Drywall in the garage question - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

ken0042 · 09-02-2007, 05:42 PM

OK, hopefully one of you guys can give me a quick answer here.

So, I decided that I would use drywall on the walls of the garage. I was planning on keeping it rough; no taping or mudding. I started working on it this weekend as I wanted to put shelves up, and wanted to insulate and drywall first. But now I have somebody telling me I have to paint or at least prime the drywall. I'm positive I've seen drywall in rough areas like garages and laundry being just left alone.

Thoughts?

Dion · 09-02-2007, 05:58 PM

The drywall in my garage is tapped and mudded and has no paint or primer.

Ohhhh and it has shelves also.

Hope that helps

habernac · 09-02-2007, 06:05 PM

mine isn't painted or primed. Wasn't in my old house either, but it was taped.

psicodude · 09-02-2007, 06:15 PM

I just put up the drywall, no tape or anything. You can see where the sun has discoloured the drywall close to the door, but who cares. It has been that way for 4 years now, and I see no ill effects.

I still swear that having the insulation and drywall in the garage keeps it from falling much below zero, even on the coldest days.

getbak · 09-02-2007, 06:18 PM

What does this person believe the consequences would be if you didn't paint it? I can't honestly think of any other than simple esthetics.

BlackArcher101 · 09-02-2007, 06:41 PM

All I've seen are drywalled and taped garages (ie not primed or painted). Not sure why he says you absolutely have to?

GoinAllTheWay · 09-02-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psicodude

I still swear that having the insulation and drywall in the garage keeps it from falling much below zero, even on the coldest days.

And you are quite right. Part of that is the heat that your car gives off while parked though. Even before I got my new insulated main door on my garage, it always hovered around 0. Now with the new one, I can park a snow covered car in the garage with it being -30 outside and it has all melted off by the next day.

I honestly don't know how people in this climate can go without a garage. I, for one, would suffer badly without.

photon · 09-02-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbak

What does this person believe the consequences would be if you didn't paint it? I can't honestly think of any other than simple esthetics.

The only thing I can possibly think of is to prolong the life of the drywall itself (depending on moisture and exposure and stuff). I don't think the fire safety would be that much different (and untaped drywall is light years better than plywood on the walls!)...

Stranger · 09-02-2007, 08:21 PM

I've hung a bit of drywall in the past. I think it just comes down to looks. As long as there are no major gaps between the sheets there should still be fire resistance. After a year or so the board will yellow, but it is a garage and it will have shelves, so really if you don't mind that, it will be fine.

Dan02 · 09-02-2007, 10:05 PM

If you're doing it for insulation value i'd think that not taping or mudding it would work against you there. As for paint and primer who gives a crap.

Flames_Gimp · 09-02-2007, 10:19 PM

i would prime it or it will just rot away if/when any moisture penetrates it.

Bend it like Bourgeois · 09-02-2007, 10:24 PM

i drywalled mine about 2 years ago. - no tape or paint.

No issues so far.

Dion · 09-02-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

i would prime it or it will just rot away if/when any moisture penetrates it.

Drywall in my garage is not primed and it's 9 years old. So far no rotting problems.

OracleOfCalgary · 09-03-2007, 12:10 AM

Someone has probably been watching too much Holmes on Homes. This came up on one of his shows as a "code issue" and people extrapolate it out. You need to have a vapour barrier between your garage and your home (to keep carbon monoxide and other gasses out of the house) but your builder would have already taken care of that. The only thing you want to make sure of, now that you have insulated your garage, is that you have adequate ridge vents in your garage's attic.

ken0042 · 09-03-2007, 12:45 AM

Thanks for the advice guys- after the first couple of responses I went out into the garage. Unfortunately the main thing I accomplished was the realization that I suck at bulding shelves.

It is a detached garage, so no worries about CO coming into the house. And said "builder" was me.

And the insulation is R22 and I did use vapour barier, so I can't see the drywall tape and mud adding that much more insulation value.

Plus the garage was built on stub walls so they are at least 18 inches off the floor of the garage, so moisture isn't that serious of a concern. Some of you are probably right- that I may get some fading over time. I was all set to use OSB on the walls until seeing that most recent garage fire on the news. I figure with the Roxol insulation and the drywall at least I have a fighting chance in the case of fire.

Flames_Gimp · 09-03-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I figure with the Roxol insulation and the drywall at least I have a fighting chance in the case of fire.

ah just sheat the walls with Durock

Flames_Gimp · 09-03-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

Drywall in my garage is not primed and it's 9 years old. So far no rotting problems.

youve got a good sealed garage i guess

Dion · 09-03-2007, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

youve got a good sealed garage i guess

Yeah, the garage is sealed pretty good.

Red · 09-03-2007, 11:36 AM

If you still have a chance use some OSB on some walls or parts of them. It's so nice to be able to put a nail anywhere without looking for the 2X4s.

Nevermind, just read your last post. You don't want the fire hazard.

Slava · 09-03-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

i would prime it or it will just rot away if/when any moisture penetrates it.

This doesn't really make sense to me. Does drywall rot? I know for a lot of curved walls and things of that nature that they (the builders) purposefully soak the drywall and bend it to fit, and then let it dry. Whats the difference in a garage?

(Asking, not trying to be difficult!)