Does Alberta code require fire-rated drywall in a garage?

Yes — the Alberta Building Code requires a fire separation between an attached garage and the living space. The shared wall, and the ceiling if there is living space above, must use fire-rated (typically 12.7mm Type X) board on the garage side.

Can I use regular drywall for the rest of the garage?

Yes — the side and back walls that do not adjoin living space can use standard 1/2 inch board. The fire-rated requirement applies to the shared wall and ceiling. We can also do Type X throughout for a uniform build.

Do you drywall garage ceilings?

Yes. If there is finished living space above the garage, the ceiling usually needs fire-rated drywall to meet code. We assess your configuration and tell you what is required.

Does the fire-rated wall need to be taped and finished?

Yes — a fire rating only holds when the seams are taped and penetrations are treated, so finishing is part of the rated assembly. We finish the separation properly so it passes inspection.

How long does garage drywalling take?

A standard double garage can usually be boarded in a day and finished over the following two to three days, allowing dry time between mud coats. We quote a specific timeline on the site visit.

Do you do garage conversions?

Yes — garage conversions require drywall to living-space standards, which may include fire-rated, moisture-resistant or soundproof board. We handle the drywall portion of the conversion.

Is it worth finishing the garage, not just boarding it?

For a modest step up from board-only, a fully finished garage resists knocks and moisture, is far easier to clean and looks much better. Most homeowners find it well worth it.

Do you cover all of Calgary for garage drywall?

Yes — all four Calgary quadrants, Airdrie, Cochrane and surrounding communities, 7 days a week, excluding downtown high-rise towers.

Garage Drywall Calgary | Emplastrum Drywall

Garage drywall done to code and finished clean

Garage drywall is not the same as the rest of the house — the wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the living space must be fire-rated to the Alberta Building Code, and getting that wrong fails inspection. A garage is also a working space that takes knocks, so it deserves a finish that holds up rather than a rough box of bare board. We board garages with the right product on every surface, build the fire separation correctly, tape and finish them clean, and tell you exactly what your configuration requires. We cover all four Calgary quadrants, Airdrie and Cochrane, 7 days a week.

Fire-rated (Type X) board on the garage-to-house wall and ceiling
Standard board on the remaining garage walls
Garage ceiling drywall, including under living space
Boarding, taping, mudding and finishing — ready for paint
Garage conversions to living-space drywall standards
Detached and oversized garage drywall
Inspection-ready fire separations
Dust-controlled work and a clean site every day

What affects the cost of garage drywall in Calgary?

Size, board type and ceiling

Garage drywall cost in Calgary depends on the garage size (single, double, oversized), the board type required (fire-rated Type X on the shared wall and ceiling, standard elsewhere), and whether the ceiling needs drywall — required when there is living space above. We assess on site and give a fixed price before we start.

New boarding vs replacement

Boarding a bare garage is different from replacing a damaged fire-rated wall or finishing a garage the builder left partly done. We confirm the scope and the code requirement before any work begins so the quote is accurate.

Finish level and access

A taped, mudded and sanded garage costs more than a board-only hang, but it is far easier to keep clean and looks like a finished room. Tight access, high ceilings and heavy Type X board all factor into the labour, which we account for in the quote.

Our Calgary garage drywall process, step by step

Right board on every surface

We start by mapping which surfaces require fire-rated Type X board — the wall and, where applicable, the ceiling between the garage and the living space — and which can use standard board. Getting this map right is what passes inspection and avoids paying for Type X where it is not needed.

Ceiling first, correct screw pattern

Ceilings go up first, then walls, with the correct screw pattern and all seams on framing. Penetrations like outlets and ducts in a fire-rated wall are treated so the separation stays continuous.

Tape, mud and finish

We tape, mud and sand the garage to a clean finish, ready for paint. A properly finished garage resists knocks better, is easier to keep clean, and looks like a finished room rather than an afterthought.

Garage drywall and Alberta fire-code basics

Why the shared wall must be fire-rated

The Alberta Building Code requires a fire separation between an attached garage and the living space of the home. The common wall — and the ceiling if there is living space above the garage — must be drywalled with fire-rated board, typically 12.7mm Type X, on the garage side. This protects the home in the event of a garage fire.

Where standard board is fine

The side and back walls of the garage that do not adjoin living space can use standard 1/2 inch board. We install to code and can also do Type X throughout if you prefer a uniform build. See our fire-rated drywall page for the spec detail.

The rating depends on finishing

A fire-rated wall only holds its rating when the seams are taped and the penetrations are treated. The taping is part of the rated assembly, not an optional extra, which is why we finish the fire separation properly rather than leaving raw board.

Garage drywall work we do across Calgary

Attached garages, new and existing

Most garage calls across Calgary are attached double garages that the builder left unfinished, or that need the fire-rated wall completed — common in newer communities like Mahogany, Walden, Evanston and Nolan Hill where homes are sold with the garage roughed in.

Garage conversions and detached garages

Converting a garage to living space requires drywall to living-space standards on all walls, sometimes including fire-rated, moisture-resistant or soundproof board. We handle the drywall portion of conversions and detached garage builds across established communities like Silver Springs, Ranchlands and Hawkwood. This pairs with drywall installation and boarding.

Finishing a garage versus leaving it bare board

Why a finished garage is worth it

Code only requires the fire separation, not a finished look, so some garages sit with bare or partly taped board for years. A fully taped, mudded and painted garage resists moisture and knocks, is far easier to clean, looks dramatically better, and adds to the sense of a finished home — for a modest step up from board-only.

Practical finishes for a working space

A garage is a working space, so a clean Level 4 finish ready for a durable paint is the practical standard — smooth enough to look finished, tough enough to take real use. We finish to that standard rather than over-building it.

Why Calgary homeowners trust Emplastrum for garage drywall

Code-correct and finished clean

We install garage drywall to the fire-code requirement and finish it like a real room, not a rough box. We tell you exactly what your configuration requires so there are no surprises at inspection, and the separation passes.

Fixed price, same-day reply, all Calgary quadrants

We cover all four Calgary quadrants, Airdrie and Cochrane, 7 days a week. Free on-site quotes and fixed prices — you know the number before we start.

How it works

Simple, clean, on schedule

Free quote

We come out, take a look, and give you a real price. No guessing after.

Book a day

We pick a date that works for you and show up when we say.

The work

We keep the dust down and tidy up before we head out.

Walk it with you

We don't pack up till you've looked it over and you're happy.

FAQ — Garage Drywall Calgary

Garage Drywall Calgary: your questions answered

Does Alberta code require fire-rated drywall in a garage?›: Yes — the Alberta Building Code requires a fire separation between an attached garage and the living space. The shared wall, and the ceiling if there is living space above, must use fire-rated (typically 12.7mm Type X) board on the garage side.
Can I use regular drywall for the rest of the garage?›: Yes — the side and back walls that do not adjoin living space can use standard 1/2 inch board. The fire-rated requirement applies to the shared wall and ceiling. We can also do Type X throughout for a uniform build.
Do you drywall garage ceilings?›: Yes. If there is finished living space above the garage, the ceiling usually needs fire-rated drywall to meet code. We assess your configuration and tell you what is required.
Does the fire-rated wall need to be taped and finished?›: Yes — a fire rating only holds when the seams are taped and penetrations are treated, so finishing is part of the rated assembly. We finish the separation properly so it passes inspection.
How long does garage drywalling take?›: A standard double garage can usually be boarded in a day and finished over the following two to three days, allowing dry time between mud coats. We quote a specific timeline on the site visit.
Do you do garage conversions?›: Yes — garage conversions require drywall to living-space standards, which may include fire-rated, moisture-resistant or soundproof board. We handle the drywall portion of the conversion.
Is it worth finishing the garage, not just boarding it?›: For a modest step up from board-only, a fully finished garage resists knocks and moisture, is far easier to clean and looks much better. Most homeowners find it well worth it.
Do you cover all of Calgary for garage drywall?›: Yes — all four Calgary quadrants, Airdrie, Cochrane and surrounding communities, 7 days a week, excluding downtown high-rise towers.

Garage Drywall Calgary

Garage drywall done to code and finished clean