Garage-to-House Walls & Ceilings
Board and sealing on the wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the house, where the Code wants a continuous gas-tight barrier.
No range: we found no two independent published prices for garage-wall work.
Find a Drywall ContractorAbout Garage-to-House Walls & Ceilings
The Building Code's rule for an attached garage that serves only your home is a gas barrier, not a fire rating. Where a garage serves only the dwelling it is attached to, it is considered part of that dwelling and the fire separation "need not be provided" (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.10.9.18.(3)). What is required is an air barrier system between the garage and the rest of the house "to provide an effective barrier to gas and exhaust fumes" (9.10.9.18.(4)).
Every door between the garage and the house must be tight-fitting and weather-stripped and have a self-closing device, and it may not open into a room intended for sleeping (9.10.13.15). The Code also says interior finish need not be applied to garage walls (9.35.4.1.(1)).
Many builders use taped and sealed drywall to form that gas barrier; what the Code requires is that the barrier is continuous and its joints and penetrations, such as wiring, boxes, pipes and ducts, are sealed (9.25.3.3). These are Building Code minimums for new work; ask the City how they apply to your renovation.
Changing the door opening between the garage and the house may be permit work (the City's list includes enlarging or relocating a door): ask the City first. We found no two independent published prices for this work, so no range is shown.
What This Work Covers
- Continuous, sealed barrier between the garage and the house
- Penetrations (wiring, boxes, pipes, ducts) sealed
- Door tight-fitting, weather-stripped, self-closing
- Holes in the garage-side wall and ceiling patched and sealed
- Permit asked about if the door opening changes
Popular For
Common questions about garage-to-house walls & ceilings
- Sealing pipes and wires through a garage wall in Nepean, who does it?
- Holes in the drywall between my Orleans garage and kitchen, a problem?
- What does the Building Code want on a garage wall in a Kanata home?
- Does the door from my Barrhaven garage into the house need a closer?
- Which finish level does GA-214 list for garage drywall in Barrhaven?
- Can drywall go straight over the vapour barrier in an Ottawa wall?
- Hole left by an old light fixture in a Kanata ceiling, who patches it?
- Do I need an Ottawa permit to replace a damaged drywall ceiling?
Other Drywall Services
Drywall Hole & Dent Repair
Patching holes, dents and nail pops in walls and ceilings so the repair is ready for paint.
Drywall Crack Repair
Repairing cracked joints and corners: opening the crack, re-taping where the tape has let go, then coating and priming.
Water-Damaged Drywall Replacement
Removing wet board after a leak or flood so the wall can dry, then hanging, taping and finishing new board.
Drywall Installation (Hang, Tape & Finish)
Hanging new board on walls and ceilings, then taping, finishing and sanding it to an agreed finish level.
Taping, Mudding & Finish Levels
Taping and finishing joints to a named finish level, from a fire-taped garage wall to a skim-coated smooth wall.
Popcorn & Textured Ceiling Removal
Testing first, then scraping, skim-coating and priming a popcorn or textured ceiling, or covering it with new board.
Sagging & Damaged Ceiling Repair
Repairing sagging, cracked or stained ceiling board, from re-fastening to replacing sections.
5/8-inch Type X Drywall for Secondary Suites
The 5/8-inch (15.9 mm) Type X drywall the Building Code names for separating a secondary suite from the main home, under a City permit.
Ready to Get Started?
Tell us about your garage-to-house walls & ceilings job and we'll send it to local drywall contractors in Ottawa. They reply by email.