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I think the push for 5/8 inch drywall on ceilings is overkill for most houses
Just finished a remodel in a 1970s split-level where the builder spec'd 5/8 inch on every ceiling. We did half with 1/2 inch and the other half with 5/8, same framing. After a full year, there's zero difference in sag or cracks. The extra weight made the 5/8 inch a beast to lift, adding nearly 30 minutes per sheet for a two-man crew. For standard 16 inch centers, I'm convinced 1/2 inch is perfectly fine and saves your back and the client's budget. Has anyone else done a long-term comparison like this and found the same thing?
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amy_robinson6mo ago
Your uncle's house is a good example, but older homes often had 24 inch framing, not 16. That extra support makes a big difference for half inch board. On wider spans, the 5/8 really does help prevent sag over decades, especially with texture or humidity changes. It's one of those things where the code is written for the worst case scenario to avoid callbacks. Do you know what the joist spacing was in his place?
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