I have a finished garage with a painted drywall ceiling. Garage is insulated and heated and I keep the heat at 55 in the winter so my toys don’t get too cold. Problem I am having is with my drywall ceiling. It cracks on the tape lines even after being professionally repaired a few times. I believe it’s from changes in temp and humidity and there’s really nothing I can do about it other than repair it….and then a few years later it cracks again. Any thoughts on something I could put over the drywall that would eliminate this issue? I don’t wanted to lower the ceiling much at all and am thinking more of an overlay type of alternative. Obviously it would need to be light in weight and easy to install, I am not looking for a major project just something I could do myself that would look nice to cover the entire ceiling.
Ceiling Alternatives — Drywall Overlay?
- Thread starter RGCarNut
- Start date
Shiftless
Well-known member
Depending on your garage decor, you might consider a tin ceiling.
You could also go all out and screw plywood to the ceiling to give it shear strength and then cover that with drywall.
You could also go all out and screw plywood to the ceiling to give it shear strength and then cover that with drywall.
dcg9381
Well-known member
I think he means a metal panel ceiling. I've seen some higher end houses that had their ceilings done in old barn panels, complete with rust. R-panel would be an easy go to and is available in lots of colors. I just hate trimming the stuff.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Yeah, metal panels
They come in quite a few different styles. The old looking kind are generally referred to as “tin” ceilings. There are other styles that look quite contemporary.
They come in quite a few different styles. The old looking kind are generally referred to as “tin” ceilings. There are other styles that look quite contemporary.
bluedog225
Well-known member
Wood is good. Shiplap or nickel gap. Paint it first. Not cheap. Metal would be good as well. I’ve seen ordinary corrugated and mini corrugated. Relatively cheap/easy and could probably be cut full length.
Wrench97
Well-known member
What type of ceiling structure, tresses or conventional joist and rafters?
Sounds like you have wood moving above the drywall from either stress loading or humidity changes.
Sounds like you have wood moving above the drywall from either stress loading or humidity changes.
There is a large room on the 2nd floor of the house above the garage so I presume that there are ceiling joists there supporting the floor above. I would think there is 2x4 framing between the drywall and the joists. Not sure though, I did not build this garage.
73fxe
Well-known member
The simplest way would be to take furring strips, paint them the ceiling color and screw them over the joints.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Ah I was picturing a detached garage
Not a bad idea. Maybe make a box pattern, kind of like a coffered ceiling.
bluedog225
Well-known member
That’s a good solution. Or make them 2x lumber and attach hooks at regular intervals. Or strut and a trolley.
I would use burlap mold, stapled or brad over the joints . caulk the seams, paint with ceiling
I'd figure out why you're having so much movement. My garage is attached, bedroom above, will swing from mid 30's with the door open in the winter, to 70's when I'm heating it and working, to probably 90's in the summer if I pull a hot vehicle in. and full humidity from melting snow to dry as a bone...not even a little blip of drywall problems from it.
Covering up problems is no solution.
Covering up problems is no solution.
djjsr
Well-known member
Corrugated metal ...............
Zeke
Well-known member
6" wide fiberglass tape will help if you redo the seams again.
I see lots of light weight tile products like acoustic. Many are keyed and attach with blind attachments. They could help with an insulation value as well.
I see lots of light weight tile products like acoustic. Many are keyed and attach with blind attachments. They could help with an insulation value as well.
CraigStu
Well-known member
To me drywall cracking is a normal phenomenon. Stuff moves w/ changes in temp and humidity and there isn't a lot that can be done about that. I think 73fxe has a good idea. I don't know what the dimensions of a standard firring strip is though. In our last house we added on another garage bay and I was dumb enough to try to cut costs by doing my own drywall. My joints were ugly and I got tired of being covered in drywall dust. I bought a sheet of one of the better grades of 1/4" plywood that HD had. Ripped 2 inch wide strips and used them to hide the joints.
Nice looking garage Marine! I like the way you roll.Here is a photo of my garage for reference. As you can see the ceiling is standard height. Also, I forgot to mention…I have crown molding around the perimeter of the ceiling.
