PSA: Why does every new build in Dallas insist on 1/2 inch drywall for all ceilings?

I was helping a friend finish his basement in Fort Worth last month and noticed his ceiling already sagging between the joists after just 3 years, so why do builders keep skimping on 5/8 inch when the extra cost is barely a few hundred bucks?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jessica2mo ago

Did the builder at least spring for the good popcorn texture?

the_elizabeth2mo ago

Actually check if it's the 1970s asbestos popcorn before you scrape it off. I had to pay $3,000 for remediation on my last place because the previous owner painted right over it. A simple test kit from the hardware store is worth the $15 before you touch anything.

clairer7922d ago

Boy howdy, that sagging ceiling situation is exactly why I made sure to screw my own shop ceiling every 6 inches instead of trusting the standard spacing builders use. My brother in law went cheap on his garage and now he's got a wave going across the whole thing that drives him nuts every time he walks in. Sometimes saving a few bucks just isn't worth the headache down the road.