Making a garage more useful - not converting

[stu_bn]

Hi everyone,

First time post so please bear with me.

I have a double garage made of single skin brick (it's a new build). It has quite a few double brick pillars at irregular intervals. There are 8 in total.

I want to essentially 'flatten' out the walls and cover them with something smooth and sturdy enough to mount an assortment of hooks for the garden tools in one area, and my peg board for my bike tools above my workbench (the peg board is in lots of small sections). So something that could tolerate lots of screws would be ideal, and save me from drilling loads of holes in the bricks.

I'm not interested in making it warmer, but whatever I do I don't want it to get damp - only one wall in particular is exposed to the elements and I've seen water leach through it once. I'm planning to Storm dry the outside of that particular section.

I was planning to make frames inside the pillar sections out of CLS, and then paint around the bottoms with permadry waterproofing paint just in case. The frames will have gaps on the floor to accommodate the pillars, and wouldn't be touching the brick work at any point - they will be mounted away from the pillars and attached to the ceiling rafters. I was then thinking of boarding over the whole lot with OSB for the flat surface. It wouldn't reach the floor anyway due to the height, leaving me with a decent air gap around the bottom. I'd then drop some wiring behind for a few electrical sockets where I need them.

The only thing is I'll end up with a lot of OSB, which frankly will look pretty awful and take a lot of work to cover up unless I use some form of cladding? Which would add to the cost. I was hoping there would be some kind of plastic board that wouldn't require finishing and would be thick/strong enough to take some load, but I can't seem to find anything on Google.

As I'm only planning to go round about half the garage (and put some thin boarding up to create a ceiling to hold some spotlights), I don't see the need to use breathable membranes, insulation, plasterboard, etc. However I would do if that would be the best way to create something better suited to the usage.

Has anyone done anything similar? Is there a wonder material I can use that would meet all of my needs I haven't found anywhere? (and is cost effective?)

Many thanks

 

[nickjb]

You could have a look at stokbord. Its recycled plastic. I quite like the mottled finish but it is quite dark. It'll take screws. Cuts easily. More expensive than OSB.

Mine is lined with old building site hoardings. Its OSB but came ready painted

 

[martin hill]

Have you thought about P5 chipboard flooring sheets. The 18mm ones would be sturdy and moisture resistant too.

 

[magicmushroom666]

Shuttering ply usually has 1 good side that can be painted etc.

I dont think the idea of a wall hanging from the ceiling is going to work well though, it will be very difficult to make the bottom sturdy so that it doesn't rock in and out from the brick wall? Plus if your going to add lots of things hanging from it, this will all be loading whatever fixings you use to the roof, might be tricky to make that strong enough too. Structure between the floor and ceiling will be much better.

 

[stu_bn]

Shuttering ply usually has 1 good side that can be painted etc.

I dont think the idea of a wall hanging from the ceiling is going to work well though, it will be very difficult to make the bottom sturdy so that it doesn't rock in and out from the brick wall? Plus if your going to add lots of things hanging from it, this will all be loading whatever fixings you use to the roof, might be tricky to make that strong enough too. Structure between the floor and ceiling will be much better.

Hi, sorry I didn’t make it clear. The frames will have a floor beam (I’m planning to paint the bottom piece with some waterproofing just in case). The will then be flush (or just slightly proud of the pillar so I can go across the pillar gaps with the wall covering material. The height is enough a 2400 tall board will leave a decent gap to the floor around the pillar sections for air flow.

I did look at Stokbord, but it is quite pricey! I might stick with OSB and then work out a way of cladding it thinly with something nicer.

Is there any benefit to insulating those sections? I’d need to cover the back with breathable membrane or use a foil backed insulation and tape it?

many thanks
Stuart

 

[martin hill]

Hi, sorry I didn’t make it clear. The frames will have a floor beam (I’m planning to paint the bottom piece with some waterproofing just in case). The will then be flush (or just slightly proud of the pillar so I can go across the pillar gaps with the wall covering material. The height is enough a 2400 tall board will leave a decent gap to the floor around the pillar sections for air flow.

I did look at Stokbord, but it is quite pricey! I might stick with OSB and then work out a way of cladding it thinly with something nicer.

Is there any benefit to insulating those sections? I’d need to cover the back with breathable membrane or use a foil backed insulation and tape it?

many thanks
Stuart

Hi There

It all depends and what you really want it for. Don't be spending a fortune and then not use the space. If you do plan on it being a useable room for more than a workshop i'd make it watertight first.

 

[plastic_peanut]

Google peg board and that would give you plenty of options for alternative peg boards to what you have now.As you will know hanging tools or trays/ boxes for screws etc. You can put the pegs in which ever formation you want and is flexible in that you can reposition the legs should you buy new tools