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drywall on the ceiling?

grenade inspector

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Sep 2, 2011
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I'm finally getting my garage together and will soon be ready to drywall the forward half of my garage ceiling. This area is between the I-beam above the garage door and a central I-beam that runs parallel to the first one, the joists above run perpendicular to these and the distance is between 11'and 12', I would like to use 12' sheets of 1/2" drywall running between these beams, is this an okay plan?
 
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pattenp

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What is the spacing of the joist? 16" then 1/2" is ok, if 24" then use 5/8". Also if this is an attached garage then where you live may require 5/8" to meet fire code.
 

WQ59B

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NJ
I get you; you want to run the 12' sheets perpendicular to the main beams- eliminates a seam you'd have if you ran 8' sheets. I see no issues, but remember: 'glue & screw'.
 

Al Bundy

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What is the spacing of the joist? 16" then 1/2" is ok, if 24" then use 5/8". Also if this is an attached garage then where you live may require 5/8" to meet fire code.

x 2. If you use 1/2" sheetrock on 24" centers it will sag.
 

APEowner

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Sunny, New Mexico
As others have said, if it's an attached garage or the spacing on the rafters is 24" you may need 5/8". The only problem with 12' pieces of drywall is that they are ridiculously heavy and a pain to put up even with a lift.
 

racerbob4

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Dec 4, 2011
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Northern Virginia
We will definitely use 5/8" firecode on all walls and ceiling. A 12' long piece of drywall on a celing is really hard to handle, just saying. We khave a seperatge race car garage that is currently being built and we are probably going to use 1/2" or 5/8" plywood on the walls up to 8' and paint it. The thought was that we would probably punch holes in the drywall. We are limited on the size of the garage because of county regulations so every inch counts. Half the garage will have a storage above with an outside stairway and the other half has a high area that is about 17' to the bottom of the joists and that area will have a lift. 28' trailer fits next to one side of the garage. We talked to Rocksolid floor president at the PRI show for the second year and will go with his product in a light grey. So nice to find this site with all the suggestions, especially about lighting. Our present garage has two electric heaters and we will take the newest one with us and then buy another new one. Compressor goes into the storage area for noise considerations and we will pipe all 3 walls on the main level. Still searching for other solutions.
 

almost

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Oct 19, 2011
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Do yourself a BIG favor and rent or buy a drywall lift. HF, Home Depot or craigs list. Can be resold eaisly.
 
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StingRay

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Jan 26, 2006
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I used 12 ft 5/8 fire rated on the ceiling of mine. I bought one of those diy lifts that's a cheap copy of the pro ones. Man did that thing and me grunt putting that stuff up there. That sheet size was the limit for that lift. You don't want to handle those sheets alone much unless you are a big guy as they are damn heavy!
 

pontifex4

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Eastern Ontario, Canada
+1 on the sheetrock lift.

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grenade inspector

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Sep 2, 2011
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Thanks everyone, I forgot to mention that the joists are 16" centers, so I should be okay with half inch? I had already planned on needing a lift, I'm kicking around a plan to use my engine hoist with some modifications I think it will work fine, it will certainly be better than doing it myself without one.
 

Al Bundy

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Upstate NY
Get a lift you'll save yourself a ton of headaches. Even the cheapest lift will work with 1/2". I highly recommend one that's a step up if you use 5/8". The cheap one almost killed me when it came crashing down from 11' with a sheet on it. You'll probably want an extra pair of hands with 12 footers even if they're 1/2". They're real easy to break.
 

StingRay

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Saskatoon,SK. Canada
Probably OK with 1/2 but I'd use either a ceiling rated board or 5/8". Insulation can be heavy and if you are going to blow in the only thing holding it up is that drywall. Better to have more than you need rather than not enough. It ***** when the ceiling sags. Get a drywall lift. Everybody is selling them cheap. Like said they turn up every day on Kijij. Not worth the hassle of using anything but a lift. I didn't get mine as cheap as they come now and I still don't regret it.
 
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