I have one wall in my garage that has some old drywall that is nailed on, it appears to be fine but it is not as strong as the new rock I am putting up on the other walls. I plan to screw it down and tape and paint it like the other walls but I was wondering if sheetrock over time will absord moisture from the air and loose some of its strenght? Should I rip it off or leave it alone?
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If your drywalling anyways and have the extra material, go for it! I'm one of the few people that will ever tell you that they like to drywall. I guess I just haven't done enough of it to really be sick of it yet. One of my very first remodeling jobs was to replace the sheetrock on a cinderblock wall of an apartment. The "craftsman" of the 70's era apartment had just thrown up white pine 2x2 nailers and needless to say, all of it had to be replaced. The fungus had started to grow onto the cinderblock. That was about six years ago. I still am about the worlds worst at finishing the 'rock, but I've learned a few tricks to get me by. Are you doing the entire house, or have you hired a crew?
Make sure you use type X gypsum for the garage. It is code nowadays, and you will have to ask aroung to see what size is required. Also, you may just need type X on the party (partition) wall. Codes vary so check around
Edited 7/27/2008 8:27 pm ET by arcflash
Edited 7/27/2008 8:29 pm ET by arcflash
Careful Arcflash with the advice.
You are right for many codes but in Pennsylvania, they adopted the IRC and the IRC doesnt require type x in a lot of garage conditions. Boca and cabo did but not IRC. (now I am speaking of the 03 IRC. I ahve not bought the 06 book yet but dont think that changed but I dont know for a fact. We in PA have only been on the 06 since January and I have not needed to go get the new book yet.)
You will notice that I said to check with the Building Department. Also, it is not a code violation to place type X gypsum in an area that is not normally required by code to have anything but regular 'ol sheetrock.
I did notice and hear you. A lot of places are adopting the IRC and it is more lax than a lot of the other codes for garage separation.
A lot of guys with the market the way it is are not spending an extra dime they dont have to and people see that as a way to save $ round these parts. (downgrading from Typex to regular)
To my knowledge the code does not state exclusively type X.What it will require is twenty minute, one hour, or two hour firewall. GP has probably a hundred different ways to build to each different requirement, some without using type X
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Right. But it does require fire resistant sheet rock. And like I said, I'm not sure it its just the party wall or the entire garage. I'm not a pro drywaller. Type X is one and there is also another, at least, those two are the only that I have ever seen used.