Opinions needed for my shop

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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.ThanksSafety 3rdGump
Reply: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.My name's not Jim....
Reply: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
Reply: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.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply: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..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply: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.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Drywall is much more resistant to fire then wood products
Reply: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.
Reply: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 185Before 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.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:I have OSB painted gloss white in my shop and love it!  Holds up better than drywall and easier to hang stuff on.
Reply: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....  .Last edited by Jeonlyep; 02-16-2012 at 09:12 PM.
Reply:" 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.
Reply:That is a good idea Fred, Never thought of that. Cheers.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:If you want to leave the ceiling open you could spray foam the bottom of the roof. R-7 per inch plus its air tightMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply: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."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply: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.My name's not Jim....
Reply: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'.Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply: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 ..
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmYou 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.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadi 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 ..
Reply: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.
Reply:Use light guage metal deck and screw it to studs galvanized and fireproof .
Reply: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?
Reply: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.
Reply:Check your local building codes.  If this is an outbuilding as part of a dwelling property you may need to use drywall, 1/2" min.   If commercial property the rules may be different.Of course, you can then cover the drywall with sheet metal, at least in the welding area. That's my plan for renovating a barn into a machine/welding shop.-MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.Originally Posted by MondoCheck your local building codes.  If this is an outbuilding as part of a dwelling property you may need to use drywall, 1/2" min.   If commercial property the rules may be different.Of course, you can then cover the drywall with sheet metal, at least in the welding area. That's my plan for renovating a barn into a machine/welding shop.-Mondo
Reply:Wow! Thank you all for the input! Looks like the OSB is favored by a lot of people. After reading all the replies, I think Ill use it on the wall but drywall the ceiling. You guys would crack up if you could see it right now, then hear me say I'm worried of poking hole in my new walls. It's a mess right now but I want it to be a garage mahal. Thanks againSafety 3rdGump
Reply:Going through this myself right now but my main obstacle is cost.  Where I am, 4x8 7/16" OSB is the same price as 4x8 1/2" drywall.  In the end, I also wanted white walls to brighten the shop so drywall was my choice since I wouldn't have to paint.  A coat of primer and a couple coats of gloss on a 30x40x12 shop would add $100+ to the cost of the OSB install.  Plus 12' sheets of drywall go up nice and fast since my eve is 12'.I'm not concerned about the durability of drywall, I don't ram stuff in to my walls and if I do, drywall is easy to repair.  Our climate is really dry so environmentally I'll be fine.If I had all the money I would do metal siding.  I might do metal or something 4' high around my fabrication area of the shop though.Jordan
Reply:I put OSB in my garage, nailed it on with ring shank #8's...just me and Mr Porter Cable. Part of the garage is painted, two coats of white primer and one coat white semi-gloss. The rest to finish this spring. Just a little  less than $7.00 per sheet...not counting paint.  Seen garages with metal a few feet up then finished with drywall, they looked fine.GeezerPower Mig 255C185 TIGBlue 175 MIGRanger 8 Kohler 20HP1974 5K Lincoln/Wisconsin Powered (Cherry)Victor/Harris O/AK 487 Spool Gun
Reply:Originally Posted by thejonn2524Fire code is 5/8 sheetrock in attached garages.
Reply:I would be a little hesitant to use metal over drywall or OSB especially if your going into a very cold enviroment and cranking up a huge salamander, the quick change in temp is going to make it sweat and condense giving you trapped moisture and related problems.  As far as OSB compared to Drywall from a flame proof point view, I don't think you will find any UL listing or approved method of obtaining a fire rating with OSB.  Detached garage one thing, but if your hot work area is attached to your home, might want to give the fire rating and flame spread potential some thought. Just saying."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by leightrepairsDrywall is much more resistant to fire then wood products
Reply:I'll throw my first hand two bits in. I've got 1700 sq/ft of shop. All walls AND all ceiling are 1/2" std ply. Was cheaper than OSB was. Trick to minimizing "waves" is not to fasten in the perimeter of the sheet, then the inside. Move side to side or top down. Some sheets just have ripples, but no big deal. Paint it white and off you go. And as for fire, it takes quite a bit to get it to the stage it will burn with flame and more to get it going enough to support it continuing. Had a plug burn in the shop. Melted the socket and face plate soot the wall just above it. But barely bubbled the paint. ( the money you save on drywall mud and tape should go towards metal receptacle boxes  )The smooth paint also helps protect the wood. Take your grinder and a scrap chunk of steel, a grinder with a stone and a sq. foot of plywood. Shoot the sparks at the ply from two feet and see how long it takes to even char. Now, just for extra piece of mind, nail a 2x2 sq. of aluminum or tin flashing behind your chop saw if it is on a bench, against a wall. The dust sticks and builds up, charring the wood. Again, unlikely to start flames, but its your hedge, just in case.And hell, nothing better than banging in a nail anywhere to hang a jig!!B200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:i used cabinet grade 3/4'' ply wood and primed and painted it. for 1) the durability 2) i can hang any thing i want any wear i want. you can also compound at tape the plywood like it was sheet rock and you'll never know its plywoodMikeRanger 8a little pos 110 snap on mig lincoln ac/dc stick
Reply:How about some aluminum skin over the drywall? I have seen them from the local paper printers that are about 3'x4'.
Reply:One thing that hasn't been mentioned is screw the OSB to the studs. Your going to want to hang stuff from it and simple nailing isn't nearly as secure as using screws. Don't use drywall screws for OSB.As to the fire issue, you can buy flame retardant paint. I used to use it all the time when doing telecom backboards. It's pretty pricey but solves the fire concern.I really like the OSB because you can easily run a new power feed using conduit or tech cable by surface wiring and clamps. Makes for a very versatile and flexible shop.Good Luck.Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...