When it comes to home improvement, one of the biggest projects that a homeowner can undertake is to drywall their own garage. While this is not always a simple way out of doing home improvement because it requires a lot of preparation and work, it can be highly rewarding once all the hard work has been put in.
When attempting to undertake a project as big as this, there are a number of things to take into consideration. Firstly, if you are planning to hire someone to do it for you, expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000 which also depends of the size and quality of work and materials. Once again, however, this is if you are hiring somebody else to complete the project.
If you want to save money on this endeavor (and who doesn’t?) then there is the option of doing it yourself. This isn’t always as straight forward as it may seem though; there are many things that need to be taken into consideration before trying to figure out ow much does it cost to drywall a garage. For example, you need to consider the size of the garage, the tools and materials that you will need and if you can actually do the job or not.
In this article, we will attempt to explain how much does it cost to drywall a garage while also looking at the process and what you should be expecting.
What Is Drywall?
Drywall has a very specific purpose and it is to provide a surface on which coatings and paints can be applied. It is also very important as an insulator of heat and cold, making your home more energy efficient so you don’t have to keep the heating or air conditioning running for longer than necessary.
It consists of a heavy paper-like material that is coated with plaster on both sides and it is attached to studs which are normally spaced some inches apart.
Cost of Tools To Drywall Your Garage
When attempting to take on this project yourself, you will, need certain tools and equipment. While you may be able to get away with borrowing some of this, it is best to purchase your own tool kit as you will end up using them for other projects in the future.
Tools like a drill, screwdriver, utility knife, taping knives, drywall saws and others are essential when attempting to drywall a garage on your own.
However, you will needing more specific tools as well.
- Plastic drywall mud pan
- Corner trowel
- Pole sander
- Sandpaper
- Stainless steel taping knife
- Blue steel taping knife
In total expect to pay less than $100 for these tools although some can be found cheaper on sale.
Tools like drills, screwdrivers and saws are something you should already have in your home or can borrow from friends or family; they are tools that everyone needs anyway.
Cost of Materials to Drywall Your Garage?
Of course, you don’t just need tools, but there are also materials that you will need. Now, while some of this may simply be lying around at your home, it is still a good idea to have a plan for what you will need. The materials that you will be needing are:
Drywall Sheet
One sheet of standard 4’x8′ sheets. One sheet will cover 1.5 to 3 square meters depending on the type of drywall that you buy. In total, expect to spend around $75-$100 for this amount.
Screws
It is recommended that you use screws instead of nails when attaching drywall, it can be a lot cheaper to get a quantity of long thin nails and a hammer rather than a box of screws. Either way though, expect to pay anything from $10 upwards for this depending on the size and quality required.
Blue Tape
Perhaps not entirely necessary depending on what your plans are, blue tape helps with measurements and ensures straight lines when cutting or taping drywall. It can be bought in either 10 or 20 yard rolls (a roll is normally around $15-$25)
Drywall mud or Join Compound
While some people may choose to use spackling compound instead of drywall mud, the latter is recommended for patching holes. A bucket of this costs between $7 and $10.
Drywall Tape
Either paper or fiberglass is suitable for joining pieces of drywall together and costs $25-$30 per roll depending on the quality required.
Hammer and 3-4 inch Finishing Nails
These cost around $5 and are used to nail into studs to attach drywall. You will need around 20 of them.
Sandpaper
Anywhere from $15 upwards depending on the grade.
Paint Mixture
It can be cheaper to mix your own paint as you go as opposed to purchasing it ready made, but if you prefer to buy this, expect to spend anything between $60 and $80.
Although this vary somewhat for a 1 or 2 car garage, expect to pay a total in materials roughly around $200 to $300.
Summary of Cost to Drywall a Garage
As we have mentioned earlier, the cost of your project depends on a number of different factors so it is difficult to give you a firm amount as to what you can expect.
However, with a rough guide in mind and using the expenses listed above as an indication, here is a rough breakdown.
Tools:
Anywhere from around $100 upwards depending on your needs and preferences for tools
Materials:
Around $200 or more depending on how much drywall is needed
Total Costs To Drywall Your Garage:
This means that the total cost of drywall your garage could come out as low as around $250 or as high as double this if you are purchasing all new equipment. This will also mainly on how big your garage is.
Price Factors in the Cost to Drywall a Garage
In addition to the tools and materials needed there are a number of other factors that will affect the price.
Drywall Types:
Standard drywall is the cheapest and most common type of sheet, but if you go with a thicker wall panel this will cost you more.
Single or Double Drywall:
Double drywall is thicker and will cost more, but it is also a lot stronger. It can take heavy impact without being damaged. Single wall is less durable but cheaper.
Wall Height:
The taller the garage, the more sheeting that needs to be bought and installed.
Ceiling Drywall:
If you are also including the ceiling in your project, this will also add to the final price. This may also mean that it will be more difficult to work on your garage and you may need a scaffold to reach the high parts.
Finish:
There are a number of different ways that drywall can finish – sanded, painted or textured. The sanded and paint varieties will cost more than the textured surface.
Insulation:
If you also plan on insulating your garage, this will require some materials and will therefore affect the total cost.
Garage Shape:
The shape of your garage will also affect the final price. For example, a square or rectangular shaped garage is easier to drywall than an angled or curved wall with no distinct corners.
Who Does the Work:
The biggest factor will be whether you carry out the project yourself or you pay a professional to do this for you. Typically, drywall work is very time consuming and difficult, so if you choose to go with a professional it will not cost as much but still much more than doing it all on your own.
How Much Drywall Do I Need for a Garage?
Put simply, to calculate how much drywall you need for your garage, take the total area of the garage and divide it by the size of a sheet.
For example, if you have a 12 x 20 ft garage, this is roughly 240 square feet. The standard sheets are 4×8 ft so in order to get enough drywall for your garage you will need around 10 sheets.
Hanging vs Taping vs Finishing Drywall?
When choosing how to drywall your garage, you can either decide whether to hang, tape or finish it.
- Hanging means that the drywall is screwed directly into the studs. This provides maximum support and durability for the project but it also takes up more time than other methods due to having to find studs first.
- Taping involves simply matching up panels together so they fit snugly against each other and only needs one seam of adhesive tape at the seams where two sheets meet.
- Finishing involves using both hanging and taping techniques to strengthen the wall before covering it with a layer of compound applied with a trowel which will eventually form a solid surface once painted later on in the project.
Conclusion
While there are many factors that determine the price of your project, these are some of the major ones.
The cost will vary from garage to garage depending on a number of factors such as the size and shape of the space, but expect to pay somewhere around $250 or more on average.
Of course, if you choose to have a professional do this for you it will be more expensive than doing it yourself.
Doing it yourself can save a lot of money but also requires a large time commitment and may require some special tools that add to the total price. So while this is a cheap way to drywall your garage, there are certain drawbacks as well.
And remember, this is just for your garage ceiling sheeting. If you decide to include the walls as well, expect to pay around $100-$150 or more.
