Gypsum sheathing, also known as drywall, is a lightweight and cost-effective option for exterior sheathing. It is made from a core of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of paper, providing good fire resistance and sound insulation. Exterior wall sheathing has various purposes depending on the type of sheathing used. Structural sheathing is designed to strengthen the walls of the home or building it’s installed on by tying together the wall studs, increasing the strength and rigidity of the structure.
Exterior Gypsum Sheathing is recommended for use in residential or commercial buildings, providing fire resistance and additional structural strength when used under exterior. It is a water-resistant product designed for attachment to exterior side-wall framing as an underlayment for various exterior siding materials such as wood, metal, vinyl siding, and masonry. While more frequently used in multifamily residential construction, exterior Gypsum Sheathing also provides the same advantages to builders of single-family homes.
Ready mix products are not approved for exterior use, but Direct-applied Exterior Finish Systems (DEFS) can be applied to any of these soffit substrates: XP® gypsum boards, eXP® gypsum panels, or gypsum boards. Gyp sheathing was widely used as exterior sheathing for many years, but is still available and used rarely. Exterior Gypsum Sheathing is designed for direct attachment to wood framing with galvanized nails or staples and screws, or metal framing by the use of screws.
Gypsum sheathing is cost-efficient and easy to install, with a gypsum core sandwiched between fiberglass mats. It enhances the performance of exterior walls to better resist air and water infiltration, mold, and other issues.
📹 18 Types of Drywall Explained | DIY For Beginners
This video explains the different types of drywall available, including lightweight, fire-rated, and moisture-resistant options. The presenter discusses the various thicknesses, sizes, and applications of each type, providing tips for choosing the right drywall for your project.
What type of plywood is used for exterior walls?
It is widely acknowledged that exterior panels bearing a “CC” grade or above are generally accepted as being of a superior quality. Examples of such products include BC Tongue and Groove (T&G) Underlayment, AB Marine Grade plywood, and CC Struct1 plywood.
Can drywall be used for exterior?
The author discusses the use of drywall as an exterior siding material, arguing against the use of stucco, fiber cement, engineered wood, or vinyl. They suggest installing exterior rated drywall like Densglass, taped with joint compound and Fibafuse, and painted with a few coats of paint. The author also mentions using drywall for patio ceilings and walls, but questions whether they should go with stucco due to the difficulty in finding contractors for small projects and the author’s personal limitations in building a house. The author believes that using drywall is a more suitable option for their needs.
What material is used for exterior sheathing?
Plywood sheathing is a type of wood sheathing made from cross-laminated sheets, providing strength and stiffness for expansion and contraction. It is 15-19% lighter and has good moisture resistance. Oriented strand board (OSB) is a durable panel sheathing made from hundreds of thin wood strands hot pressed onto sheets with a wax and resin adhesive. OSB panels are dense and solid, with no soft spots, and do not breath or redistribute water as well as plywood.
OSB is often cheaper but has more volatile pricing. Waferboard sheathing is a manufactured product made by placing small pieces of wood scraps in a hydraulic press and gluing. Although cheaper, waferboard is weaker and less resistant to water.
What type of drywall for exterior walls?
Purple board drywall exhibits high resistance to moisture and mold, rendering it an appropriate choice for exterior buildings and high-traffic areas. The material is resistant to dents and scratches, rendering it well-suited for use on ceilings and walls. The price of this product is approximately 30% higher than that of regular drywall, and it is manufactured by Gold Bond®. This product is optimal for use in bathrooms, kitchens, finished basements, and laundry rooms. It is not a generic drywall option.
What is the best sheathing for exterior walls?
Plywood is a popular material for external structural sheathing, consisting of multiple thin layers of wood laid in opposite directions. This creates a more stable and structurally sound sheath for the exterior. Plywood is easy to install, placing it vertically flush with the building’s edge and using 2-inch nails 6 inches apart on the edges and 12 inches apart on the center. It is more dimensionally stable than OSB and does not require spacing between sheets.
To ensure proper installation, start the next row at least 3 stud bays off from the first and mark door and window openings with tick marks. For best installation practices, use house wrap over the plywood before installing the siding.
How thick should exterior sheathing be?
To ensure a safe and energy-efficient home, it is essential to determine if the house is in a hurricane-prone or high-wind area and select the appropriate thickness for wood structural sheathing panels. A minimum thickness of 7/16″ is recommended, with exceptions for gable end walls. Shear walls, made of plywood or OSB, are designed to resist wind loads and prevent the structure from laterally racking, displacing, or overturning during high-wind or seismic events.
Shear walls are composed of braced panels that counteract the effects of lateral load acting on a structure. Proper anchorage or connection can help meet national programs such as DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home program, ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes, and Indoor airPLUS.
How thick should exterior wall sheathing be?
The minimum thickness for gable end walls structural sheathing is 3/8 of an inch, with the exception of 7/16 of an inch.
What is exterior plywood sheathing?
A fully sheathed wall of plywood or OSB, connected to the foundation and roof, acts as a strong barrier against hurricanes, tornadoes, and high wind events. Shear walls are designed to resist wind loads, which are the most common loads. Proper anchorage or connection prevents the shear walls and the rest of the structure from laterally racking, displacing, or overturning during high-wind or seismic events. New construction and retrofit opportunities offer opportunities to upgrade exterior structural sheathing to meet building codes and standards.
The International Residential Code (IRC) requires exterior building components and their attachments to resist design wind-pressures. For high-wind regions, the IRC requires wind design in accordance with other methods, such as the International Building Code (IBC). Homes in coastal high-wind areas, including Hurricane-Prone Regions, generally require enhanced attachment to withstand greater wind speeds than the rest of the country.
What is exterior drywall called?
Exterior Gypsum Sheathing is a water-resistant product used for attaching to exterior side-wall framing as an underlayment for various siding materials. It is made with a wax-treated, water-resistant core and water-repellent paper on both surfaces and long edges. Available in 1/2″ and 5/8″ thickness, it is suitable for fire-rated assemblies and contains no asbestos. American Gypsum’s gypsum wallboard is also available.
Can drywall be used as exterior sheathing?
Gypsum Sheathing is a drywall panel with a moisture-resistant core and glass-mat facers on both front and back surfaces and long edges. It is manufactured in various thicknesses and lengths, with the standard being ASTM C1177. Gypsum Sheathing is a cost-efficient exterior substrate in commercial construction and is increasingly popular in single-family construction due to its performance advantages.
Its specially treated core and glass mat facers provide a water and air infiltration barrier when applied as part of a home’s exterior wall assembly, and also protect the product during construction when periodic weather exposure can occur before the complete envelope enclosure. The popularity of Gypsum Sheathing is growing due to its cost-efficiency and performance advantages.
Can drywall be used externally?
Durock, a concrete board with embedded fiberglass mesh, may be a suitable alternative to water-resistant drywall, as it demonstrates resistance to mold growth following the initial precipitation event.
📹 The Cost of Wood Walls vs Drywall – $$$
This video compares the cost of installing wood walls versus drywall. The creator explains the cost per square foot of each material and discusses the pros and cons of each option. They also address the weight difference between wood and drywall and whether it’s a concern.
Well first off, check and see if applying any type of wood directly to the studs is even legal in your area. I was a licensed home builder for more than forty years. I knew a guy who was a carpenter and built his own home. It turned out very nice, and looked very nice from the outside. However, it ended up as a tragedy beyond belief. He had put wood paneling on all of the interior walls, attached directly to the wood framing. After living in the home for a few years with his family, one night while all of them were in bed the house caught on fire. Long story short, the entire family perished in that house. It became an inferno according to eye witnesses. Almost immediately there were changes to the local building code, requiring drywall be installed under all wood paneling. A few years later the property was sold, and our company built a new home for the new property owner. Just saying.
I see that many others commenting have the same question as me: What are the OVERALL costs between manufactured,prefinished wood T&G vs. finished and painted drywall. Have you calculated the “finished cost”? I think the differential would shrink quite a bit between these 2 options. Once the wood is installed, you’re done, and you never need to touch it again. I am trying to convince someone building a new house that the cost difference is not that much…..I’m pushing for wood! thanks for your article!
Labour cost differences are hugely favorable to T&G. With drywall you have the labour to install, mud, sand, prime and paint. With wood you nail and you are done. For a DIYer the time can be a significant difference. Plus the finished product is easier to guarantee for an amateur with wood. Proper drywall and mudding is a big skill to get it uniform and flawless. Same with painting.
Drywall: Cost of the drywall Mud Tape Corner beading Drywall screws Drywall texture (if used) Wood Strapping (if used) Drywall primer/sealer Paint T&G carsiding cost of the carsiding (buy from a lumber yard, not a big box home improvement center) brad nails sealer sanding disks The cost of T&G carsiding is slightly higher but takes FAR less labor than a quality drywall job. Mudding, sanding, sealing and priming, and painting is a massive amount of work. Pine carsiding is trivial by comparison, even if you have to do some light sanding and seal the wood with something like polycrylic.
Most people trade their time to work for money to pay for a mortgaged home where others have installed and finished drywall (so they too may pay for their own mortgages). If Doug and Ashley choose to skip the middlemen and directly trade their time for building their own home mortgage free then cost doesn’t really matter, especially if they gain more of what they want instead of compromising for a vanilla box. All money is just an economic battery that stores energy. You can either charge your battery with work or just work directly on what the money would buy.
Thank you so very much for sharing this information with us. I love what you are doing. This is all so perfect for you all! Don’t worry about what other people think. This is for you and your family. Also many years down the road someone will be extremely blessed to get this work of art. The craftmanship will be much better than what most people will have. Thank you for blessing us with these articles!!!
Wood is beautiful, and it smells beautiful. Wood all day long if it’s in your budget. I remember my uncles cabin up in the woods by a lovely river, all knotty pine. Between the smell of the pine and the woods with that running river, the place was magical I think y’all are making some magic there. 😉
Great article on a topic I’ve actually been searching recently. I’d like to add a bit to what you said. Yes, wood costs more initially than drywall, and custom wood (the way you’re doing it specifically) costs more than stock T & G from a big box store. However, there are places that specifically mill several types of shiplap or T & G out of solid wood and their price may be better than doing it yourself. That might be another option, depending on where people live. Also, many blogs and articles point out that the cost of the major material isn’t the whole story. With drywall, in addition to the cost of screws, tape, mud, and the like, you have to factor in the cost of labour. If you can tape and mud drywall yourself and have it look professional, more power to you. Many, many people cannot. If you pay to have drywall installed but DIY installing T & G (which is simpler), the drywall may well be more expensive at the end of the day. Drywall is also heavy and comes in large, inflexible sheets. I am looking at using either shiplap or T & G (solid wood, not MDF) to rebuild the interior of an addition to my rural home that had to be gutted after major water damage this year. As a widow, driving a smaller vehicle, and with a limited budget, I can buy smaller amounts at a time and put them up by myself. I would need to hire someone to do drywall for me. Drywall would cost more all at once, while wood could be stretched out over time. It just seems to make a lot of sense, although I may end up doing a limited amount of drywalling as well, for the esthetic (not sure I really want shiplap or T & G on my bedroom ceiling, for example).
You’re doing great with all your building, hardware and accessories in the house. Turning an old battered half rotten house into a bespoke hand made old style with modern amenities coming out great. The house at the end will surpass the value of all the houses around you in your neighbourhood if and when you ever decide to resell it in the future.
Why would anybody in their right mind want to do this? First off the density and sound transmission between drywall and wood or vastly different. Drywall helps muffle the sound. Otherwise this is a stupid YouTube article. And you really should spend your 8 minutes doing other things besides editing your article down to 8 minutes cuz I’m sure it took you a lot longer to make this. Besides the time you wasted of the person holding camera. You really should listen to there and play as well. Get away from me clickbait
The cost compared to what you want in a look, to me is a no brainer. You could have put used newspaper on the walls as a cover, but it isn”t the look you want. So I say, if you can afford a one time cost, go for it! It does look really good. A lot of work, but worth it in the end. Thanks for sharing.
The presentation made perfect sense, I guess it comes down to you only get what you pay for, or put another ways, if you want a specific look then you have to pay the money to get what you want. On balance, it is usually best to go for what you really wanted, second best is never going to make most people happy, it will always be seen as the disappointing result to be replaced when possible. Save up, do it right, do it once, is always best for most people.
Good rundown but at the end of the day it comes down to what you want to accomplish for the end result. Preference for your aesthetic. There are so many variables, you could think of combinations all day lol. I love the way you are going for a sympathetic look of the house and its age. I’m loving your journey.
You did a very good comparison of wood vs drywall. I totally agree with all your reasons to use wood. I love the fact that you are not “restoring” an old home, but “rebuilding” an old home. You are bringing in your vision while keeping the idea of an old Florida “cracker” home. That deep mahogany colored wood already in the home is really beautiful and I’m glad you are mixing visually pleasing lighter colors that are still appropriate to the era of the home. Keep up the good work as usual.
Board and batten is another wood wall technique that would be fitting for the style of your house and would be a bit less work and still very beautiful. You could use the wood that’s currently in the living room for the other bedrooms and do board and batten in the living room for a more calming look.
I have a crazy question.. I noticed on the wall boards, which look wonderful by the way. you painted only one side. M :y question is Do you think in time with the high humidity there that the boards will warp or twist? Just curious i am trying to do a mobile home on the cheap and worry about everything because i am just learning. i learn a lot rom you two. keep up the great articles.
My mom’s walls are true 1″ thick tongue and groove and I love that you can hang anything on them and not have to worry about finding a stud! I’m sure back when these houses were built lumber was a lot cheaper than now but makes them a lot sturdier in my opinion! Love the way your renovations are coming out!
Hi Doug, I feel like the wood looks so much better than drywall would, and I understand the cost of wood verses drywall, and so awesome that you created the tongue and groove, I feel like you are doing such an amazing job with your walls. Thanks for a great article and I hope that your week coming up is a good one and I will be excited to see you next article, take care sending love and hugs, bye for now. 😂😉🤗💜
I know better than to ever put myself in the position of having an online crowd critique my choices. I would definitely advise them ‘it’s my house – not yours – so let it go’. If they persisted – well, without hesitation I would be very vocal and informative. Ashley and Doug are very gracious and tolerant. I find myself wanting to jump in and defend them but I have to remember they are adults and definitely are capable of handling the crabby commenters – plus it’s their website, not mine.
I think wood ages well over drywall. I know in some areas drywall is sometimes required for fire resistance. My dad and I tore down 2 old 1850s houses and salvaged the lumber and sheathing from it. We have sold a lot of the wide 12-20 inch boards to someone who is remodeling their house, after it is planed and stained, it looks beautiful.
I actually hate drywall and plaster walls. When ever you try to hang things on them, it seems like you always have to figure out what you need to do to hang those items. I had steel mesh underneath the plaster walls in my home. It was almost impossible to hang anything because there weren’t any wood beems. It was easy to crack the wall when trying to put a nail up to hang a picture. Now I have a manufactured home and have drywall with seams. I suppose I could put beadboard walls up, but I do not plan on thta much of an expense in a home I don’t want to continue living at anyway. Ideally, winning the lottery and building a new home to my specifications might work out the best for me. I am buying one lottery ticket a week ($2.00), so at least winning is a possibility, though a small possibility, lol! At least it’s fun imagining what I would do with the winnings.
You know, I don’t have any strong opinions about dry wall vs wood but even if I did, it doesn’t matter. This is your house, your design preference, and your money, none of my business. But I do appreciate your willingness to go to the trouble of explaining the cost differences for those who want to know. And I do love the tongue and groove look of your walls, they are beautiful.
A true commitment to ur design style. That’s a design must. I know when we were having r house built I had to accept changes that I didn’t like. It sucked and the end product wasn’t as nice as my original design. Even if u have to take ur time and buy stuff in intervals it’s worth it. U did a great job explaining the cost. Hi Ashley. I know ur in touch with the comments and I don’t want to leave u out.
Hi Doug Thanks for the comparison. Why do people not get that this is your house. You’re going to be living there. So it should be the way you want it. If cost isn’t a factor for you, it shouldn’t be for us I like that your trying to keep with the original character of the house. I would have too I say, on with the Doug & Ashley house renovation I for one will be here to see whatever you do. Wishing you the best Stay strong and safe
Your area: self made t&g pine: 4*144 = 4 sq ft = $3.75/sq ft – 8.3x more than drywall, 1.5x more than 5.5″ pine store bought t&g pine: 5.5*144 = 5.5 sq ft = $2.54/sq ft – 5.6x more than drywall 1/2″ drywall: 48*96 = 32 sq ft = $.45/sq ft In my area (Pacific northwest): self made t&g pine: 4*120 = 3.3 sq ft = $3.27/sq ft store bought t&g pine: 9.33 sq feet for $15.97 (3.5″ boards) = $1.71/sq ft 1/2″ drywall: $15.98 each, so $.49/sq ft
Great explanation. And….it matches the wood in the rest of the house and that was your original intention, to have it all match. I like the wood walls, seems so much more practical for every day living, scuffs less, more durable, so many good reason. I would think it would be more energy efficient and certainly more quiet, and looks very nice. The cost is up front and it’s what you want, so why not!
Hi DIYfferent family! This is a good article! 👍. I love your website, your renovations, your choices for YOUR home and your family. It amazes me how people come here to disagree with you. It’s your house, your choice and your money! It doesn’t matter honestly if they don’t like it or agree, they don’t have to live with it! Keep moving forward! Thank you for sharing your website with us! You are doing a fantastic job!
When you want a certain look/style, you do what needs to be done to achieve it. It’s always worth doing. Seeing your work day in and out, it better be what you like and wanted. Keep up the excellent work it looks awesome. I will be doing this on one great wall in my studio. NO MORE YUKY drywall, lol. We enjoy perusal your articles a lot. GOD bless you all .
i think just comparing the cost without seeing the added potential for wood is kinda misleading. Usually with drywall you need extra tools to atleast put the boards in the ceiling, you spend money to finish the seams, and god forbid you try to hang anything heavier than a paper on drywall. Another added bonus is that wood is a warm material, and even acts a little as insulation.
Well worth the cost difference when you can afford it. So much more character and much more durable. The finish difference, to me, is worth it. I can do that kind of finish wayyyy easier and faster than drywall mud and make it look much better lol. Great article Doug. Very informative for homeowners, especially those thinking of doing the same in their homes. Where we are in SC, people think it’s all the same. When they get a price 10x drywall they freak out. Lol. Missed the “see ya” outro 🤪
Sorry this question isn’t related to this article . Can we have a question and answer article soon? It’s been a while. What are you going to do with the propane tank you moved from outside your home? I really liked the idea of Belle painting it yellow (little yellow submarine😉) as a previous viewer suggested and set it by the pond like near a made pier ( did I just suggest another project for you 👀🤣) just for some fun Whimsey 😁
When the wood gets on the wall you are done. Dry wall has to be hung, screwed, tapped, mudded, sanded then painted. Never mind the mess of it. Dry wall dust is gross. If I had to choose, I would go wood. No question. Plus it’s what YOU wanted. Don’t see anyone helping you guys do the work or pay but they sure have a lot of opinions.
If anything the wood should help help your house stronger and it shouldn’t blow way in a hurricane. Wirhout the pandemic economy it would have been a tiny bit cheaper. I use the pine 4 inch to 12 Inch boards in my business projects I have been having trouble selling because the final price is so high.
The other thing is drywall is such a pain to put up and when you hire someone that cost goes up dramatically, my grandson has been trying to put up drywall and he hates it not the actual putting it up the mudding is what he hates, he says trying to smooth it out it seems it never gets smooth enough lol! Your houses is looking nice I love the wood!
Thanks for the breakdown, Doug. I hadn’t wondered about that too much, but it’s still good to be informed. I love just about anything that’s pre-drywall, so the expense to me, if one can afford it, is the way to go. Plaster, tongue & groove, etc., are all bonuses, IMO. IF we have to do another remodel that involves drywall, I want to try to go thicker than the standard half inch, as well as keep adding insulation. Our media/rec room in the basement is a space where I’d consider it. We just had our garage walls completed (1 wall + around garbage door were studs only,) and that was 5/8″. We left the original 5/8″ in place, and had it retaped, patched, & remudded. It feels better to me than half inch – a bit closer to plaster on how it sounds when you tap on it. Gosh, I miss plaster. Looking forward to next vid.
I live in Maine and have some larger wite pine mills near. I have bought shorts under 6′ mixed very cheaply in the past. You may want to look for a plne mill within 200 miles and see what the price is for units approx 1000-2000 board feet and are sold by board foot so 3′ of 1×4 is 1 board foot . Yu are paying 3.50/board foot now.
Maybe you mentioned it and I missed it, but your time and labor is worth a boatload of money as well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you are not afraid of a challenge or not doing things the easiest way. Not sure what that means, but hey…lol… I have been a long time follower and you guys are always entertaining and intriguing, take care, stay hydrated and rock on!!!👍
I love the wood you’ve been putting up but I’ll say for my own personal taste (which in no way am I judging your taste as I love it), I would not like it in every room. I find a little fancy goes a long way. Again my personal taste. You do you because it’s all yours in vision, cost and home. I think it’s going to finish out fabulous and can’t wait for my open house invite to arrive. 😂❤️. I will bring a house warming gift and y’all can come see me at my mini farm in East Tennessee at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Hi Doug, Whatever floats the boat is what I say. Lol. Do what makes YOU happy! I personally love the wood ❤️ Plus anything that has your hands on it will turn out awesome no matter what it is! Shew I’m still sitting up here pondering/dreaming how I can get you to build my house,,,,😂🤣😅 Hey nothing wrong with dreaming, right? Lol Hugs to each of you and God Bless ❤️
I’m a reseller and I have 4, two panel doors like that. Mine are older with door plates and skeleton keyholes. I also have French doors and an adorable small closet door that came from the same home. I could have hooked you up with a bedroom door. : | If you get to missing the snow this winter… lol They’re here in N. Indiana.
some sorts of wood (cedar) actually repels bugs, one big downside would be that in case of a fire the fire would spread verry fast throughout the house, might want to consider installing a sprinkler type suppression system 34vejk25im7w1ivf952ghqzd-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sprinkler.jpg
Off topic of article, but have been trying to find it, what is model of the full mask filtration system you use? If it is available on amazon, can you send an affiliate link for it? Just bought a house to work on, and prefer that over just masks for easier breathing and overall face protection as well. Thanks.
I know whatever you use, it will be beautiful. The house must be saying “Ahhhhhh!” Making it an awesome place to live; I love all the things you’ve done so far. Especially the glass doorknobs. My grandmothers house had those and it was so cool seeing you use them! Best wishes to you and the family. Darla
Drywall to finish needs mud and tape. People need to remember that, plus the cost of screws and the time it takes. Yes the wood is more expensive but they’re different products. Have to include the total on the drywall because it’s not finished just hanging it. Your wood is done when you hang it. Add in the price of someone doing the drywall professionally it isn’t cheap. The wood will out live drywall. Quality vs quantity.