Reparing garage ceiling drywall gaps @ waste stack with sheet metal instead of drywall
I have a building permit from a prior owner that was never closed. In the course of re-opening so as to close it out, inspector said some gaps (3″-5″) in the drwall near a protruding waste stack and a furnace exhaust stack need to be eliminated for fire code compliance. The inspector actually suggested the gaps could be closed using sheet metal and/or one way or another I close them using drywal. The one challenge is there are no obvious framing members to which I could affix small pieces of drywall.
I want to hear more about the sheet metal approach. It might be a little cheesy, but it *IS* just a garage. I’m thinking I could use sheet metal, especially if in the caste of the waste stack I could transfer the curve / diameter of the stack to the sheet metal. I might also use fireproof insulation foam at the junction between sheet metal and stack / vent.
Thoughts?
What’s the maximum thickness metal I could hope to use w/ basic aviation snips?
Replies
Usually 18 guage.
BTW, what's so "chessy" about fire stoppiong with sheet metal?
Put the sheet metal behind the existing drywall extending into the gap. Screw through the drywall, with fine thread drywall screws, into the metal to secure it. Screw drywall scraps to the sheet metal to close the gaps. Tape and finish.
mike mahan wrote:
Put the sheet metal behind the existing drywall extending into the gap.
Easier said than done. That would likely mean cutting out more drywall. Since aesthetics don't seem to be a primary concern, I suggest going over top of drywall with a sheet metal ring, or escutcheon of sorts. Your attention to detail here would determine how cheesy* the result becomes. If you scrib the inside diameter and outside diameter with a compass then follow a curve with (left or right ) curve snips, then you should be okay. Finally cut across the finished ring and flex the ring into place and secure with heat resistant caulk.
*is my spell check working okay?
The sheet metal doesn't have to fill the hole. I usually use scraps of steel studs or track. Or if the patch is small enough, cut a piece of rock to fit the hole, apply paper tape to the patch with mud and then tape the patch into place.