Question:
It's starting to get cool these days in the garage attached to the house we
bought last spring. As I'd like to keep working out there over the winter,
I want to insulate it; I've been waiting to do that because I wanted to get
it wired first. At this very moment, my monitor is shaking from the
electricians trying to snake a cable through the basement ceiling (judging
by the swearing and the increasing violence of the probing with the wire
snakes, it's not going well...). Anyhow, it appears that if I install
fiberglass insulation, I need to cover it with something. I've seen lots of
garages done with drywall (sheetrock) that look good at first, but after a
year or two of door dings, careless gouges by people carrying long stock or
large objects, etc, they start to look pretty bad. Accordingly, I was
wondering what any of you fine fellows might suggest as an alternative that
a) probably meets building codes now they're drilling again!,
b) presents a nice-looking finish that won't reduce the value of the house
(i.e. no cheesy 1970's wood panelling),
c) is relatively easy for unskilled
labor (me) to install, and d) doesn't cost a fortune. Any ideas?
Answer:
Steel Sheeting. Same stuff used outside on a pole building. I
worked for a fellow who lined the entire inside of his shop with white
steel. (was a class 8 truck shop) Thought it somewhat strange at first.
After working there, I wouldn't have it any other way. We ended up doing
a small amount of manufacturing there, then a whole lot more
manufacturing.
Any of the local steel building suppliers should have it. Take a look
in the yellow pages for steel buildings and/or supplies. the big
places would also know it as sheet iron or architectural panel. Farm
supply places may also have it. It does come in various styles of
corrigation and various depths too. R panel tends to have squared
corrigations, but either will work well. You could also use just plain
steel sheeting.
