If you’re finishing the inside of your garage, you’ll eventually need to choose drywall for it.
The most commonly used drywall for garages are standard ½ inch panels. The exception is ceilings that need ⅝ panels.
Also, for attached garages, you’ll need to use ⅝ panels or type X rated drywall on the wall that connects the house to the garage.
Here’s what else you need to know.
Do You Need Special Drywall For A Garage?
In most cases, you don’t need special drywall for a garage. In detached garages it’s standard to use ½ inch drywall panels on the walls and ⅝ inch panels on the ceiling.
For attached garages, the usual regulations are slightly different. You’ll need to use ⅝ inch or type X fire rated sheetrock on the wall that connects the garage to the house.
You’ll also need ⅝ inch drywall on the ceiling. The rest of the garage can have standard ½ inch drywall boards.
Before you do anything, you need to check your local building codes. These regulations can vary depending on where you live.
Do You Need Mold Resistant Drywall In A Garage?
If your garage isn’t climate controlled, doesn’t have heat, and is prone to large temperature swings, you should consider mold-resistant drywall. This is because, during large temperature swings, moisture can form on the drywall.
If your drywall isn’t mold resistant, mold spores can grow, eventually spreading. When this happens, you’ll need to replace all sections with mold growth.
Even if you do use mold-resistant drywall, you should still insulate the garage to help combat the temperature swings.
Also, it’s important to note that mold-resistant drywall is not fully waterproof. So, if you’re power washing the garage floor you’ll need to put up some type of barrier to protect your drywall.
Should You Use Waterproof Drywall For A Garage?
Waterproof drywall isn’t completely waterproof – it’s usually marketed as moisture and mold resistant. It’s stronger than standard drywall but costs about 50% more.
Waterproof drywall is great for garages where water is frequently used and in buildings that don’t have climate control or are subject to large temperature swings.
With that said, even if you have waterproof drywall, you still don’t want to saturate it with water regularly. If you are doing something, like washing a car, you should put a barrier on the wall that will protect it from the moisture.
This will help your drywall last for a much longer period of time.
Do You Use The Same Drywall For The Garage Ceiling?
For the garage ceiling, you’ll use a slightly thicker, more sturdy piece of drywall. You need ⅝ inch thick drywall for your garage ceilings.
Best Drywall For A Detached Garage
Good news – if you have a detached garage, you don’t have to use the more expensive type X fire-rated drywall. Instead, you can use the stand ½ inch sheetrock on the walls and ⅝ inch drywall on the ceilings.
If your garage isn’t heated or is prone to collect moisture, consider using a mold or moisture-resistant drywall. It’s more expensive, but less likely you’ll need to replace it.
Conclusion
You can use standard ½ inch drywall on garage walls and ⅝ inch drywall on the ceiling. The exception is if you have an attached garage.
In this case, you’ll want to use type X fire-rated drywall where the garage joins the house.
The other significant consideration you need to make is whether or not you want to use mold-resistant drywall. If your garage isn’t climate controlled or subject to moisture build-up, using a mold or moisture-resistant drywall is an intelligent choice if it’s within your budget.