Metal Panels For Garage Walls: 10 Game-Changing Advantages!

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Why Use Metal Panels for Garage Walls?

Metal Panels for Garage Walls are not for everyone! Most would consider cladding their garage interior walls with metal panels as making them look cold and industrial. So why even consider using metal panels for garage walls?

Gone are the days when metal panels meant cheap corrugated metal sheets used to clad factory & warehouse walls. The quality, profile options, and color range have made metal panels a great option for cladding garage exterior & interior walls.

Modern Design Trends

In recent years, metal panels have become increasingly popular in residential construction due to their sleek, modern aesthetic. Homeowners are embracing the industrial-chic look, which combines the appeal of industrial materials with contemporary design elements.

Using metal panels for garage walls can create a contemporary, stylish structure that complements the overall modern design of a home.

Increasing Popularity

The versatility and durability of metal panels have contributed to their rising popularity. Metal panels for cladding are now available in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes. As a result, you can customize your garage walls to match your home’s architecture.

And of course, metal panels can be used with other materials, such as wood or stone, to create a unique and visually appealing design.

Advantages in a Nutshell!

There are 10 advantages of using metal panels for garage walls that you must keep in mind before you decide on the paneling of your garage walls. These are:

1. Aesthetic Appeal: Metal panels offer a sleek, modern look that can enhance the overall appearance of your garage.
2. Structural Strength: Metal panels are strong and durable, providing excellent structural support.
3. High Durability: Metal panels are resistant to wear and tear, making them a long-lasting option.
4. Low Maintenance: Metal panels are easy to clean and require minimal maintenance.
5. Fire Resistance: Metal panels are fire-resistant, adding an extra layer of safety to your garage.
6. Rain Screen: Metal panels act as a rain screen, protecting your garage from moisture and water damage.
7. Pest Resistance: Metal panels are resistant to pests, such as termites and rodents.
8. Insulation: Insulated metal panels can help regulate the temperature in your garage, making it more energy-efficient.
9. Ease of Installation: Metal panels are relatively easy to install, saving time and labor costs.
10. Economical: Metal panels are cost-effective, considering their longevity. They are a good balance between price and performance.

What are Metal Wall Panels?

Metal Wall Panels are metal sheets that are used as cladding or sheathing for commercial buildings, homes, and even garages. 

Metal wall panels are most commonly available as siding for exteriors, but metal panels suitable for building interiors are available as well.

Sheet: Metal wall panels are pre-formed or roll-formed into sheets of uniform thickness and then cut into convenient sizes. They may be semi-finished (need to be painted on site) or finished with a coating system. They can even come with insulation!

Uses: Metal wall panels are specifically designed and manufactured as exterior metal wall panels or interior metal wall panels as the functionality differs. For the same reason metal wall panels differ from metal roof panels or metal flooring panels.

Profile: Metal wall panels are of course available in simple profiles such as plain, corrugated, checkered, etc. Metal wall panels with ribbed and interlocking profiles are also available. Such panels are much stronger, more impermeable, and a lot easier to install. 

Material: Usually Metal Panels used for cladding are made from Powder Coated or Galvanized Steel. However, Aluminum, and at times even Copper, can also be used.

Types of Metal Wall Panels

You have the option of choosing one of the following three types of metal panels for garage walls:

Single Skin Metal Panels

Single Skin Metal Panels are pre-formed or roll-formed in a profile and consist of just one sheet of metal. If the metal is not inherently corrosion-resistant, then the metal panel will have a corrosion-resistant coating.

They are economical, lightweight, and easy to install. Just screw them onto the Garage Wall Studs.

Uses and Benefits:

• Uses: Ideal for interior and exterior applications where cost-effectiveness and ease of installation are priorities.
• Benefits: Lightweight, easy to install, and cost-effective. They can be used in various environments due to their corrosion-resistant coatings.

Metal Composite Material (MCM) Metal Panels

Metal Composite Material (MCM) Metal Panels are made by sandwiching an engineered plastic core between two layers of steel or aluminum sheets. The bonding is done under predetermined conditions of temperature, pressure & tension.

The result is a metal composite that is lightweight (for its thickness) and offers superb aesthetics and architectural design flexibility. They are ideal as exterior metal wall panels.

Uses and Benefits:

• Uses: Commonly used for exterior cladding, facades, and decorative applications where aesthetics are important.
• Benefits: Lightweight, strong, and offers design flexibility. They provide a sleek, modern look and can be customized in various colors and finishes.

Insulated Metal Panels (IMP)

Insulated Metal Panels (IMP) are similar to MCM in concept, except that they use insulating material, such as an expanded polystyrene insulating foam panel, instead of an engineered plastic or polymer.

The obvious advantage of using IMP is the insulation. IMP is not only great for cold climates; it works well in hot and dry climates too! 

Uses and Benefits:

• Uses: Ideal for applications requiring thermal insulation, such as garages, cold storage facilities, and buildings in extreme climates.
• Benefits: Excellent thermal insulation, energy efficiency, and noise reduction. They help maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing heating and cooling costs.

10 Game-Changing Advantages of Metal Panels for Garage Walls

The 10 advantages of using metal panels for garage walls, in the infographics below, are worth keeping in mind when building a new garage or remodeling an existing one.

1. Aesthetic Appeal

Contrary to popular belief, metal panels can actually have great aesthetic appeal, as they can be

• Completely flat & smooth
• Shiny or matt
• Plain or textured
• In a range of eye-catching colors and designs

Metal can take on hues & sheen levels that drywall or plywood can never match. Kynar paint finishes on metal wall panels have continued to look as good as new for years. 

Metal Panels for Garage Walls can be the perfect backdrop for your shiny cars! Here is a great example from NEXTLUXURY.

2. Structural Strength

Metal wall panels are strong. A lot stronger than drywall and even stronger than other sheathing materials such as plywood, OSB, or fiber cement board (FCB).

Metal wall panels can span between structural supports saving money on both secondary framing material and labor.

3. High Durability

Metal wall panels are durable. The risk of corrosion is mitigated by using aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized iron (GI), or simply by using a very tough powder coating. 

Metal wall panels will last over 50 years – that is surely more than other building materials used in your garage. Basically, they are for life!

4. Low Maintenance

Metal Panels don’t need much maintenance. A spray with the garden hose will get them looking as good as new. Use soap and water in case of oil stains or grease marks. 

5. Fire Resistance

Metal wall panels will keep the fire from spreading to the house in case of a fire in the garage. They act as barriers and keep the adjoining areas cool. 

The use of metal wall panels on top of drywall, on the wall adjacent to the house in an attached garage, would make that wall fireproof.

6. Rain Screen

Exterior metal wall panels are designed with interlocking joints. They not only make it easier to install but also keep rainwater from getting inside the garage. 

You won’t have to worry too much about waterproofing your garage walls or about mold growth, rotten studs, etc.

7. Pest Resistant

Unlike wood-based sheathing such as plywood, OSB, MDF, or shiplap, pests like termites or carpenter bees do not attack metal wall panels. The result – longer life & lower maintenance.

8. Insulation

If you use IMP, you may not need to worry about or spend extra on additional insulation for your garage walls.

9. Easy Installation

Metal wall panels are lightweight and easy to install as they just need to be screwed onto the garage studs. Should they get damaged (dented or scratched due to an accident) they can be replaced quite easily.

10. Economical

Metal wall panels, considering their durability and minimal maintenance needs, are quite an economical sheathing or cladding option.

Disadvantages of Metal Panels for Garage Walls

High Upfront Cost

If you compare metal wall panel material costs with other sheathing options, then metal wall panels appear to be a lot more expensive than drywall, plywood, OSB, etc.

However, to do a fair comparison, you must add the cost of installation to get the total cost and then divide it by the expected life.

“Total cost per square feet per year” for Metal Panels may still be lower than that for drywall or plywood sheathing on garage walls.

Mitigation:

• Long-Term Savings: There are savings in the long term, due to high durability and low maintenance cost of metal panels.
• Financing Options: Explore financing options or incentives for energy-efficient home improvements that can help offset the initial cost.

Dents

Dents are a continuous risk for metal garage interior walls. However, all garage walls, irrespective of the material used, need to be painted, once every few years to cover up scratches, dents, fading, discoloration, etc..

Drywall comes out the worst. A wayward ladder or lawn mower will not just dent drywall, it will punch a hole right through it!

In case of minor or blunt hits, a metal wall panel may dent at impact but will bounce back. But a major hit will dent the metal wall panel and deform it.

Mitigation:

• Protective Coatings: Use protective coatings or finishes that reduce the risk of scratches, fading, discoloration, etc.
• Strategic Placement: Place metal panels in areas less prone to impact and use other materials in high-traffic areas.
• Reinforcement: Consider reinforcing the panels with additional backing or support to minimize the risk of dents.

How to use Metal Panels for Garage Walls

My top 3 tips on using metal panels for garage interior walls for pleasing aesthetics and harmony in design are:

Use Restraint

Exercise restraint when using panels with metallic colors and high sheen. It will be too overwhelming!

Instead

• Use the metal paneling as a wainscot. It will be pleasing to the eye and will also protect the lower part of the drywall from dings.
• Use it only on one interior wall (or even just part of the wall) as an accent. It will truly stand out and add class to your garage.

Use Visual Breaks

When using metal panels for entire garage walls, bring relief to the eye by providing visual breaks. Slatwall, wall cabinets, or large paintings are easy and effective ways of breaking the visual monotony.

Use Balance

When using metal panels as cladding on garage exterior walls, bring a sense of balance and harmony by pairing two contrasting yet muted colors. 

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.