Sealing drywall walls...

[cgc]

I've been doing a quick searches for a couple of days and just not coming up with what I'm looking for.

My wife and I are building a house and I am wanting to make the garage the way I want it (FINALLY). I am planning on putting a spigot and hose in the garage so I can wash the cars indoors, but I don't want to get the drywall wet for obvious reasons. Is there anything I can paint, put on the walls that will not look bad, but still keep water from penetrating?

Sorry, I'll be the first one to admit I don't know jack about paints/sealants which is why I'm probably asking a stupid question.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rieferman]

My wife and I are building a house and I am wanting to make the garage the way I want it (FINALLY).

Welcome to GJ! And CONGRATS. You must be pumped!

Since you're building... And since you think you might use water in the space, I'd consider using something other than drywall in that area. Think of the materials that would be used in a bathroom/shower... and then garage-ify it. (patent pending on "garage-ify")

edit: my suggestion would entail cement backer board etc. Might be real overkill. Another simpler way would be to use corrugated metal/plastic, or any other waterproof top surface that would take some splashes.

 

[nate379]

Put up sheetmetal like at the car wash. Personally I just wash them outside. Less mess and less moisture in the garage to rust tools

 

[r6_cannibal]

you might be able to have a curtain on a track, like they use for hospital beds...and just run the track on the ceiling around whatever you want closed off. If you're only going to occasionally wash a car in the garage this might be a viable option. If you're going to spend a lot of time with a hose in there, then a different wall material might be best.
That curtain on the track might also be nice for painting too...hmm. got me thinking now

 

[tcianci]

You might want to simply ask your builder to use MR (moisture rersistant) drywall and making sure that there is about 1/2 inch clearance between the drywall and the floor that could be covered by a rubber or vinyl cove base and then paint the walls with a good gloss exterior paint. Unless you go nuts with the garden hose this should stand up fine. If you do this and it doesn't meet your expectations, go to HD and buy FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels the stuff is only about a sixteenth thick, cuts easily, is impervious to water, goes on with FRP adhesive and is less than a buck a square foot. It is commonly used inside car washes to take all the slopping that goes in there and they sell joint and trim strips to finish it off niicely.

There are often suggestions to use tile backer board in areas of the garage that will get wet. While backer boards won't deteriorate with water, Hardi backer seems to get awfully soft when wet and Durock or WonderBoard also soak up water like a sponge although the water doesn't actually bother the product, I would opt for controlling the moisture at the surface rather than using a material that can transfer moisture to the inside of your frame wall.

 

[cgc]

Hey guys -
I GREATLY appreciate the input. I guess I don't HAVE to be able to wash the cars in the garage, but in the winter or when I've lost sunlight it would be nice to be able to do.

Anyways, I'll see what is going to be the best and most cost efficient.....

Again, greatly appreciate the input.
Chris

 

[Kevin54]

You can use a gloss latex interior paint or an outdoor paint that will keep the water from penetrating but I would not continually get the walls wet. It will prevent some splashing of water from doing damage, but a full on attack with water can and would do damage over a period of time. I have both of my garages drywalled and have gotten them wet on occasions and have had no damage yet. One has been drywalled 15 years and the other going on 10.

 

[Justanoldguy]

I would seriously look at lining the wall at least up 4 feet with a hardi board product.
Here in NZ we use Hardi-Flex for this purpose. Painted, it will repel any amount of water.
Do not use drywall anywhere near water. Mould is the enemy that will grow out of control.

 

[cgc]

You can use a gloss latex interior paint or an outdoor paint that will keep the water from penetrating but I would not continually get the walls wet. It will prevent some splashing of water from doing damage, but a full on attack with water can and would do damage over a period of time. I have both of my garages drywalled and have gotten them wet on occasions and have had no damage yet. One has been drywalled 15 years and the other going on 10.

And that's kind of what I was looking for. I don't anticipate blasting the drywall wide open with water (although I know **** happens). I'm looking for protection from mainly a stray shot or overspray....

 

[accord driver]

They sell fiberglass panels in 4x8 sheets at Menards by the 4x8 sheets of fake tile. The fiberglass sheets are what they used in the backrooms of all the departments at the grocery store I use to work at. we hosed them down and cleaned them all the time without any water damage and we could sanitize them with bleach if we wanted...

 

[Scotto]

you might be able to have a curtain on a track, like they use for hospital beds...and just run the track on the ceiling around whatever you want closed off. If you're only going to occasionally wash a car in the garage this might be a viable option. If you're going to spend a lot of time with a hose in there, then a different wall material might be best.
That curtain on the track might also be nice for painting too...hmm. got me thinking now

That's a really good idea. If the garage is large it would keep the water confined too so you're not spraying other stuff.

 

[DustyandLefty]

I see you're in Atlanta, so you won't need to worry about the faucet freezing; especially if it is a shared wall with the house.
You might even consider having a small laundry tub instead of just the faucet, as long as there's a drain.

Have you thought about putting up #15 felt or housewrap on your garage walls behind the plastic panels or Durock? It would be a second barrier to keep moisture away from the studs.

have fun,

Dusty and Lefty

 

[thammel]

I was going to do the same thing in my house garage. I did put a spigot in there and bought a piece of plexiglass at HD to put behind the spigot to waterproof the wall right behind it. The plexiglass is about 2' x 3' I'd silicone caulk the joiunt around the spigot to shield.

As it turned out, I since built a bigger better garage and decided to put the spigot back outside. I found out that it's too easy to get a wet mess inside the garage as things (hoses) drip. I didn't put in a floor drain in the new garage but do have running water in there.

Tom