The Difference Between Plywood and Drywall
A substantial area and the capacity to store dense supplies are both necessities when it comes to a garage. Therefore, plywood and drywall are the most popular materials for reinforcing the walls of a garage.
When looking at the walls of a garage, Plywood and Drywall are both used to achieve the same goal. At this location, you can keep large machinery, which vary widely in price and operation. In addition, drywall and plywood play an important role in adding to the overall look and texture of your garage.
What Is Plywood?
Plywood is a manufactured material consisting of thin layers of wood. The distinct durability and stability of the material comes from each stratum being glued perpendicularly to the layer underneath it.
There are a range of different types of plywood which all possess unique qualities that make them ideal for different applications.
An illustration of this is coniferous plywood, which has excellent strength and firmness characteristics, rendering it well-suited to use in engineering and industrial settings. Marine plywood is extremely resistant to fungus, splitting and bending when it is exposed to moisture, making it an optimal material for constructing boats.
What Is Drywall?
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, sheetrock, and gypsum board, is often used to put together walls and ceilings in residences. It is much quicker to install drywall rather than plastering, as plastering takes a long time and may take weeks to finish, but drywall can be put up in a fraction of the time.
Gypsum is put between two materials made of thick paperboard to create drywall. It is available in sizable pieces or slabs that can be conveniently trimmed to the proper dimensions for whatever venture is being undertaken.
Gypsum is a non-flammable material that is made up of calcium sulfate dihydrate and has a crumbly texture. This material is often used in construction because of its fire-proof qualities, sound insulation abilities, and it doesn’t transfer heat easily.
Can You Use Plywood Instead of Drywall?
Drywall is typically the go-to option when constructing walls and ceilings.
Drywall has a lot of positive benefits, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the only choice for any building or renovation project.
This article explores the pluses and minuses of utilizing plywood as cladding for ceilings and walls and whether it’s a sensible choice in comparison to drywall for your project.
Plywood can be an alternative to drywall when constructing walls and ceilings. Plywood is both lighter and sturdier than drywall, and it can also withstand more damage. Construction-grade plywood is costlier, but it could be against the local building regulations as it is not as efficient in blocking out sound or fire as drywall.
To quell your doubts over what type of wall to use for your garage, here are the strengths and weaknesses of both Plywood and Drywall:
Strength And Integrity Plywood Vs Drywall
In order to hold shelves or items of substantial weight, it is necessary to bore into the drywall to ensure the stability and dependability of the structure. In order to affix shelves and mount things to your drywall, you will need to make holes using a drill. This should be done by piercing the wooden studs that keep the wall secure. Making holes in the wall can cause a huge mess and eventually destroy its neat appearance.
Using Plywood Garage Walls is a much neater option. Using plywood to cover your walls will give your structure more stability. Using toggle bolts instead of drilling into drywall enables it to bear much more weight.
Make Things Simple
One could attach objects to the plywood walls with no difficulty and without affecting the wall below it. Plywood Garage Walls are beneficial for garages and storage rooms where homeowners often display their tools, shelves, awards, apparatus, etc.
The superior durability of plywood as compared to drywall is evidenced by its ability to resist dents and other forms of damage. Tools, sharp objects, and careless handling of equipment can really mess up the appearance of your drywall. This does not happen with the heavy duty plywood.
Installation Difficulty
Homeowners often face the challenge of putting in a drywall or plywood. Drywall falters in this aspect. A 4-by-8 sheet of drywall typically weighs between 20 and 30 pounds more than usual. This is in contrast to the same size made of plywood.
The heaviness of drywall makes the installation process laborious, so it typically takes two people to complete the job just due to the material’s weight. Installing drywall requires significant effort on various aspects such as adhering tape, applying joint compound and finally sanding the joints to obtain a smooth finish once the process is done.
Drywall installation is a laborious process and it can be tricky for someone who lacks experience to complete it successfully.
Plywood installation is quite the opposite, however. No taping or joint compound is necessary in most cases when installing boards; just caulking the gaps between them should be enough to complete the job successfully. Choosing plywood for your garage wall is the logical solution from an installation standpoint.
Fire Hazard Safety
If you want to ensure safety from fire, drywall is the optimal choice. Drywall has a much thicker substance than plywood, which gives it a superior ability to resist fire. Drywall consists of gypsum and crystallized water. By incorporating crystallized water, this material can endure considerable heat, making it a prime choice for wall construction in garages to guarantee safety.
In California, walls between an attached garage and the living space must meet a 1-hour fire protection rating as specified by the residential building code. This relates to any space that is surrounded and located above the stairs. This means that one should put up framing studs with a one-inch thick sheet of fireproof drywall according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Typically, plywood does not meet the necessary fire-resistance standards due to its flammable characteristics. Even if one’s locality isn’t mandated by the laws regarding residential construction, many homeowners tend to favor drywall over plywood. This offers extra security and safety if a fire ever occurs.
It is necessary to consult the local building government to obtain information regarding the laws and regulations regarding having plywood as the only interior completion.
Different Types Of Finish
In terms of aesthetic appeal, plywood and drywall have totally distinct finishes.
Wood panels of plywood provide a decorative woodgrain pattern that adds dimensionality, along with a cozy atmosphere, to any area.
Conversely, drywall can give a level, white-colored finish that does not have any wood patterning. The bonus of using drywall is that it’s like having an empty slate.
You can use any kind of paint and any kind of finish to get the desired painted result.
What Is The Best Paint For Garage Walls?
Stains, matte, semi-gloss and eggshell all provide outstanding results. Satin has a silky feel but does not have the intense shine of semi-gloss; making it easier to clean. Choose a hue that is not overly bright and doesn’t clash with its surroundings.
Plywood walls offer a restricted range of options, but each of them have a distinctive and attractive look. Having a piece of cabinet- or furniture-grade hardwood plywood with a finishing layer looks attractive. MDF-core plywood with a hardwood veneer and a clear top coat gives a modern and stylish aesthetic that still gives off a comfortable feeling. Drywall is a conventional way of completing the interior of a building and has a variety of finishes one can choose from, such as the popular knock-down and orange peel textures.
Why Wouldn’t You Use Plywood Instead of Drywall?
It was previously mentioned that one of the main advantages of drywall is that it has a higher fire resistance than plywood.
Certain local building regulations call for walls to be resistant to fire for a period of an hour, which is something that cannot be accomplished utilizing plywood alone. In comparison, 5/8″ drywall is compliant with building regulations, thus making it the most reasonable option for such scenarios.
One of the reasons people choose drywall instead of plywood is the cost factor. Many people are deterred from using plywood for their projects due to its higher price tag than that of drywall.
The surface finish of plywood and drywall vary significantly from one another. Drywall is an appealing choice for many due to its capability to give a level, primed surface that can be easily painted. Drywall’s paper exterior has a natural resistance to moisture, so painting it is much simpler and doesn’t require the use of sealers or varnishes.
In contrast, plywood doesn’t always work well on inner walls due to its rough grain texture.
In order to get a polish finish for a plywood wall, either taking the time to patch up the walls followed by sanding it, or applying a skim coat is necessary. However, such lengthy processes may not be alright for those wanting an instant or uncomplicated result.
A multiple-layer coating of paint and varnish is needed to get the desired end product since plywood’s surface is extremely porous.
The desiccated gypsum in drywall renders it tremendously soundproof, which lessens sound better and grants more positive acoustic atmospheres.
Made up of just wood, plywood is more rigid and will permit sound to travel between rooms easily.
It is not wise to employ plywood as a surface material for walls or ceilings in spaces where moisture is present, like bathrooms, kitchens, or cellars.
You should always try to prevent plywood from buckling, expanding, and cracking due to high levels of moisture. When plywood gets wet, it can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms which may not be secure and can take a lot of effort to fix or replace.
Can You Use Plywood for Walls?
There is a variety of plywood available to purchase, making it easy to select the correct type of wood for the task you are undertaking.
No matter what you need plywood for, such as walls, structures, furniture, or boats, you will certainly be able to locate a kind that is suitable for your job.
Looking at interior walls specifically, here is some more guidance on choosing the right type of plywood:
What Type of Plywood Is Used for Interior Walls?
When it comes to walls on the inside of a building, it is important to use plywood that is of a high quality suitable for building projects.
Wood spruce plywood is a great selection for both dividing walls and walls designed to offer support to weight.
You want to shoot for at least a half-inch thick as the typical required thickness, but it is a good idea to check what building regulations and codes are in your location just in case they require something different.
Based on the structure of the building, it might be wise to look for a construction-quality plywood that is a bit thicker.
If you opt to use plywood as a covering instead of the actual wall, you would likely only need to use pieces that are around a quarter of an inch thick.
Should You Use Plywood or Drywall for Ceilings?
A ceiling could be made out of either plywood or drywall. It is important to remember that the reasons we have discussed such as fire-proofing, soundproofing costs, and strength are still relevant and should be thought through carefully when making a decision.
Though drywall is typically the preferred material for ceilings, plywood is still occasionally used in certain circumstances.
You have the option to put plywood right on top of the existing ceiling material or use the material as a foundation and attach the plywood to the ceiling joists. Putting it on the current ceiling surface will be faster and more efficient in terms of energy, which will cut down the expense on heating.
There are a variety of techniques you can use to customize the appearance of a plywood ceiling. If you want a more refined look, you can use tape or putty and then add a coat of paint in the shade of your choosing to the ceiling. Even though it won’t be the same consistency as a level drywall ceiling, it will produce the same final, polished appearance.
You might want to use wooden trims rather than filler or tape to achieve a more industrial-style look. Leave the wood grain texture exposed by protecting it with a coat of clear varnish. The end result has a much rougher appearance than a completely complete ceiling, so it is something that might not be liked by everyone since it is an acquired preference.
In contrast, drywall has a pleasingly even-textured finish which is preferred by many. Once the panels are installed and the seams sealed, the surface is ready to be painted in the desired shade without needing to apply a sealant or primer.
Things To Keep In Mind While Soundproofing Your Wall
Some steps to take in order to soundproof your wall include: Make sure to do a perfect job with drywall, MDF, and MLV.
Add Additional Layers Of Drywall
Wallboard is generally the most economical and suitable option for developing a noise-proof wall. If you only have one sheet of drywall, it won’t be of much help. It is likely necessary to have at least two layers of material in order to achieve sound proofing in your garage. You can investigate other design rules such as spacing out the studs to make the wall even more efficient at blocking out sound.
Fix A Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Sheet
You could also consider putting Mass Loaded Vinyl between the two sheets of drywall. This is usually a very dense material which substantially reduces sound vibrations.
Although MLV is pricey, you can calculate the outlay and what influence it has on the final amount. If it’s not within your budget, you should choose drywall instead.
Use Green Glue
Choose Green Glue, a product that is becoming increasingly popular for soundproofing projects. If you’re constructing a double layer drywall structure, or inserting different materials in the middle, using Green Glue is recommended.
