If you’ve purchased drywall but haven’t got around to installing it yet, you may be wondering if you can store drywall in the garage.
Yes, as long as it is dry and not a lot of moisture.
The main issue with storing drywall in a garage is moisture. So, if you live in a humid area or your garage has leaks, you won’t want to keep it in the garage for more than a couple of days. However, if your garage is climate controlled, it’s perfectly fine to store drywall in it long-term.
Here’s what else you should know.
Can You Store Drywall in an Unheated Garage?
If you have an unheated garage, you shouldn’t store drywall in it long-term. This is because moisture can develop in garages that don’t have climate control. If the moisture penetrates your sheetrock, it can grow mold spores or even rot.
What is the Best Way to Store Sheetrock in the Garage?
To store your drywall in the garage, you need to keep it flat or lean it up against the wall and off the ground. You can do this by placing drywall blocks on the floor, laying a sheet of plastic over them, and then stacking the drywall on top.
(If you have your drywall delivered to you, ask the truck driver for drywall blocks. They’ll typically give these to you for free.)
After the drywall is stacked, place a tarp or sheet of plastic over it to protect it from moisture.
Your second option is to store the sheetrock vertically. This does come with more risk, though, like sagging and potentially tipping.
If you’re okay with taking on the risk, here’s what to do:
Start by laying a piece of plywood on the floor by a wall. Next, place another piece of plywood on top of it but vertically against the wall. This vertical piece should be leaning slightly so that it stays in place. You can now place your drywall against the slightly leaning plywood.
Again, if moisture is a concern, place a tarp over it for protection.
Conclusion
Storing drywall in a garage that isn’t climate controlled comes with risks – mainly in the form of excess moisture, which can cause the drywall to rot. So if you are going to store your extra drywall in the garage, the most important thing you can do is keep it up off the floor.
The best way to do this is by laying the drywall flat or leaning it against the wall on drywall blocks and covering it with a tarp. If you lay your sheetrock directly on the garage floor, it will soak up moisture, leading to mold and rot.