Drywall question for ATOT builders.

[Cookie]

I built a garage/shop 2 years ago. 30x24. Detached. Drywall is up, but no mudding and taping on both walls and ceiling.

I want to add a heater, but I can't figure out if it's worth the cost to do the mudding and taping first (quoted $1400). The heater will only be used to keep the garage slightly above freezing during the winter. The insulation in the walls is R20, and even with no heat last winter it didn't get below -10 to -15C very often, even when it was -30C outside.

How much heat is going to escape between the drywall cracks if I don't get the mudding and taping done? A lot? Not much?

What would you recommend? Is it going to be worth the 1400 dollars?

 

[RPD]

Depends on how you use the garage or what you keep in there. But if you are going to be conditioning it, insulation is probably going to be a good idea.

 

[summit]

if drywall is up mudding tapping should be relatively easy. why not just put a weekend into it?

 

[vi edit]

You could probably do it yourself for about $200 in materials. But it would take you a full week and you'll never want to see another bucket of mud in your life after it's over.

As for the heat retention...no clue. I'm sure it makes *some* difference, but it's not like drywall tape & mud is exactly non-porous. You probably lose as much or more heat from having crappy windows/doors than you do from the lack of mud & taping.

 

[highland145]

if drywall is up mudding tapping should be relatively easy. why not just put a weekend into it?

No way in hell. It's a skill that takes time to learn and a pita to get there.

I wouldn't bother with the mudding.

 

[Anubis]

find a buddy and give him beer you can mud and tape that in a weekend or 2

 

[Capt Caveman]

No way in hell. It's a skill that takes time to learn and a pita to get there.

I wouldn't bother with the mudding.

Since we're talking about the garage, there isn't the need to spend the time and effort to mud/tap as nicely as you would do a wall inside the house.

I would do it but not care about having smooth seams.

 

[vi edit]

I wonder if you could just get some big ass tubes of that 50 year latex caulking and hit the seams with that. Just run a blade across it to smooth it out.

 

[Cookie]

I have all the materials already. They came with the garage package and have been sitting there 2 years unopened. I have just heard horror stories about how much of a pain in the ass it is! My dad and 3 brothers came down to help me build the entire garage and put the drywall up, but they all said no damn way to the mudding and taping, lol.

I don't mind paying someone professional to do it, I just don't want to bother if it's not going to make a difference in keeping the heat in. Each of the drywall cracks is located where the 2x6s are, so I can't see the heat loss being that big of a deal. Especially like someone said, there are already 2 car doors, 1 man door and 4 windows to let out heat.

 

[Cookie]

I wonder if you could just get some big ass tubes of that 50 year latex caulking and hit the seams with that. Just run a blade across it to smooth it out.

See, THAT I could do no problem!

 

[Cookie]

Since we're talking about the garage, there isn't the need to spend the time and effort to mud/tap as nicely as you would do a wall inside the house.

I would do it but not care about having smooth seams.

I'm tempted now. It doesn't have to look pretty, and at least I'd learn how to do it. And all the materials are sitting there waiting.

 

[highland145]

I'm tempted now. It doesn't have to look pretty, and at least I'd learn how to do it. And all the materials are sitting there waiting.

Good luck. How's your temper? Pics and update please.

 

[DaTT]

I wonder if you could just get some big ass tubes of that 50 year latex caulking and hit the seams with that. Just run a blade across it to smooth it out.

I lol when people call them seams.

 

[momeNt]

If the they are small cracks and you aren't going to be showing it off at the home and garden garage fair, why not run down each line with caulk knife along the cracks to ensure it is in there. Since I doubt mud/tape has any R-value, you are mostly concerned with letting the warm air escape through voids in the walls right?

edit: Seems vi-edit beat me to it.

 

[highland145]

I lol when people call them seams.

Bet you lol when they have to pay you to fix their crappy work.

 

[Cookie]

Good luck. How's your temper? Pics and update please.

LOL.

I'll start on the easy side. I have so many projects going on right now, this one won't happen until November at the earliest. Lots of time to practice my temper! (Or decide the heater works fine and it's not worth the trouble!)

 

[DaTT]

If you don't plan on "finishing" the walls, I would just tape them. Don't worry about coating them and sanding the joints.

If you want a finished wall, then hire someone. It will be cheaper than trying it yourself, then eventually calling someone to fix it.

 

[DaTT]

Bet you lol when they have to pay you to fix their crappy work.

I used to charge much more if there was an "attempt", but it was never a laughing matter

 

[Rumpltzer]

LOL. Caulk.

Watch some videos on taping and mudding. It's a garage, you've already got the materials, and you'll learn to make it pretty by the time you're done. I say go for it.

 

[vi edit]

Is the tape the paper type or the fiberglass mesh? Pro's usually run a skim coat down the seam and then do paper tape from a belt fed dispenser over that line.

Most DIY do mesh tape and then mud over the top of that.

 

[vi edit]

I lol when people call them seams.

Seam, joint. Whateva!

 

[highland145]

Seam, joint. Whateva!

Now that might help me. Mellow while messing up the mud.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I think my garage (26'x24'x10'?) cost me $300 (plus materials, which I provided) to have mud + taped + sanded. Get another estimate.

 

[jagec]

Since the joints are over the 2x4s anyway, and there is insulation in the walls, it will make almost no difference heat-wise.

However, since it's a garage and you don't care if it looks good, it's easy to DIY. It just won't look good.

 

[Cookie]

Thanks for all your responses, and for saving me 1400 dollars. Beers are on me tonight.