I've gotten differing opinions on what can be used for a garage ceiling. I do not want to use sheetrock. I do want to be able to paint it. What are some of your experiences with installing a ceiling into your garage? What did you use?

 

I've seen people use "chipboard" or OSB instead of sheetrock for their garage walls and ceilings. Don't know how well it takes paint, but your lumber yard could tell ya. When I build my garage this summer (hopefully) this is what I'm using 'cuz it's easier and cheaper than sheetrock. Hope this helps.

 

I'm going to use R-Board or Celotex when I do mine. It adds some insulation and some of it is paintable. If you get the foil coated Celotex, that would offer some reflection of your lights too.

 

OSB does not take paint well. You will need to prime/seal it then put 2 coats of paint on. A really good paint might cover in one finish coat.

I am looking for something to use on my walls that meets fire code construction without sheetrock. I may have to use sheetrock as a base layer and use OSB with fire retardant paint. My garage/shop is attached to my house so the fire codes come into play.

 

i would recomend 1/2" osb. put the smooth side out, nail it every 6", prime and paint. athough to meet fire code you will probably have to use 5/8 sheetrock. the best thing you could use would be 1/2" osb then glue a fire code fiberglass reinforced panel (FRP) over it, then you wont have to paint an when the shop gets dirty just bust out the pressure washer and spray it down. As for the ceiling corogated steel (like a pole shed) also works well.

 

personally, i'd use sheetrock. as a firefighter, i've seen alot of small fires ruin buildings because there wasn't any fire resistance in the building.... it's saved our machine shop a few times....

 

This is kind'a along the same subject. I put plywood on top of the rafter's so that I can use this space for storage, and would also like to add some kind of cieling cover, but I would loose acsess to my storage. Any thought's on this?

 

if u use sheet rock make sure beef up the framing to take all the extra weight!!!!


i use sheet rock and also added a attic ladder acess that pulls down when u need it to get to all the storage.has a nice clean look too.



hope this helps

 

I made my own access ladder from 2x4's with 1x4 rungs with big strap hinges to hold it. I used a pulley and a rope to raise/lower it and keep it stowed above. Not as pretty as the fold up ladders, but it is a garage...

I made a 4'x 30" opening for access. I covered the opening with a sheet of 1/2" plywood with a 2x2 cross bar to hold it down and a 1/4-20 all thread rod with a plant hanger hook on one end (to turn with fingers) and a toggle bolt on the other to clamp it shut. The cover is gasketed with foam adhesive strips. You could cover the back of the cover with some fire rock for a little fire protection.

The opening is big enough to climb thru with a box or tools. The ladder is sturdy enough to hold me up with tools unlike the folding ladders I have seen.

I put a nail in a rafter to hook my trouble light on

With all the insulation I have there is no good room over the house for any storage but I do have a pair of boards running out along the joists so that I can service my attic fan etc. I do use some of the space over the garage for storage but it is not really good storage space. Stuff that is put up there tends to stay and not be used... Most of it is going in the dumpster soon.

You MUST use fire rock if you have an attached garage.

 

If the garage is framed properly the weight of the sheetrock would not be an issue for the ceiling.

In my area (western Mass) sheetrock is as cheap or cheaper than 1/2" OSB.

If you have an attached garage you only need 5/8" sheetrock on the joining wall between the garage and the house and the joints jave to be taped to meet code. It must also extend all the way up to the peak of the roof to form a barrier in the attic space so fire cannot rush down the attic space over the living space.

I personnaly will be sheetrocking my new garage, not that much harder to apply than plywood but easier and nicer looking to finish.

 

drdave, there are so many framing variables it is impossible to guess what yours is like. The responses above cover do a good job on the possibilities.

IMO, my favorite ceiling setup is plywood above the joists to gain the loft/attic storage, just leave the joists exposed and uncovered from below. If the framing is nicely done , it can be attractive.

A good wood product to use below the joists is 3/8" exterior plywood.
It comes in smooth (sanded) and rough sawn (textured). The exterior rated panels are made with a water resistant glue.

Vinyl or steel panels could also be used.
Any material suitable for a porch ceiling would work.

Alan P

 

I saw a show on hgtv recently, where a new 'Rustic' type home was being built and in the breakfast area, they used roofing tin on the inside ceiling. It was not the 5V crimp design but the kind that is similar to fiberglass panels design. It looked good unpainted in its application.

 

My friend has the tin on his shop ceiling, and it looks sweet (chrome) and improves the light level because it reflects the light! Somethin to think about

 

OK, where would you get the ceiling 'tin' ?
I haven't seen anything like that at the local building supply stores.

 

The tin I saw being installed was ‘corrugated’ roofing tin available at Lowes and Home Depot and others.