- Width. The standard width of drywall is 4 feet wide, but you can find 54-inch wide sheets. The extra width comes in handy when installing drywall horizontally on walls that are a bit taller than 8 feet.
- Length. Drywall is available in lengths from 8 to 16 feet. Long sheets are easy to unload in a garage and create fewer joints, thus speeding installation significantly.
- Thickness. The standard thickness for drywall installation on walls and ceilings is 1/2 inch. For special applications, 3/8-inch and 1/4-inch drywall are available. Don’t try to save a few bucks installing the thinner stuff in your garage, however; it will be full of holes before you know it.
You can also find 5/8-inch drywall, which offers better sound resistance and is less likely to sag (especially from ceilings with joists or trusses spaced 24 inches). The thicker drywall stands up to impact better and provides more fire resistance than 1/2-inch drywall. It is also quite a bit heavier, which can be especially troublesome for ceiling installations. Impact-resistant drywall is 5/8-inch thick.
Photo © bvincent
Choosing the Right Drywall Sizes
By Jeff Beneke, About.com Guide
Standard drywall sheets measure 4 ft. by 8 ft.
Your drywall installations will go much smoother if you know how to choose among different drywall sizes.
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