To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

1/2" Sheetrock on 24" OC Truss

DuluthMN

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
219
Location
Duluth
Does anyone have 1/2" on 24" OC Trusses? I need to see some pictures of how it looks. I have decided on sheetrock instead of osb. But money is tight and I can save $50 on 1/2 instead of 5/8 and not to mention the 1/2 will weigh much less. Any thoughts.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

ket-tek

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
1,289
It won't work. It will sag. Against international sheet rock laws.

international sheet rock laws?

It may sag, it may not. But 1/2" on everything is pretty standard these days, except fire rated walls. 24" trusses with 1/2" is common. The proper installation and screw patterns can make or break the longevity of the finish.

For only $50 total difference, go 5/8" and move on to worrying about something different. Maybe if it saved like $500 I would think more about it..

Although the inside of my house is 24"oc scissor trusses with 1/2" and it isn't sagging yet.
 

Crusty Nut

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
475
It won't sag and will work just fine. Just does not meet fire code which requires 5/8"
 

Gary S

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
2,972
Location
Bismarck, ND
1/2" on 24" centers has worked on my house for 60 years with no sagging yet, and that is with 15" of insulation on top of the sheetrock.
 

Full Size 66

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
298
Location
Wa.
I believe 5/8" is fire code everywhere. So if your doing anything that will be inspected or sold in the future you might want to do the little extra. My house has an addition from the mid sixties and they used 1/2" on 24 oc studs. It does show slightly and it seems noisy, not as soild....
 

Busted_Knuckles

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
2,613
Location
Northwest Illinois
They sell a special 1/2" rigid sheet rock just for this purpose, Ive seen it at my local Menard's, its that common, its intended for 24" centers. Although I admit seeing it, I didn't not notice the "up swing" on cost, and the lousy SOB's don't have a "website" with all the stores products, just the sale papers.
 

mad57

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
1,698
ok are you putting up a vapor barrier ie: plastic?? if not than IT might work if you screw and glue but for only $50 bucks go 5/8 AND NO WORRIES.
 

rasit

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
387
Location
SE Pennsylvania
My house has an addition from the mid sixties and they used 1/2" on 24 oc studs

1/2" on 24" centers has worked on my house for 60 years with no sagging yet

I used 1/2" in my house and regret it.

Haven't heard from anybody saying they hung it the garage on 24" centers. If you are going to heat and cool the garage you might stand a chance that it will only sag a little, but if you are leaving it to the elements it's going to look like sh*t. I have to agree 100% with the following:

It won't work. It will sag. Against international sheet rock laws.

Go with 5/8" for the few extra bucks and get a one hour fire rating to boot.
 
Last edited:

Bull

Super Moderator
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
16,189
Location
MA
What about bathrooms, where green board is needed? Do they even make 5/8 green board? If they do, the local box stores don't carry it.

I went with 1/2 for my bathroom remodel for this reason.
 

MrMark

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
4,626
Location
Southern Cal.
5/8 green is available all day long. I personally wouldn't use 1/2 inch drywall anywhere in the house. 5/8 gives you a straighter wall and more sound insulation.

I love the house builders that use 1/2 on the ceiling with no problems.

Here's what a real expert has to say at about the 3:40 mark. This is the guy who wrote the book on drywall.

http://www.hianswers.com/wedding/drywall-tips-and-techniques-layout-and-planning.html
 

Bull

Super Moderator
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
16,189
Location
MA
5/8 green is available all day long.

Not at the local HD, Lowes, or family-run building supply. Not in-stock, that much I know for sure because I was just at each place pricing out drywall.
 

MrMark

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
4,626
Location
Southern Cal.
Weird. We have it here because I have some in the garage I just bought at HD. There is the yellow now too you might check out. I have seen it at Lowes. I run the green on the lower half of the garage.
 

Bull

Super Moderator
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
16,189
Location
MA
It's clear that 5/8" is going to give you a stiffer end result on 24" centers. But the expert you link us to says, and I quote:

"If it were 24" on center, I might want to consider maybe a thicker drywall like 5/8", because that is less likely to sag..."

The way he words it, with "might" and "maybe" he sounds a lot less emphatic about it than some others in here, and as you say, he's the expert!

Here's what a real expert has to say at about the 3:40 mark. This is the guy who wrote the book on drywall.

http://www.hianswers.com/wedding/drywall-tips-and-techniques-layout-and-planning.html

You are also in SoCal, which has everything. I'm in western Mass, which has nothing.

If the 5/8 green had been available to me in-stock, I would have grabbed it for sure. I use 5/8 whenever possible, although it is a pain in the ballz since it's so much heavier. I often have no help, and getting full sheets of that in place is tough solo, even with my Godzilla-like strength.

What's the yellow?

Weird. We have it here because I have some in the garage I just bought at HD. There is the yellow now too you might check out. I have seen it at Lowes. I run the green on the lower half of the garage.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

MrMark

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
4,626
Location
Southern Cal.
Take it whatever way you want. He is the expert for sure. When I hear you "may" want to do something that means I should do it. It's not worth it for me to have a job that cost hundreds or thousands in labor to accomplish turn out like **** because somebody wanted to save a few dollars on sheetrock. Then it gets torn out and a f'ing diasaster results. So much of homebuilding these days is penny wise and pound foolish. The builders cheap out on the dumbest stuff to save a nickle here and there and deliver a **** product that doesn't rear it's ugly head until years down the road. Most are not anywhere savy enough to know any better. I see it all the time around here and it's sickening. I see houses that builders don't even put plywood on to save a few bucks. Then they stucco over the studs and the shear wall (where the plywood does go) and have a bump out. I see ridiculous stuff all the time. I don't believe I've EVER seen a window or door installed correctly.
 
Last edited:

mad57

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
1,698
Ok were talking about a $50 diffrence????? why even think about this any further?
 

gotta56forme

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
136
Location
Seattle
To the original poster: I bought all my sheetrock this past May through a company here called Kent Gypsum (www.kentgypsum.com). I was originally going to get 5/8" for my ceiling of my garage. The guy I worked with over the phone told me about the option of 1/2" ceiling grade (my characterization) sheetrock which I ended up opting for. It's a little heavier per sheet vs. regular 1/2" sheetrock. I'm glad I did as I could use some of the cut offs from the ceiling on the walls. I decided to go through a sheetrock company for a few reasons. They only sell locally made sheetrock; had 54"x12' sheets that I needed (home centers don't), and their delivery price was very competitive. How was I going to get 12' sheets home? In the end, I don't think I paid much more than what I would have gotten at a home center. If I had only worked with 4'x8' sheets, then perhaps the home center would have won out.

Have a look in your yellow pages for a sheetrock/drywall supply company in your area and chat with them.

Scott/Gotta56forme
 

caper150

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
1,106
Location
Mantorville MN
Mines been up almost two years no problems yet, not a great pic, but I have never took a pic of the ceiling.
6shop.jpg
 

haugy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
783
Location
Nashville, TN
I'm in this boat too, except it's not the cost I'm bickering over.

It's the weight. I've got people telling me my 5' OC trusses won't hold the 2x4's and 5/8" drywall weight. So I'm trying to calculate the weight difference between 1/2" and 5/8". And then of course, worry about sagging too.
:headscrat
 

T1320T

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Messages
162
Location
Indiana
My experience... I hung 1/2" sheetrock on my ceiling w/ trusees 24" o.c. It's 10 yrs old now & is slightly sagging. When I hung it I didn't know any better... wish I would've used 5/8".
 

nate379

Banned
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
7,279
Location
Palmer, AK
IMO I would use 5/8" all throughout, ceiling, walls, etc. It's like $2.00 more a sheet, but worth it.

I didn't think they sold green board anymore? It is pretty much pointless since paint will seal reg drywall just as well as the green stuff... .if the water is getting through the paint, the wall is going to need to come down to repair anyhow.
 

nate379

Banned
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
7,279
Location
Palmer, AK
IMO I would use 5/8" all throughout, ceiling, walls, etc. It's like $2.00 more a sheet, but worth it. Yeah it's heavy, but so is 1/2". The last stuff I used was 4.5ftx12ft long and that was a pain to move around on my own!

I didn't think they sold green board anymore? My bathrooms are just normal drywall which is standard for around here from what I have seen.
 

rockchucker

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
1,764
Location
Seattle WA
If you think 1/2" won't sag on a 24" OC Lid then you are delusional. Yes it is heavy. Try the 12' Sheets of it. About 1.5 times as heavy as the 8' Sheets. =) well worth the struggle of getting it up there. Rent a Spider lift if you don't have any help. One guy can hang 12' Sheets. Not with ease by any means but you just have to work smarter not harder.


ONLY Greenboard in Bathrooms or moist areas. I will even use Greenboard in the Utility Room and Mud Room areas. I mean seriously what is a couple of bucks?

Sorry for the bluntness.

5/8" ONLY on the lid.

Just my .o2


Refer to my sig.
 
OP
D

DuluthMN

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
219
Location
Duluth
Thanks guys, not wanting to upset anyone I will keep my decision silent but I appreciate all the feedback.

So what is the going price for 5/8"?
 

csp

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
5,720
Location
Franktown, CO
I believe 5/8" is fire code everywhere.

It's only fire code for attached garages. The wall that adjoins my garage to the house is 5/8" from the floor to the peak of the roof, therefore it covers fire code. I could use 1/2" drywall on the ceiling if I cared to, but I'm not.

As far as prices go, pick up the phone and call drywall suppliers or head to Lowes/Home Depot/Menards/whereever. Prices can vary greatly by region, so what I'm paying in Colorado might mean diddly squat in Minnesota.

I've found that the drywall suppliers price isn't close to what I can find in Home Depot also. It's more expensive for 5/8" at the drywall supplier, but cheaper for 1/2".
 

nate379

Banned
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
7,279
Location
Palmer, AK
It is pretty much pointless you use if you are going to paint the walls. I haven't seen green board in stores in a few years. Was told it wasn't made anymore, though that isn't true according to the interweb.

ONLY Greenboard in Bathrooms or moist areas. I will even use Greenboard in the Utility Room and Mud Room areas. I mean seriously what is a couple of bucks?
 

clyder_glider

New member
Joined
Oct 6, 2009
Messages
4
Location
Denver, CO
I work for USG...the company that invented SHEETROCK...and we have a new product that will likely meet your need for lighter weight ceiling board on 24" oc. It is 30% lighter than regular board and a DREAM to hang. Take a look at the attached for more info:

http://www.usg.com/sheetrock-ultralight-gypsum-panels.html

As for questions on gypsum construction..USG has been writing the "bible" on construction methods since ...well forever. All of the information is online and free. you can find it here:

http://www.usg.com/resource-center/gypsum-construction-handbook.html

Hope this helps and best of luck.
 

Mighty Favog

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
23
Location
Seattle
I work for USG...the company that invented SHEETROCK...and we have a new product that will likely meet your need for lighter weight ceiling board on 24" oc. It is 30% lighter than regular board and a DREAM to hang. Take a look at the attached for more info:

http://www.usg.com/sheetrock-ultralight-gypsum-panels.html

As for questions on gypsum construction..USG has been writing the "bible" on construction methods since ...well forever. All of the information is online and free. you can find it here:

http://www.usg.com/resource-center/gypsum-construction-handbook.html

Hope this helps and best of luck.

So who carries this stuff?
 

clyder_glider

New member
Joined
Oct 6, 2009
Messages
4
Location
Denver, CO
The product is rolling out in phases (see link above)...and the map on the link shows you phase 1 and phase 2. I believe that the plan will be to offer it nationwide at some point.

As for the price...it is less than $0.50 per 1/2 8' sheet more than regular board.

Hope that helps.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom