Should you drywall your garage?

Author: Brielle Dibbert  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Drywalling a garage is a smart decision if you want to protect your garage from fires, moisture damage, and exterior noise. Most garages have flammable supplies that could result in serious damage in the off chance of an accident. Drywall is fire resistant, helping to prevent fires from spreading.

Is it worth putting drywall in a garage?

Attached garages should almost always be covered with drywall or plaster for the fire rating alone. By Code and by common sense, you dont want a fuel or car fire to engulf your house in minutes, that drywall will often times save your house from major damage.

Does a garage need to be drywalled?

Fire Protection

If you plan on performing a lot of this type of work or you'll be doing a lot of automobile work (just think about all those flammable petroleum products!) you would do well to consider installing drywall within your detached garage.

How much does it cost to drywall a 20x20 garage?

The average cost to drywall a garage is $800 to $5,000, depending on the size and the finish level. Garage drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot of wall or ceiling surface.

Should I drywall my detached garage?

Detached garages do not need drywall UNLESS there is habitable space in the garage. For example, if there was an office above the the detached garage, you would need 5/8 type x drywall on the ceiling of the garage.

Why Don't Builders Finish Garage Walls?

Do I need a permit to drywall my garage?

You'll likely need a permit since this project may require soil grading to avoid drainage issues. Repairing your floor may be more cost-efficient than replacing it if grading is necessary. No permit may be required to hang drywall on exposed wooden wall studs in your garage.

Should drywall touch the floor in garage?

Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor.

Is it worth it to finish a garage?

We live in the now, so not everyone puts a high priority on the long-term investment benefits of a home improvement project. It's worth knowing, however, that a finished garage adds value to your home. Finished, organized garages with lots of room for storage are highly valued by homebuyers.

What's the difference between drywall and sheetrock?

One key difference between the two is that sheetrock is a brand name of drywall made by the United States Gypsum Corporation. Another difference lies in their production process; sheetrock has a slightly denser core than drywall due to the addition of a small amount of wood fiber to the gypsum core.

How many sheets of drywall do I need for a 2 car garage?

That's approximately 35 sheets of 4x8, which you'll probably want to use if you're relative newbie hanging solo. At 100 a sheet that's 3500.

Will drywall crack in an unheated garage?

When it's cold outside, the drywall contracts, and when it's warm outside, the drywall expands. This can cause the drywall to crack along the seams. Another reason is because of the moisture in the air. When the air is moist, it can make the drywall swell and cause it to crack.

Can I use plywood instead of drywall in my garage?

The structure of plywood is stronger than drywall, making it suitable for utility areas like laundry rooms and garages. To improve the visual appeal of plywood walls, you can use varnish or sealer, stain or paint, or decorative accents.

Will drywall mold in a garage?

Mold, including potentially harmful black molds, thrives in humid environments that have little ventilation and sunlight. Thus, it doesn't take long for mold to grow on organic material like cardboard or drywall if these conditions are met.

Why are most garages unfinished?

Cost savings: Unfinished garages are generally less expensive compared to finished ones, providing cost savings during the construction or renovation process.

What are the disadvantages of drywall?

Drywall cons:
  • Installation process is more complicated. ...
  • Creates a mess during the installation.
  • Drywall weights, so you'll need a partner to help you with the installation.
  • Drywall is not as flexible as plaster so it can be difficult to bend it to achieve the desired result.
  • Lower durability than plaster.

Can you insulate a garage without drywall?

Fiberglass Insulation

The rolls can be made with or without paper, which can give the final product a more finished look if you don't plan to install drywall. The paper also helps prevent interior heat from escaping and water passing through the insulation.

Why does everyone use drywall?

Without as much labor available to plaster walls, more and more builders had to use drywall because it required fewer man-hours to install. In addition to a lack of labor, money was also tight during this difficult time in American history. As a result, the cost savings of drywall became more and more attractive.

Do you paint directly on drywall?

It's best to start by repairing any cracks or holes in the wall. Sand and wipe the entire wall down. Apply a coat of drywall primer and allow it to dry. Roll and brush on 2-4 coats of paint.

Do I Sheetrock the ceiling or walls first?

Hang the Ceiling First

This makes it much easier to manage and attach the panels since you will not have to fumble around with the screws, measuring tape, and so on. Screws for drywall lids should be placed no closer than 16” from the wall. This allows the drywall to have a bit of flexibility to prevent ceiling cracks.

Should a garage be Sheetrocked?

Drywalling a garage is a smart decision if you want to protect your garage from fires, moisture damage, and exterior noise.

Does finishing your garage make your taxes go up?

When you increase the value of your property, your property taxes can be expected to go up at the same time. So, doing something like building a new detached garage on your property is going to elevate the value of that property, and you will be faced with a bigger property tax bill as a result.

How much does it cost to drywall a garage?

If you're tackling a single-car garage, you can expect the total cost to land somewhere between $360 and $840. For a two-car garage, the cost rises to $660 to $1,540. And if you have a larger three-car garage, you could be looking at $930 to $2,170 to drywall the entire space. Keep in mind that these are just averages.

Do you need vapor barrier when drywalling a garage?

Step 3: Follow with a vapor barrier

In the garage, like other spaces in the home, condensation results from moisture in the air. Excess condensation and humidity levels in your garage can damage your garage's foundation and cause tools, vehicles, and cabinets to rust faster.

Should I hang drywall vertical or horizontal?

Commercial: Hang the drywall vertically. On commercial jobs, fire codes often require seams to fall on the entire length of the framing, so the drywall must be hung vertically. Residential: How high are the walls? For walls nine feet high or shorter, hanging the drywall horizontally has a number of benefits.

Should you leave gaps between drywall?

Keeping the joints between sheets of drywall too close is an invitation for troubles along the way. Professional drywall installers allow for ⅛-inch space between sheetrock placement, and this allows for expansion and contraction for the frame of the building, avoiding cracks and damage to the drywall.

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