When should you use 5/8 drywall?

5/8-Inch-Thick Drywall

These panels are commonly used for ceilings or for walls that require a prescribed fire-resistant rating.

Do you have to use 5/8 drywall on the ceiling?

If you're in the process of building or remodeling, you should consider installing 5/8″ wall boards on all walls and ceiling in your home. Typically in the last 20 years or so most homes will have 1/2″ sheetrock on the walls and 5/8″ sheetrock on the ceilings.

What is the best thickness for drywall?

1/2-inch drywall is the most versatile board and the most common thickness for the 16-inch on-center interior walls in most homes. It offers a good balance between strength and weight. 5/8-inch drywall is a heavier product that resists sagging in ceilings and in 24-inch on-center interior walls.

Do you need 5/8 drywall in garage?

The takeaway from IRC Code for Drywall in a Garage is that for an attached garage, play safe and use 5⁄8 -inch Type X gypsum board. For a detached garage, use drywall or an alternative to drywall, as a detached garage is not covered by any code for drywall in a garage.

Do garage walls need to be fire rated?

A: First, fire-rated systems are only required if the garage shares a wall or a ceiling with the home. If you are doing repairs in the garage you should replace with like materials, but remember it is the wall system that is fire rated not the product itself.

5/8" vs 1/2" Drywall For Soundproofing a Wall or Ceiling

What type of drywall should I use in my garage?

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.

Should I hang drywall vertically or horizontally?

On commercial jobs, fire codes often require seams to fall on the entire length of the framing, so the drywall must be hung vertically. However, on residential jobs, the drywall on the walls is typically hung horizontally. For walls 9 feet high or shorter, hanging the drywall horizontally has a number of benefits.

What size screws 5/8 drywall?

When working with 5/8-inch drywall panels, use 1-3/8-inch or 1-5/8-inch screws. To properly secure drywall, the right number of drywall fasteners should be used.

Is lightweight drywall as good as regular drywall?

Although both standard drywall and lightweight drywall are good for any room in your house (except the bathroom) the lightweight option is more user-friendly. Since it is lighter, carrying it around and hanging it isn't incredibly difficult.

What size drywall should I use on a ceiling?

5/8-inch thick drywall is the best drywall thickness for ceilings. Although you can use any type of drywall for ceilings as long as its installed correctly (even ultralight 1/4-inch thick drywall), a thicker panel is best. 5/8-inch thick drywall is the sturdiest which prevents sagging between ceiling joists.

Can you use 1/2 inch drywall ceiling?

Use 1/2-inch thick green board on ceilings with joists spaced 12 inches apart or fewer and 5/8-inch drywall on ceilings with joists up to 16 inches apart. Use a waterproof wall material over green board in moisture-prone areas.

What kind of drywall do you use for a kitchen ceiling?

Great for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and attics, green board drywall is mold resistant and usually comes in 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch thicknesses. Its mold-resistant properties come from thicker layers of green paper on the outside of the gypsum, as well as a wax coating over the paper.

What type of drywall is used for bathroom walls?

Green drywall is a type of drywall that's mold resistant and is used in applications where moisture can be an issue—so most commonly, bathrooms. To maximize the mold resistance, use mold-resistant drywall mud, aka joint compound. Green drywall generally costs about 20% more than regular drywall.

How thick is garage drywall?

Drywall is the easiest and most economical covering for your garage ceiling. Use 5/8-in. -thick drywall if your trusses or rafters are spaced 24 in. apart.

Why do you stagger drywall?

Ultimately, staggered seams are stronger because the joints – the weakest part of the wall or ceiling installation – are minimized. Staggered joints are also less visible and easier to conceal for a flawless finish, offering a smoother, more professional look to the completed job.

Should I use #6 or #8 drywall screws?

Drywall only, please: Don't use drywall screws for sub-floors, tile backing or other non-drywall applications. These denser materials can break the smaller #6 screw during installation. Use a #8 or larger for these jobs.

Can you put too many screws in drywall?

Here's five tips: First, do not use too many screws. When fastening drywall to walls I attach the drywall with two fasteners every 16 inches in the field, and one every 16 inches on the edges. Ceilings are fastened 12 inches on center.

Should drywall touch the floor?

Drywall should NOT touch the floor. Allow for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall by keeping a 1/2-inch (1.27-cm) space between them. This space also aids in preventing moisture from seeping if the floor floods.

How many screws go into a 4x8 sheet of drywall?

Use about 32 drywall screws per sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a wall. This total is comprised of four screws on the five middle studs and six screws on each of the two sides.

Does it matter if you drywall ceiling or walls first?

Hang drywall on the ceiling first, then the walls. Check the ceiling for bowed joists using a 4-ft. level. Irregularities less than 1/8 in.

What size drywall goes in a garage?

For the majority of your garage, you can use standard 1/2 inch drywall. For the ceiling and wall abutting the house (if this is an attached garage), you should use 5/8-inch sheetrock or type X fire-rated drywall. Always check your local building codes. There is a code for everything, and your drywall is no exception.

Do you have to tape drywall in garage?

Garage drywall, like any other area with drywall, should have tape embedded over all the joints. I like to use the pre-creased paper tape. It's not sticky like typical tape, but with an initial layer of mud, you can use it on all of the straight joints, and also on the inside corners.

Do I need special drywall in garage?

Standard drywall panels contain compressed particles of gypsum covered with thick paper. That's fine in your home, but unless you're finishing your garage as a living space, complete with insulation and a heat and air system, moisture-resistant drywall is preferable.