Standard drywall will usually suffice for garages, as well as most of the rest of the house, but there are occasions when a specialized drywall product is more suitable. Here are some of the major alternatives.
- Moisture-Resistant Drywall. Commonly called “green board” because of its green-paper face, moisture-resistant drywall is used primarily in bathrooms, basements, and around kitchen sinks and laundry rooms. Newer products like USG’s Mold Tough are particularly resistant to mold.
Moisture-resistant drywall is not waterproof. Instead, it has special additives in the paper coating and the gypsum core allowing it to stand up better to a moist environment. Like all drywall products, it should be finished and painted to provide the best performance and appearance.
- Fire-Resistant Drywall. Fire-resistant drywall should be used wherever fire is a bigger than normal concern. It is often recommended, and sometimes even required, in garages, rooms with furnaces and in multifamily buildings. Fire-resistant drywall is not fireproof, but it will withstand higher temperatures than standard drywall before burning.
- Abuse-Resistant Drywall. Abuse-resistant drywall is most often used in commercial construction. The 5/8-inch thick panels are treated to better resist impact and penetration. It is definitely worth considering for use in a garage or other room that will be used regularly as a workshop or play room (pool cues and long two-by-fours seem to love poking holes in drywall).
