What kind of wall goes between garage and house?

Author: Ms. Brisa Littel  |  Last update: Sunday, July 13, 2025

The wall between the house and garage is actually called a fire separation wall, not a firewall. A firewall is a fire-resistance-rated wall. It extends from foundation to or through the roof. A firewall restricts the spread of fire.

What is the space between garage and house called?

A breezeway is an architectural feature similar to a hallway that allows the passage of a breeze between structures to accommodate high winds, allow aeration, or provide aesthetic design variation.

What type of drywall is used between garage and house?

Use Type X fire-resistant drywall for garages, as well as stairwells and areas near furnaces.

What door to put between garage and house?

If a door is placed between a residential dwelling and the garage, it must be covered by the International Residential Code (IRC). This includes: A solid wood door at least 1 3/8 inches thick. A solid steel door at least 1 3/8 inches thick.

Is the wall between garage and house load bearing?

Thus the wall is supporting the ends of the beams and therefore the wall must be load bearing. If you can't tell by looking, I'd suggest that you consult with a contractor or architect.

Why Don't Builders Finish Garage Walls?

What type of wall between house and garage?

People commonly misuse the word firewall to refer to the wall between the garage and the house. The wall between the house and garage is actually called a fire separation wall, not a firewall. A firewall is a fire-resistance-rated wall. It extends from foundation to or through the roof.

How thick are the walls between a house and a garage?

2. Drywall. The drywall between a house and garage should be 1/2 inch, fire-resistant.

What is the building code for a door between garage and house?

The IRC requires the door between the house and the attached garage to be a minimum of 1 3/8 inches thick – either a solid wood door, a solid or honeycomb-core steel door, or a 20-minute fire door.

What is the room between garage and house called?

Breezeway Between House And Garage.

What do you call a garage separate from the house?

A detached garage has no connection to the house. This, of course, means carrying groceries through the rain or delightful Colorado snow at times! However, detached garages offer a standalone structure that can not only effectively house your car(s) but offer an additional space for workshops, such as woodworking, etc.

Does the wall between the garage and house need to be fire-rated?

Conclusion. In short, the garage needs to be separated from the house in case of fire, but this isn't a fire-rated assembly, nor is it a firewall. The best term for this required separation is a fire-separation wall.

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.

What is the best insulation for garage walls?

Fiberglass insulation is the most common type of insulation used for garages. Fiberglass insulation is likely the material you picture when you think insulation — that's right, the fluffy pink stuff. This is because fiberglass is the most commonly used insulation for homes, garages and most other types of buildings.

How much does it cost to build a breezeway between garage and house?

How much does a breezeway cost to build? Breezeways usually start at $40,000, but the cost can skyrocket depending on how ornate and intricate the design features are, says Karp. Breezeway costs vary widely based on the size of your home, the distance of the path you're putting in, and the materials you're considering.

What is a garage apron?

A garage apron is a section of asphalt or concrete that extends 2-4 feet outside of your garage door. Concrete aprons or asphalt aprons act as a transition between your garage and your driveway and help to direct water away from your home.

What is a house on top of a garage called?

An ADU is an additional living unit on a property, and building one above your garage can be a perfect way to add space while leaving the garage itself to park and store your vehicles.

What is a garage party wall?

A Party Wall separates the buildings of two different owners. The wall may stand astride the boundary or be entirely on one owner's land. A Party Wall forms part of a building and stands on lands of different owners, i.e the wall stands astride the boundary.

What is a frog room over garage?

In real estate lingo, a FROG is a “Finished Room Over Garage.” These are extra spaces that can often be used as play rooms, offices, home gyms, or studios. Especially if your home doesn't have a basement or terrace level, it's good to mention your FROG as a desirable feature of your home for sale.

What is the most important room in the house?

The kitchen is by far the most important room in the house for a buyer. A well-apointed kitchen dramatically increases the value of your home. As you build your new home to meet your personal interests and needs for your kitchen, you should consider these items in your kitchen design: Modern appliances.

What is code for door to garage from house?

Other openings between the garage and residence shall be equipped with solid wood doors not less than 13/8 inches (35 mm) in thickness, solid or honeycombcore steel doors not less than 13/8 inches (35 mm) thick, or 20-minute fire-rated doors, equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device.

What kind of door is between the garage and the house?

As long as your door has one of these requirements, it's safe to use: Choose a solid wood door that's at least 1 3/8-inches thick. Solid or honeycomb steel doors also need at least 1 3/8ths-inches of thickness. Look for a 20-minute fire-rated door, at minimum (more on this in a second).

Should there be a gap between garage door and house?

Your garage door should not have any gaps — not at the bottom, top, sides, or even between the panels. If you can see light streaming through the spaces around your door or feel a draft, there's clearly too much space between the door, floor, ceiling, and walls.

How to insulate a wall between a garage and a house?

If the garage has a cavity wall construction, then this can typically be insulated with blown insulation such as polystyrene balls. If the cavity is too slim for this, or if there is no cavity (a solid wall), then the only options are to fit external wall insulation (EWI) or internal wall insulation (IWI).

Is the wall between my house and garage load bearing?

Any exterior wall that stands on the foundation sill can be considered load bearing. Walls that run perpendicular to the joists are load-bearing walls. Walls that are parallel to the joists rarely are, but sometimes a bearing wall will be aligned directly under a single joist.

Is there a firewall between garage and house?

Conclusion. In short, the garage needs to be separated from the house in case of fire, but this isn't a fire-rated assembly, nor is it a firewall. The best term for this required separation is a fire-separation wall.

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