sheetrock question

[rob in nh]

what thickness of sheetrock do you normally use for the walls and ceiling. thanks

 

[Bulldog13]

1/2 inch..thicker dependent on fire code etc.

 

[fury9]

walls, normally 1/2 inch unless it needs to be fire rated (think furnace room)then it's 5/8, ceiling 5/8 always or you will end up with a wavy ceiling. Garage? I'd do 5/8

 

[HellaFab]

how about in a detatched?

 

[Trevor454]

You can get special 1/2" for ceilings with 24" centers that has fibreglass strands which will not sag like normal 1/2" wall drywall.

 

[RHD 4 LIFE]

There is a ceiling specific board here in Canada that has more fiberglass in it for ceilings and is still 1/2". If you have 16" ceiling joist's then standard 1/2" is fine, otherwise at 24" you can get 1/2" ceiling board!
A good eg.http://drywalldepot.ca/drywall.html

 

[RHD 4 LIFE]

^ Beat me to it! lol

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

5/8" because it is pretty much code around here any more...

 

[mnster]

5/8 ceiling 1/2 walls

 

[lotsoftools]

The new tough rock and ultra light 1/2" is rated for ceilings, and it works good too. It's all I use anymore.

 

[Toomanytools?]

The new tough rock and ultra light 1/2" is rated for ceilings, and it works good too. It's all I use anymore.

It might be rated for ceilings as in it won't sag but, is it fire rated the same as 5/8's and approved for code in your county?
http://www.usg.com/sheetrock-ultralight-gypsum-panels.html

 

[csp]

Same arguments as every other "what size drywall" thread on this site.

 

[readhead]

Where is the drywall being installed? Is it adjoining the house? Makes a differance in the material you use.

 

[rob in nh]

its for a barn \garage, not attached to the house.

 

[readhead]

I would be inclined to use 5/8" regular for everything. I think it would be a little more durable for this aplication.

 

[Cryptic1911]

we did 5/8" type-x for walls and ceilings

 

[Trey T]

My home uses 1/2" for wall and ceiling and it was built in the 1970s. Why would I want to use heavier/thicker board on ceiling?

 

[Kevin54]

Around here, any house built uses 1/2" for everything. Walls and ceiling both. You won't have a wavy ceiling if you go across the rafters instead of with the rafters.

 

[ShumanSS6.0]

Around here, any house built uses 1/2" for everything. Walls and ceiling both. You won't have a wavy ceiling if you go across the rafters instead of with the rafters.

What he said. Also, make sure you have 5 rows of 5 screws per panel (on a 4x8 sheet) and drive at least 1" of the screw into the stud (1.5" screws min if going with the 1/2" drywall).

 

[allinon72]

My home uses 1/2" for wall and ceiling and it was built in the 1970s. Why would I want to use heavier/thicker board on ceiling?

Less sag potential and better fire suppression

 

[Trey T]

^Sag potential? I highly doubt that because you have to fight the weight. It's not like the board is designed in different shape (engineering term, moment of inertia). Or unless you spaced your joist or rafter wider than typical, then you will see sag, assumed you fastened it properly.

Fire suppression: How significant for residential home?

 

[csp]

^Sag potential? I highly doubt that because you have to fight the weight.

5/8" is stiffer than 1/2" board.

Fire suppression: How significant for residential home?

Apparently it's very significant since it's code that Type X 5/8" is installed between garage space and living space. Code is for 20 minutes of fire and 5/8" meets that requirement.

 

[Kevin54]

Here's a question for the drywall experts I'd like to know an answer on......If a house by code is supposed to have 5/8" drywall to help slow a fire, why is in not required to use FIREPROOF drywall instead of just going an 1/8" thicker and using a fire rated drywall?

To be honest, I never even heard of fireproof drywall until the other day.

 

[Steevo]

I did my shop in all 5/8", because the cost difference was minimal and the added thickness helps with noise attenuation.

 

[Trey T]

What you're forgetting is the weight. Look at it this way, you don't engineer a bridge w/o considering its own weight as a mode for failure.

5/8" is stiffer than 1/2" board.

....

I would be careful about using the term "fireproof" because I don't think any gypsum board maker advertise their product to be "fireproof", just more "fire resistant" depending on the thickness.

Here's a question for the drywall experts I'd like to know an answer on......If a house by code is supposed to have 5/8" drywall to help slow a fire, why is in not required to use FIREPROOF drywall instead of just going an 1/8" thicker and using a fire rated drywall?

To be honest, I never even heard of fireproof drywall until the other day.

 

[csp]

What you're forgetting is the weight. Look at it this way, you don't engineer a bridge w/o considering its own weight as a mode for failure.

No, I'm not forgetting the additional weight. It is stiffer even with the additional weight. Better?

It's not like you're going over a subject that's never been considered before. It's been proven that 5/8 resists sagging better than 1/2" over a given span between joists.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

No, I'm not forgetting the additional weight. It is stiffer even with the additional weight. Better?

It's not like you're going over a subject that's never been considered before. It's been proven that 5/8 resists sagging better than 1/2" over a given span between joists.

exactly. As an architect, I am very familiar with codes and such.

in MANY cities/states it is code to use 5/8" on the ceiling, mainly for better fire resistance but it also looks better because with many new houses using 24" spacing with I-joists, 1/2" drywall will sag.

This is nothing new, and you're views while relevant, still don't change the fact that most houses have 5/8" ceilings.


Look at 92-5/8" studs at the lumber yard. 92-5/8" stud + 4.5" (double top + bottom plate) leaves 8'-1-1/8" floor to bottom of joist. Subtract 5/8" drywall ceiling and 1/2" floor thickness leaves you with 8' clear floor height.

 

[rob in nh]

thanks , you've answered a lot of my questions