Drywall Garage Guide: Should You Finish Your Walls and Ceiling?

To drywall or not to drywall – that is indeed the question of the day. More specifically, should you move forward with installing drywall in your detached garage or not?

The answer is going to be different for every individual and every family – it's largely contingent on what you need your detached garage to do for you. But we'll make sure you're fully equipped with the benefits of finishing out with drywall versus leaving the walls finished with simple plywood.

Before we get into that, let's spend a little time on what drywall actually is.

What Is Drywall?

At the most fundamental level, drywall is a construction material used to finish walls and ceilings.

More technically, drywall is made of sheets of treated gypsum. Gypsum is a sulfate mineral with special properties that make it ideal for this particular construction application. It's a water-soluble mineral – but not at high temperatures.

In processing gypsum into drywall, it's heated to remove the naturally occurring water within it, treated with various additives, and then re-hydrated. Once that's done, it's placed on paper sheets and sent to a drying chamber.

Drywall makes construction on modern buildings far easier. Previously, walls and ceilings were built by adding layer upon layer of messy plaster onto wooden strips called lathe.

It was a costly, inefficient, and extremely dirty process – we can be very thankful for both the invention and the accessibility of drywall!

The Pros of Drywalling Your Garage

Drywall has a lot going for it, and those benefits carry over to your detached garage. Here's what you gain when you drywall your garage walls and ceiling.

Fire Protection for Your Garage

First, let's talk about fire protection. Because drywall is made from gypsum and contains crystallized moisture, it's highly resistant to fire. That makes it a great choice for garages that see a lot of activity from power tools and other potential fire hazards.

If you plan on doing a lot of that type of work, or a lot of automobile work (just think about all those flammable petroleum products!), you'd do well to consider installing fire-rated drywall in your detached garage. In fact, many local codes require a specific type of drywall for garage walls and ceilings that share a wall with the home.

Noise Reduction in Your Workshop

Second, there's the benefit of noise reduction. While drywall doesn't offer complete soundproofing, it does provide significant sound reduction. So again, if you'll be doing a lot of active work in the garage, it's worthwhile to get that drywall installed.

This is especially true if you live in a densely populated area or, worse, in one of those very picky HOAs. Besides, there's always the chance your son will want to start a metal band – best to put them out in your sound-dampened garage.

Maximum Visibility and Lighting

Third, drywall offers superior visibility by maximizing your lighting. The bright surfaces of drywall provide great reflectivity – even if you never get around to painting.

You'd also have the option of painting your drywall garage walls a brighter shade of white to up the ante on brightness. And there's one thing you don't want to be short on while running your table saw: visibility.

For that reason, we'd encourage hobbyists and anyone planning a lot of project work to get drywall installed and give their eyes a break.

Improved Resale Value

Lastly, having drywall in your detached garage can only help your home's resale value. Buyers love the fresh, clean look of finished drywall.

So it's a great way to get the most out of your home if there's any chance you'll be selling in the future.

The Pros of Sticking With Plywood

You get the idea by now – drywall has a lot going for it. But that doesn't mean everyone needs it in their detached garage. The other option for your walls (and possibly your ceiling, if you don't want to leave the rafters exposed) is plywood.

Extra Strength for Your Walls

The first benefit of plywood is that it adds extra strength to your walls. Whereas drywall is more of a finishing touch, plywood actually ties in and provides a structural element to your garage. That's especially valuable if you plan on doing a lot of mounting on your walls – for tools, work-stations, or equipment storage.

Speaking of mounting things, plywood is also easier to work with from a purely mechanical standpoint. With drywall, you have to locate a stud and drill through the drywall to tap into the stud's structural strength.

You do have the option of using anchors directly in the drywall itself, but your options are pretty limited if you want to hang heavy or bulky items. With plywood, you can drill and affix directly into the panel.

Easy and Simple Installation

Finally, there's the matter of installation. Drywall is large and heavy – you'll absolutely need two people to carry it around and install it properly. Trying to do it solo is just begging for injuries and damaged drywall.

Plywood, on the other hand, can be easily moved and carried by one person, making for an overall simpler installation.

Choosing the Right Drywall for Your Garage

If you decide to go the drywall route, a few details are worth getting right before you start.

What Type of Drywall to Use

When it comes to choosing moisture resistant drywall for garage spaces, a little planning goes a long way. For most garage walls, standard drywall works fine. But if you want a sheetrock garage that holds up over time, the type of drywall for your garage matters. In areas prone to humidity – or for a drywall garage ceiling where condensation can collect – moisture-resistant panels are a smart upgrade. And if your garage shares a wall with living space, fire-rated (Type X) sheetrock for garage walls is often required by code.

Drywall Thickness

Drywall thickness matters too. Half-inch (1/2") panels are the standard choice for garage walls, while 5/8" Type X panels are typically used on ceilings and shared walls for added strength and fire resistance. Whether you call it drywall or sheetrock, matching the right panel to the right spot will give your garage a finish that lasts.

Drywalling Your Garage Is a Great Project

For those who spend a lot of time in the garage – or store some of their most valuable belongings there – putting up drywall in your garage is definitely worthwhile. It adds protection, appeal, and longevity to your garage as a whole.

In some cases, though, adding drywall to a garage is just a minor cover-up that hides a bigger problem: the garage is too old and needs to be upgraded. In that case, Danley's is your go-to. For over 60 years, we've been providing Chicago with the best detached garages.

Start your new garage project today with a free quote online.