Will drywall crack in insulated garage.

[Ran58]

Got an estimate for drywall for my shop and the guy said the drywall would probably crack because the space is not heated and cooled.

Shop will be insulated and I live in middle Georgi. Has anyone experienced much drywall cracking in you shop.

 

[jkeyser14]

At my last house the garage drywall never cracked. In my new house it has cracked all over. So to answer your question, it depends...

 

[CraigStu]

In SW Va w/ attached 28x32 full drywall and insulation moved in April 2019. Heated sometimes for a few hours when I am working there w/ a propane wall unit and cooled same w/ a window AC unit. No cracking at all.

 

[Viper98912]

There's probably no real way to know. It depends on how much "flex" you have in your structure?

For example, I have no cracking of the mud/tape in the non-heated "regular" part of the garage, but in the area where I have a heated space (closet) above, the drywall mud/tape is cracked the full length of the ceiling.

 

[paredown]

A good part of what we see as drywall cracking in houses is caused by movement of studs especially as they dry once the house is closed in and heated. I would think that the moisture content of framing would be pretty consistent in a garage, and if the structure was closed in and dried in before you insulated and dry walled, there shouldn't be much cracking...

 

[nadogail]

I agree that the drywall is probably cracking because the studs, or joists, it is fastened to are moving. Control the movement and the cracking should stop.

Good luck.

 

[KenC]

It depends on several things, some that you cannot control such as framing lumber drying, shrinking and twisting. But one that can be controlled is the conditions while being finished and drying. Temperature and humidity control especially in the winter can have a great effect on cracking. Don't let it freeze before it is completely dry is #1.
If possible, delay rocking until the framing can air dry as much as possible. In hot, dry weather a couple of weeks can make a difference. Cold or high humidity could take months, so not much you can do at this time of year.
My projects are always DIY, and I'm slow so that helps.

 

[Shocker]

Why drywall? I used 7/16 OSB. Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

 

[Dig Doug]

Ken C
nailed it! If the studs are wet they will shrink when they dry out!

a lot of different factors can play into the cracking -

also size of garage plays into it - 40x60 x 14 tall RV style garage can crack just due to the size
nailing / screws - not enough & also set to deep
how skilled the labor performing the work is - sloppy leaving gaps, not pre-filling joints tape doesn’t cover the joint
letting drywall mud dry completely - shrinkage

every one knows about shrinkage!

george costanza

 

[NUTTSGT]

If it's an attached garage, I would drywall the abutting house wall. Other than that I would use plywood or OSB if it were mine. However, it's your place and you do as you want.

Whatever wall covering you choose, I would consider it foolish not to at least insulate the wall cavities before closing them in.

 

[iagsxr]

I drywalled the garage in my last house. It had been done for fifteen years when I moved. Not a single crack, but I would never drywall an actual shop.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Got an estimate for drywall for my shop and the guy said the drywall would probably crack because the space is not heated and cooled.

Shop will be insulated and I live in middle Georgi. Has anyone experienced much drywall cracking in you shop.

"Probably crack"... based on an "unheated space... in middle Georgia". That's pretty comical!
What exactly is "cracking"? The drywall itself? Or was he referring to joints, corners, etc.?

The drywall itself cracking would be a Red Flag to how it was installed. If it's the joints, inside and outside corners- that's pretty typical in new construction. Framing is as big as it ever will be- when a structure gets "dried in" it starts shrinking- NOT SETTLING. That shrinking causes framing members to move, which in-turn makes the drywall move. That's why you can have "nail-pops" (even screws can have the same effect), small hairline cracks at inside corners and **** joints. Even outside corners with corner bead can move and crack along it's edges.

If this is a standing structure that has several years of exposure- there will be much less movement- but some cracking could still appear.

I think the key is proper installation- glue, screws (in the right places- not the wrong places), board running perpendicular to studs, no joints at door or window corners or headers, etc., etc.

I would almost thing he didn't want the job- and this was his "out".

 

[Viper98912]

^ or he's just looking to do a rush job and take your money, knowing he doesn't want to put quality time into it

 

[Whitworth]

I speculate the contractor means the humidity swings in a non-climate controlled building will cause enough movement in the structure to crack the drywall at the joints.

Many unknowns, how big is this garage? What kind of structure; steel, wood framed, ? Is HVAC a possibility at all now or in the future? If so, wait until then.

 

[Jazz1]

No issue in my garage. I use kiln dried lumber,,that would make a difference.

 

[mike93lx]

Sounds like he is just getting ahead of poor work with excuses

 

[vavet]

I think the bigger question is why don’t you heat and cool the space? Many users here have installed mini splits in their shops, including me. I used to think it was a bit frivolous or ostentatious, but it makes working in the shop much more pleasant all year. They are not expensive to buy, difficult to install, or costly to operate.

 

[Metal-Marc]

I agree that the drywall is probably cracking because the studs, or joists, it is fastened to are moving. Control the movement and the cracking should stop.

Good luck.

Use Durabond as the first layer. Always.

 

[WisJim]

I've done 3 sheet rocked garages, one was a pole barn with wood siding and sheet rock inside around 1982, another of frame construction around 1992 and another in 2019, also regular frame. So far no cracking in any of them, all unheated.

 

[logical]

The joints in the ceiling of my insulated and sometimes heated Michigan garage cracked. There is attic storage above which probably doesn't help. They are nice straight lines and the ceiling is 13 feet up. It honestly does bother me. If I ever repaint I'll probably caulk them but it isn't urgent.

 

[kaymccampbell]

My shop is drywalled with 5\8 x-rated drywall. I mudded it with Durabond. It's insulated, and 55 in winter and whatever the temperature is in summer. 7 years and it hasn't cracked.

 

[Glemon]

It's a garage, not a living room, are a few cracks in the seems a big concern to you?

 

[niget2002]

Mine hasn't.