Overheard a guy at the lumber yard saying he was going to use regular drywall in his outdoor patio cover project

I was at Builders Source on Montgomery last week picking up some treated 2x4s, and the guy in line behind me was telling the cashier his whole plan. He was going to frame up a covered patio extension and sheet the whole ceiling with half-inch drywall, then just paint it with exterior paint. The cashier just kind of blinked and rang him up. I didn't say anything, but man, I've been thinking about that all week. The first good monsoon rain and that's all coming down in soggy chunks. Has anyone else heard a plan so confidently wrong it just stuck with you?

2 comments

2 Comments

jason_fisher41mo ago

Saw a neighbor try that on a screened porch roof. It swelled up like a sponge after one season, the paint did nothing. He had to tear it all out and use exterior rated plywood with a proper soffit material over it. That drywall will be a total loss.

the_nathan1mo agoMost Upvoted

Told a buddy the same thing last summer. Drywall just sucks up moisture no matter how much paint you slather on. It's not made for that kind of exposure at all.