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Drywall for Remodels: Garage Conversions, Room Additions and Open Floor Plans

What to know about drywall for San Antonio remodels: garage conversions, room additions, opening up walls, matching texture and fire separation.

By SCCI Drywall. Published 2026-10-22.

Key Takeaways

  • Remodels need new drywall to blend with old walls in flatness, texture and finish.
  • Attached garages need fire-resistant separation from the living space under typical codes.
  • Removing walls for an open floor plan leaves ceiling and floor patches that need careful work.
  • Plan electrical, insulation and inspections before the drywall goes up.

Remodeling puts new drywall right next to old drywall, and that's where the real craftsmanship shows. Whether you're converting a garage, adding a room or opening up your floor plan, here's what to know about the drywall part of the project.

Garage Conversions

Converting a garage into a bedroom, office, gym or game room is a popular way to add living space in San Antonio. Drywall considerations include:

  • Insulation first: garage walls and ceilings are often uninsulated. Insulating before drywall makes the room comfortable and efficient.
  • Raising the floor: garage slabs often slope toward the door, so the floor may be built up, which changes wall heights.
  • Infilling the garage door opening: the new wall section has to be framed, insulated and finished to match.
  • Moisture: consider mold-resistant drywall near exterior walls and slabs.
  • Permits: conversions usually require permits and inspections, so check with your city before starting.

Keeping an Attached Garage Separate

If you're keeping an attached garage, or building a new one, codes require fire-resistant separation between it and the house. Under the International Residential Code that many Texas cities adopt, that typically means at least 1/2-inch gypsum board on the garage side of the separation wall, and 5/8-inch Type X board on the garage ceiling when there's living space above. Your local code and plans have the final say. See our guide to fire-rated drywall.

Room Additions

An addition should look like it was always part of the house. That means:

  • Matching ceiling height and wall texture to the existing rooms
  • Smoothly blending the seam where the new space meets the old
  • Planning for settling between the new foundation and the old one, which can cause cracking at the transition

Open Floor Plans

Removing a wall to open up a kitchen and living room is one of the most popular remodels. After the wall comes out (with a structural engineer or contractor confirming whether it's load-bearing), there's a strip of ceiling and sometimes floor to patch. Getting that ceiling seam flat and invisible across a large, well-lit room takes careful finishing and often a skim coat. See finish levels.

Matching Texture

New walls in a remodel should match existing walls, whether that's orange peel, Monterrey or a hand trowel finish. Some homeowners use a remodel as a chance to re-texture an entire room so everything matches. Our guide on matching existing texture explains the process.

Sequencing

  1. Framing and structural work
  2. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and low-voltage rough-in
  3. Rough inspections
  4. Insulation and insulation inspection, if required
  5. Drywall hanging, finishing and texture
  6. Prime and paint, then trim, cabinets and flooring

For more on timing, read how long drywall installation takes.

Remodel Drywall in San Antonio

SCCI Drywall handles drywall for residential remodels, additions and conversions across San Antonio, including texture matching. Call (210) 875-0280 for a free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do garage conversions need permits in San Antonio?

Generally, yes. Converting a garage to living space usually requires permits and inspections. Check with the City of San Antonio or your local city before starting.

What drywall is required between a garage and house?

Under the International Residential Code many cities adopt, typically at least 1/2-inch gypsum on the garage side of the wall and 5/8-inch Type X on the garage ceiling when there's living space above. Local codes govern.

Can new drywall match my existing textured walls?

Yes. An experienced finisher can match most common textures so new and old walls blend together.

Contact SCCI Drywall

SCCI Drywall serves San Antonio and all of South Texas with drywall installation, drywall repair, remodeling, metal stud framing, light gauge framing and acoustical grid ceiling systems for residential and commercial projects.

Phone: (210) 875-0280

Email: sccidrywall@gmail.com

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Request a free drywall quote