From 1960 to 1980, T1-11 was a fairly popular siding. Back then, homeowners adored its wood-based siding’s organic appearance. For a striking external finish, it might be painted or stained.
OSB or plywood are the materials used to make T1-11 siding. And because of this specific feature, one might think about using it in place of drywall. Is it advised, though? This will be the article’s primary topic of discussion today.
Is It Possible to Use T1-11 in Place of Drywall?
It is not recommended to use T1-11 in place of drywall. There are two explanations for this. T1-11 is a siding. As a result, a house’s façade should use it. Conversely, drywall is primarily intended for use in interior wall and ceiling construction.
You can attest to the significance of utilizing things for their intended purposes if you have experience in the building industry. It makes no sense to utilize siding for an interior wall or the other way around.
Why Is T1-11 a Better Option Than Drywall?
Many claims that T1-11 can be used in place of drywall may be found online. Ultimately, this is an unacceptable practice, despite the fact that some of these justifications are reasonable and valid.
The following are the reasons why competent contractors won’t suggest using T1-11 in place of drywall:
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T1-11 Seems a Little Rough for Walls Inside
As I said earlier, a lot of homeowners praised T1-11’s finish. However, that only held true when it was utilized as siding. Upon closer inspection, T1-11 has a rough finish. As a result, this might not work well on an interior wall.
Homeowners have favored smooth interior walls for many years. For this reason, the most common material for interior walls is drywall. It’s likely that T1-11 won’t look as nice as an interior wall if you decide to use it in place of drywall.
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The majority of building codes prohibit it.
The fact that T1-11 is typically prohibited by building codes is another reason why it shouldn’t be used in place of drywall. According to your local building codes, drywall should be installed first, then siding and sheathing.
Siding on the inside is prohibited by the majority of local codes. Building codes wouldn’t prohibit this method if it were deemed suitable.
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It may result in issues with moisture.
T1-11 differs from the vinyl siding that we currently use in our houses. It is composed of wood. As a result, there’s a good chance it will absorb moisture from the interior or exterior if you apply it to your internal walls.
We are all aware of the damage that repeated exposure to damp can do to wood. This is yet another compelling argument against using T1-11 in place of drywall.
The nice thing about drywall is that you may use the green type, which is moisture-resistant, if moisture is a concern.
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There are some reservations regarding T1-11 safety.
According to several complaints from a woman a few years back, the T1-11 in their cabin caused them to get pneumonia, sinus infections, and allergies.
After more investigation, it was found that T1-11 and several sealers used to finish it can cause illness. Although the T1-11 datasheet does not identify any harmful chemicals, you should exercise caution when utilizing it in place of drywall on the interior of your house.
If you use T1-11 instead of drywall indoors, you will be more susceptible to off-gassing than if you use it as siding outdoors, where there is a sufficient supply of fresh air.
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T1-11 is not resistant to fire.
T1-11 is not fire-resistant, which is the final reason it shouldn’t be used in place of drywall. The wood used to make T1-11 not only ignites but also feeds the fire.
In the event of a fire, using T1-11 on your interiors carries a significant danger. The good news is that most common types of drywall are safer than T1-11 and resistant to fire.
It should be very obvious from the aforementioned arguments why T1-11 is not a good substitute for drywall. As a result, you should absolutely avoid utilizing it as drywall.
Why Is Drywall a Better Alternative to T1-11 for Interior Walls?
The greatest material to utilize when building interior walls is drywall panels. They come in different densities, heights, and thicknesses. As a result, you can design the ideal wall to fit your demands and your house.
Drywall is readily accessible and reasonably priced. This raises the question of why you would want to replace it with T1-11 in the first place.
You receive an extra layer of defense against outside noise and temperatures when you use drywall. Drafts can be effectively eliminated with drywall.
Your house is protected from fire damage by these panels. They are significantly simpler to fix because they are not as stiff as T1-11s.
Above all, there is an infinite variety of finishes available when working with drywall. Over drywall, you can paint and apply wallpaper or tiles.
If you have drywall, you can adorn your interior walls however you like. For T1-11, the same cannot be true. Not to mention that there are various kinds of drywall.
You can use some of those in places with a lot of moisture, like restrooms and kitchens. T1-11 will immediately begin to decay if it is installed in such locations.
T1-11 siding cannot compete with drywall on interior walls.
Are There Any Exclusions Regarding the Use of T1-11 in Place of Drywall?
The only time T1-11 can be used in place of drywall is when you are building a garage wall, tool shed, workshop, or any other structure where you won’t be spending a lot of time. We’re talking about garages that aren’t attached to your house.
T1-11 sidings can be used in place of drywall in buildings where wall performance and aesthetics are not important to you. To protect your belongings from water damage, you should, nevertheless, utilize insulation.
Additionally, this exemption only holds true if you have any T1-11 on hand. You shouldn’t purchase T1-11 siding just because you want to build a shed. You can use far superior materials, such cement boards.
Can Drywall Be Screwed Over T1-11?
Can you attach the drywall to a wall that has already been constructed using T1-11? You can, indeed. Direct drywall installation is possible on OSB sidings like T1-11.
You must, however, make sure the T1-11 is in flawless shape. Additionally, the thickness of the wall will rise when drywall is screwed to T1-11. As a result, you can experience issues with the windows, doors, and outlets.
As an alternative, you could always take out the T1-11 and install drywall in its place. However, that will be exhausting and time-consuming. For this reason, it is preferable to just screw the drywall over T1-11.
Does Using T1-11 Have Advantages Over Drywall?
Despite the fact that it is unacceptable, there are a few advantages to choosing T1-11 rather than drywall. Among them are
- It can be installed in a single step: T1-11’s characteristics allow it to function as an internal wall and siding. As a result, you will be spared the time-consuming task of constructing an envelope using sheathing and putting in siding and drywall.
- It’s economical if you have some T1-11 siding stored up somewhere: You can save a lot of money by using T1-11 siding rather than drywall.
- T1-11 is stronger than drywall: This is an additional advantage of utilizing T1-11. As a result, it can sustain impact and you can hang large items on it.
