Finishing garage with sheet rock (gypsum board) questions...

Hey guys,

Here's my question/s:

I'm finishing my garage once I run new electrical in there, and to the bedrooms above it...

I see that fire code states that I must use 5/8" type-x on the ceiling since there's a bedroom above it, and 1/2" sheet rock on the walls between the garage and the living areas of the house. Once I do this, what is the correct way to finish the walls? Will just painting them would look like crap? Block goes about half way up the wall, so only the top half(ish) needs covered... or do I cover the block too?

Also, I have two HVAC ducts running several inches below the joists which I would need to work around, and a couple places where junction boxes will be needed.. what's the proper procedure for finishing where the sheet rock meets the duct work, and what type of "access points" would meet fire code that I can put where the junction boxes are so they can be accessed later?

I really just am ignorant when it comes to what I can and cannot do as far as the gypsum board... whether or not another outer covering goes over it once it's up, or if people just hang their garage stuff on nails/screws right into the board? I need a crash course for sheet rock dummies lol..

edit: oh sorry, the garage is attached to the house, and has access to a basement, a door into the den, and two bedrooms above it.

Thanks
Brian

 

Code usually dictates any wall/ceiling that connects with living space has to have 5/8" drywall. That would include wall [s] that are common to the living area of the house.

5/8" drywall can be finished the same as any other drywall. Code dictates that you must tape all the joints. Some will do the bare minimum and then paint but it will look nicer if you finish the drywall!

Drywall itself isn't stout enough to hang stuff off of, you'd need to put the screws/nails into the studs to have any strength ... or add a board that is secured to the studs to mount your hangers to.

 

Personally, I don't like to paint garage sheetrock because then you notice every little ding and think you need to fix them. When unpainted, you tend to be more likely to let them slide.

 

Ok 5/8" all around it is... So you can just screw through the sheetrock into studs to hang things? That doesn't mess with fire code etc?

How about the other issues? How to deal with vents? Finish over block or leave it? What works as access points to junction boxes etc?

 

You need to leave any electrical junction accessible. This may mean moving boxes or adding extenders. Screws into the studs are fine but you likely need to mud and tape the screws and joints.

What vents?

 

I know I have to leave junction box access... I literally wrote that into my question. "Accessible", however, can be accomplished many different ways. I would rather have the jbox's hidden behind some sort of plate or access point in the wall than have the box itself visible. I was wondering what could accomplish this and still meet fire code.

I have a large HVAC return vent and a smaller HVAC supply vent running perpendicular to the ceiling joists in the garage (it's an older house), so there's no way to move them, I just have to drywall around them. Is there anything special I have to use to seal where the drywall meets the vents?

 

Here is a page of outlet covers

 

OK, so the word is 'ducts' and not 'vents.' Yep, drywall around them. Many will build a soffit from 2x lumber for easy attachment of the drywall.

I'm still not following the electrical question, as the boxes should be hidden by the drywall and you leave a blank cover plate on it if it's not a switch or receptacle.

 

Yeah yeah ducts not vents.. brain fart. I even said ducts in my OP. lol..

The electrical question is because in some areas where I need to put boxes, they can't really be put flush with the drywall (an area above the garage door for example) without having to frame out extra spots and run wires farther out from the wall studs/joists than is ideal. Also I need to put 2 or 3 boxes on different branch circuits to split off feeds for the 2 bdr above the garage and the garage lighting circuit... and I'd like to keep them near the same spot. I'd rather have a single access door or plate that lets me get to them than have 3 separate J-box covers poking through right next to each other. I just need to know what would maintain fire code if I did that. it's kinda a weird setup honestly. House was built in the 50's.