How to Prepare Your Home for Garage & Lanai Drywall
Before garage drywall starts, empty the perimeter of the garage, move the cars out, and make sure nothing behind the walls is wet or unfinished. That is most of it. Your garage drywall cost starts from $1200 per garage, and good preparation is the cheapest way to make sure the job takes the two to three days it should, not longer. Here is what to do, in order.
What do I need to move out of the garage?
Everything that touches a wall or sits under the ceiling area we are working on.
- Both cars, if they fit outside for a few days.
- Shelving units, racks, pegboard and anything screwed to the studs. Take down what you can; if something is bolted on, tell us before we arrive.
- Bikes, ladders, lawn gear and boxes stacked against the perimeter.
- Loose items in the middle that could get dusted or knocked into.
If you cannot empty the whole garage, aim for a clear four to five feet around the walls and a clear floor under the ceiling. The more we have to move, the more time it takes. When the walls are bare studs, boarding is faster than you would think, and a cluttered room is the main thing slowing it down.
What about the garage door, the opener and the wiring?
Leave the garage door opener where it is, but tell us where it is mounted so we can board around it. Check that outlets, switches and any new wiring are finished and tested before the board goes up. Once the wall is closed, changes mean cutting it open again. If you want a new outlet, a light, or a run for a mini-split, do it first.
Is the wall between garage and house ready?
This is the part to check before we arrive. The wall shared with the house and any ceiling under living space generally need 5/8-inch type X board with the joints finished. Look for holes where pipes or wires pass through, and make sure nothing structural is missing or damaged. Tell us about anything you are unsure of. If you want to know what board is likely to be needed, text us a photo and we will tell you what we see. Your local building department has the final word on requirements.
What should I check on a lanai before it is boarded?
A lanai conversion is a high-humidity wall assembly, so the checks are about moisture.
- Look for staining, soft spots or mould on any existing wall or on the framing behind it.
- Check the windows and the point where the enclosure meets the house for leaks. Hose-test if you can.
- Ask whoever enclosed it what the wall is made of and how moisture was handled.
We use moisture-resistant board where it belongs on lanai enclosure drywall jobs, and we will say where we think a vapour problem is being built in rather than solved. If the walls are damp, fix the cause first. Board over a wet wall is wasted money.
Will the dust get into my house?
Not if it is done properly. On every interior job we run plastic, zip walls and a HEPA vac, not a bedsheet over the doorway. You can help by closing the door between the garage and the house, and taping or covering any vents on the garage side. Switch off the air handler if the return is anywhere near the work. Ask any contractor how they handle dust before you hire; see How to Hire for Drywall Repair Without Getting Burned for the other questions worth asking.
What does the schedule look like?
| Step | What happens | Roughly how long |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-through | We confirm board type, ceiling, texture | Before booking, from your photos |
| Boarding | Board hung on walls and ceiling | Day one |
| Taping and first coat | Joints taped and first compound | Day one into two |
| Second and third coats | Compound applied and dried between coats | Day two into three |
| Sanding and texture | Sanded smooth, texture matched if the garage adjoins finished space | Final day |
Most single garages finish in two to three days including drying time. Humid weather slows drying, so we plan around it rather than rushing a coat. Larger garages, tall ceilings and heavy ceiling work add days. For why timing varies, see How Long Does Drywall Repair Take?
Do I need to be home?
Not the whole time, but someone should be reachable by text. We will need the garage open on arrival and a spot to run a vac and set up. Tell us about pets, a shared driveway or access limits, such as an HOA gate code.
What about texture and paint?
If the garage adjoins finished space, we match the house texture, knockdown or orange peel. If it is purely a garage, we leave it clean and simple. Decide before we start which you want. Paint is a separate step; the board needs a day or two to cure after the last coat before it takes paint well.
How do I get a price before I prepare anything?
Text photos of the garage or lanai to (352) 561-3616: a wide shot of each wall, the ceiling and anything that looks damp. You get a price from the photos without waiting at home for a two-hour window, and the quote is free.
Need this done rather than read about?
Cavender Drywall does garage & lanai drywall across Central Florida.
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