I'm building a garage with some living space above it. I'd like to
insulate and cover the walls in the garage area as well. But I'd
rather use something besides wallboard since it is so easily
damaged.
(See the funny but true earlier posting defintion of a table saw as
a
device for shooting lumber into the wall.) Are there any good
alternatives beside 1/4" paneling? That won't break the bank.

*Usually the drywall is required in a garage for fire resistance. When
there is living space above the requirements are more stringent. You
could
increase the thickness of the wallboard for durability or install any
number
of surfaces on top of the drywall. Plywood, OSB or perforated masonite
(Pegboard) are sometimes used.

Yes, I knew there was something about fire resistance involved. I was
hoping that wallboard on just the garage ceiling would satisfy that
requirement. Do you have to have wallboard on the garage walls as
well for fire resistance?

The fire-resistive requirement only kicks in as a separation between
the garage and a living space, so the walls don't need to be rated.
Doesn't necessarily make sense to me, but that's what it is.

R- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

And that basically just means 5/8" on the ceiling, right?



*In NJ it is 1 1/4" ceiling for a living space over a garage. 5/8" on the
walls. A call to your building department will resolve that question.