate or a budget. If you dont have enough money, you can use cheaper materials to lower the cost of your project.
Drywall is one of the cheapest and most common garage wall finishing materials. Other affordable garage walls finishing alternatives include paint, OSB, fiberglass, pegboards, and backer boards.
Depending on your budget, you can choose either of these materials to finish your garage wall. Each has its own cost, benefits, and drawbacks.
What we cover
There Are 4 Types Of Drywalls Available:
Regular Made of gypsum, sandwiched between layers of paper. Both the gypsum and paper are organic materials prone to moisture and mold.
Mold Resistant Bit pricier than regular but uses paperless backing to inhibit the growth of living organisms. For general purposes, as bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms.
Moisture Resistant Cement board for moist areas like bathrooms and kitchens. Do not use regular or mold-resistant drywall in wet places because it will rot out. But it has been replaced with a far superior cement board. There is also moisture-resistant drywall called green board.
Fire Resistant Used in industrial and commercial locations where fire-rating requirements must be met.
- Ceilings and walls are generally faced with 1/2-inch drywall sheets. In ceilings, you usually use CV rated or ceiling boards. There are also lightweight boards available for this purpose.
- In some instances, you may be required to place 5/8-inch drywall on your ceilings or outside walls. 5/8-inch drywall may be classified as Fire-rated or TypeX drywall and stands up to fires longer than traditional 1/2-inch drywall does.
- You can double your drywall in fire risk areas in some municipalities rather than buy more expensive thicker sheets.
- The thicker 5/8-inch drywall is also helpful for sound reduction because of its greater mass. Recording studios sometimes do a double layer of 5/8-inch drywall.
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Painting The Osb Garage Walls
The nice thing about INSL-X Prime Lock Plus primer is that though it is oil-based, it can be overcoated with either a water-based acrylic or an oil-based alkyd top coat. Washable latex paint is ideal for garage walls.
Acrylic paints come in a range of sheens. Sheen is the level of shininess of a paint coat, once it is dry. Following is a quick guide on the best sheen level for your project.
- Flat or matte sheen provides great depth of color and is ideal for less-than-perfect surfaces.
- Eggshell, pearl and satin sheens are light, easy to clean, work great in high traffic areas, and reveal color with a softly polished glow.
- Semi-gloss sheens are particularly durable and are often recommended for moldings and trim.
Flat white is ideal for garage ceilings as it reflects the recessed ceiling lights and makes your garage look bright. Eggshell sheen interior paint in a color you prefer is great for the walls. The garage walls are bound to get smudged, sooner rather than later. No worries the marks will come off with a sponge dipped in soap water.
Benjamin Moore has an excellent range of interior acrylic paints. You could choose any of them and come out a winner!
Why Would I Need A Temporary Wall In The Garage
Heres a crazy sci-fi scenario: a pandemic rages worldwide. To help quell the contagion, businesses shut their doors temporarily, then reopen, but only partially. Concerns about safety keep you from your local gym. You dont have the space inside your house for a workout and for the equipment, but you do in your garage.
Trouble is, its freezing cold in your garage, and honestly not too inspirational. You need a temporary wall, or two.
Temporary walls are flexible. They allow you to use space you have now, then take them down later. Or maybe you are a renter, and you are required to take them down before moving out.
Garages can be ideal spaces for an extra room. If you can park your car outside, a large amount of space is freed up. If you have a double garage and only one car, then creating a room makes a lot of sense.
You could make a workout room, a hobby room, a he/she/they Cave, or home office. You can have a sawdust-free home for your washer and dryer.
Maybe you dont need an office, gym or laundry room, but you have lots of DIY building projects. Garages are nice empty spaces, but they may not have enough wall space to store all your tools. Adding two more walls around a workbench can keep your workspace organized.
Heres a video of a guy building a freestanding wall thats anchored to his heavy workbench. If he wants to rearrange his garage, workbench and wall can both be moved.
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Superior Drywall Alternatives For Your Garage Walls
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Drywall is by far the most common garage wall and ceiling building material used today, but there are many alternatives that deliver better performance and unique styling. We run down some of the available options and detail their strengths and weaknesses.
Your garage deserves better
- Drywall has some advantages as a garage wall and ceiling product, including its fire performance and convenient availability but thats not the whole story
- There are a host of alternative materials that, depending on the use case, offer a range of interior finishes and, in some cases, far greater performance
- Some of the alternatives include wood, metal, cement, and PVC-based products like those from Trusscore
Drywall has long been the default building product for garage walls and ceilings. But is it the best product?
Garages today are required to perform multiple roles. Theyre used to store vehicles, of course, but theyre also used as storage rooms, workshops, and, in some cases, home gyms and offices. These roles arent always suited to drywalls strengths and weaknesses
Today, there are many drywall alternatives that, depending on your garage and its primary use, may perform better than drywall and may just be the better choice.
But before we discuss those alternatives, lets talk about the use-cases where drywall does make sense.
It’s important to consult with your contractor, builder, and local municipality on garage fire code requirements.
What Is Interior Paint Use For
Interior paint isnt as flexible as exterior paint but has fewer VOCs.
- Resist cleaning and scrubbing.
- Dont scuff or smear.
- Have both high- and semi-gloss sheens for high traffic areas.
- Dont off-gas from resin or added chemicals.
But keep in mind if you have a damp or un-insulated garage, interior paint may crack or peel with exposure to moisture and temperature changes. However, theyre true to the low- and no-VOC. You still have to keep the rooms youre painting well ventilated, but the smell should subside within a few days.
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Should I Paint The Inside Of My Garage
While the inside of your garage might be freezing in the winter, it isnt exposed to rain, snow, or sunlight, so there is no need to use exterior paint. As long as the wet paint isnt exposed to freezing temps, interior paint will do fine without problems. Using exterior paint in an interior space can also be toxic.
Alternatives To Drywall For Garage Walls
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While drywall serves as the most common wall finish throughout most modern homes, it’s not always the best choice for the garage. In addition to being difficult to finish properly, drywall simply isn’t as useful as other wall finishes when it comes to maximizing the functionality and organization in the garage. Before hanging drywall, consider alternative materials that add a practical or decorative touch in garages and workshops.
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How Do I Finish My Garage On A Budget
One option is to simply clear out the space and seal the floor. This will make the space more usable and prevent any further damage to your belongings.
Another option is to add some basic shelving and storage units to the space. This will help to keep the area organized and free from clutter. You can also add a workbench or pegboard to the space to create a more functional area.
Finally, you can paint the space or add some wall paneling to give it a more finished look. These simple steps can help to transform your garage into a usable and inviting space.
Hire A Pro To Finish Your Garage Walls
Homegardenguides.com is a FREE tool that connects homeowners to a range of home-improvement professionals.
It is easy to use and connects you to a professional garage wall installer in a few easy steps.
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Should You Drywall Your Garage
Drywall is a great building matter that is highly resistant to fire so it is a great addition to garages. Garages often have power tools in them, flammable materials, and also people who work on cars with products that could catch fire. Installing drywall would be a good idea to keep it a safe area.
How To Finish Your Garage Walls On A Shoestring Budget
Drywall is a popular choice for garage walls, but it’s not always the best nor is it the most budget-friendly. While aesthetically pleasing, drywall has very little impact resistance and has very poor moisture resistance.
Fortunately, there are lots of better choices out there. Let’s take a look at the options.
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What To Expect When You Finish Your Garage Wall
- More space. When you finish your garage walls, you can install shelves and hooks on the walls to hang tools and other items. You create more space for an extra car or other household or unused items with tools off the floor.
- Enhanced aesthetics. Your garage is more attractive with finished walls. You can paint or decorate the finished garage walls in different ways to make the garage more visually appealing.
- Finished garage walls are easy to clean. Different wall finishing materials make it easy to clean your walls. Fiberglass finish can be wiped with a wet cloth to clean dirt and grease marks.
- Increase the value of the property. A finished garage helps you to sell your home at a higher price when selling it.
- Livable space. Most times, before you finish your garage, you dont want to spend more time than necessary in it. Once it is finished and decorated, the garage becomes a livable space. You can make it an extra room, an office, or rent it out depending on how you finish it.
Why Cover Garage Walls
So why cover your garage walls anyway?
Well, there are several reasons actually.
Perhaps you need to add storage to the space, or your garage is too dark and needs to be brightened up. Some homeowners find finished garage walls are easier to keep clean versus bare studs.
Or, you could want to increase the value of your home. While there may be no direct impact on the estimated value of your home, buyers are more drawn to homes that have a garage that is finished.
I wrote an article that goes covers whether a finished garage adds to your homes value. Check it out if youre thinking of selling your home in the next few years but still want the benefit of a finished garage.
Adding a finished look to your garage gives buyers the option of using the garage as additional living space without the expectation of doing the finishing themselves.
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What Is The Cheapest Way To Finish A Garage Wall
The cheapest way of covering your garage is either drywalling or painting, or a combination of the two. Drywall is the cheapest if you leave it unpainted, though it will have a short lifespan.
Paint is the cheapest if you do not treat the concrete first. But if you do not use sealant, do not expect to go more than a year before the paint begins to peel off.
All other methods are far more expensive, or they still involve painting after installation. Painting on a treated wall is inexpensive and it is faster to repaint than to repair the other wall covering choices.
You may find your choices limited by local fire codes. Certain jurisdictions forbid the use of non-fire-retardant materials such as plastic. Drywall is often acceptable for local fire regulations.
Cost To Insulate A 2424 Garage
For every square foot of insulation, you would have to pay between $0.30 and $2.00. Labor costs range from $0.80 to $1 per square foot.
That means that the insulation of a 24×24 garage is going to cost you from $172.8 to $1,152 if you decide to install the insulation yourself. If you are planning on inviting an expert to help you with the installation, then you might be paying $633.6-$1,728 per square foot.
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Have A Slatwall Storage System Installed
Slatwall panels provide versatile hanging storage space and give garages a cleaner, finished look.
With a garages walls being invaluable for storage and interior design upgrades, wouldnt it be nice if there was a product that took care of both those needs?
There is such a product and its called slatwall. Our slatwall panels and hanging accessories are the best wall-mounted garage storage solution available and give garages a clean, finished look.
This complete wall hanging system involves installing PVC slatwall panels in your garage that are sturdy, easy to clean, and waterproof.
Using a wide variety of hooks, racks, baskets, bins, and shelves, this wall hanging system helps to keep your garage organized and maximize its storage space. Rearranging your stored items is easier with slatwall than it is with other types of wall storage systems, such as pegboard.
Eight slatwall colors are available that allow you to customize your garages design. There are several more ways that slatwall can be used as a decorative garage wall feature:
- it can cover the entire garage wall and be used in corners and awkward spaces
- slatwall can be combined with open drywall space
- another slatwall color can be incorporated into the wall design for decorative effect
- ribbon lighting installed on the slatwall creates a unique, more inviting look
What Should I Finish My Garage Walls With
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Theres a wide range of choices out there, and Ive personally used several different materials to finish my garage walls over the years. I would consider the following to be among the most suitable and best choices for garage walls.
The most popular options for finishing garage walls are drywall, paint, wood paneling, plywood, OSB, metal panels, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, pegboards, slat boards, and backerboard. Drywall is a very popular choice for garage walls because of its easy installation, fire resistance, and economical price.
Each material has its pros and cons, so its important to decide carefully to make the right choice for your circumstance.
And if youre on a budget, make sure to read to the end for the most economical way to cover your garage walls.
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Can I Insulate My Garage Myself
Yes, you can insulate your own garage. We recommend using fiberglass insulation, since this type is easier to handle and can be used throughout the entire garage, including the walls, floors and ceiling. If you plan to use a different type of insulation, we suggest hiring a professional, since other materials can require more experience.
Wood Planks Or Shiplap
Wooden ships, in times gone by, were made from planks of wood. Shiplap gets its name from there. Today it serves no function.
But quite a few people like using shiplap on their walls to make a design statement. The look especially works if your home has a rustic farmhouse or a seaside cottage look and feel.
So shiplap, just like FRP, is mostly an add-on decorative feature. However, if you are so inclined, you can consider it as one of the alternatives to drywall for garage walls.
Since we are dealing with a natural material prices can vary widely. For example, at Home Depot, you can get wooden planks from as low as 10 20 $ a pack to upwards of 100 $ a pack.
But I guess when you are paying for the looks, you pay the price for the look and feel you want! or better still visit the neighborhood store.
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Options For Garage Wall Coverings
Weve covered the why. Now lets talk about the how.
Suppose youre one of those creative, DIY homeowners. In that case, you may be willing to step out of the traditional box and go with something completely different.
However, for those that want some more common options, heres a look at the most popular wall coverings for finished garages.
Consider Fire Codes First
No matter how you feel about it, you may be stuck with drywall in your garage depending on the design of your home and your local building codes. Drywall helps to increase the fire resistance of walls, which slows the spread of heat and flames to keep your family safe. Generally, garages attached to the home must have drywall installed on all walls adjacent to the home, as well as on the ceiling if there is any living space above the garage. Even separate garages located less than 3 feet away from the home must have drywall on all interior walls. Before skipping the drywall for an alternative product, check your local building codes to confirm whether drywall is required for fire resistance.
References
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