Portland Metro · Oregon
Fire-Rated Drywall Installation in Portland, OR
Type X and Type C 5/8" on garage walls, ADU separations, multi-family and commercial assemblies.
Fire-rated drywall isn't a special product — it's a specific installation. The board matters, but so does the fastener pattern, tape, seams, penetrations and how it lands on rated framing. We install to the actual rated assembly, not a shortcut.
What fire-rated drywall installation really involves
Fire-rated drywall (Type X and Type C, both 5/8") is required on any wall or ceiling that carries a fire rating — garage-to-house separation, ADU-to-house separation, multi-family unit separations, stairwell enclosures, and rated corridor and shaft walls in commercial buildings. Installing it right means matching the tested assembly for spacing, fastener pattern, tape type and seam treatment.
Where jobs fail inspection or fail in a real fire is usually at the penetrations, not the field of the wall. Outlets on rated walls need putty pads, HVAC penetrations need fire-rated caulk and collars, top plates need sealed gaps. We detail every penetration.
For homeowners the most common fire-rated scope is a garage that was never finished (or was finished non-code) and an ADU going in over or attached to the main house. For GCs and PMs we handle commercial rated corridors, shaft walls and stairwell enclosures.
What we cover under fire-rated drywall installation
Garage-to-house rated separation
5/8" Type X on the shared wall and ceiling, penetrations sealed to spec.
ADU rated separation
Rated wall and ceiling between ADU and main house per Oregon code.
Multi-family unit separations
Rated demising walls and floor/ceiling assemblies for duplexes, triplexes and small multi-family.
Stairwell enclosures
Rated wall assemblies around stairwells in multi-story residential and commercial.
Rated corridor walls
1-hour and 2-hour rated corridor walls in commercial buildings.
Shaft walls
Rated shaft assemblies around elevators, plumbing chases and HVAC risers.
Fire-rated ceiling assemblies
Rated ceilings for floor/ceiling separation in multi-story residential and commercial.
Our process
The same repeatable process on every fire-rated drywall installation job — no surprises, no hand-offs.
- 01
Rating verification
Code rating and tested assembly identified before we hang — no guessing.
- 02
Framing check
Framing spec confirmed against the tested assembly — stud gauge, spacing, blocking.
- 03
Board selection
5/8" Type X or Type C per assembly — one layer or two depending on rating.
- 04
Fastener pattern
Screw spacing to the tested assembly, not to a rule of thumb.
- 05
Seams and tape
All seams taped and mudded to spec — fire rating requires it, even if never painted.
- 06
Penetrations
Outlets back-boxed with putty pads, HVAC penetrations firestopped, top plates sealed.
- 07
Finish and paint
Level 4 finish, texture, prime and paint — normal finish on top of a fully rated assembly.
Why choose Aesthetic Construction
Fire-rated drywall is required in almost every ADU and garage-conversion we work on across the Portland metro — Beaverton, Hillsboro, Portland proper, Milwaukie, Gresham, Lake Oswego. Commercial rated corridors show up in every TI and multi-family project.
- Rated to the actual tested assembly — not a general 'we used Type X'.
- Every penetration detailed — outlets, HVAC, top plates.
- Two-layer 2-hour rated assemblies for higher-rated corridors.
- Inspection-ready detailing on every job.
- Licensed, bonded, insured — Oregon CCB #252320.
What you get
- Passes fire inspection first time.
- Actually performs in a fire event — not just paperwork-rated.
- Insurance-friendly documentation of code-compliant assembly.
- One trade handling framing coordination, drywall and finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is 5/8" drywall automatically fire-rated?
Only 5/8" Type X and Type C are fire-rated, and only when installed to a tested assembly. Standard 5/8" board (non-Type X) is not rated.
Do I need fire-rated drywall in my garage?
Yes — Oregon Residential Code requires 5/8" Type X on any wall and ceiling shared with living space.
How do I know what rating I need?
It's driven by code (residential or commercial) and use — garage separation is 1/2-hour to 1-hour depending on configuration; ADU separation is typically 1-hour; multi-family and commercial corridors range 1–2 hours. We verify before we quote.
What are putty pads on outlets?
Fire-rated putty pads wrap electrical boxes on rated walls to seal the penetration. Skipping them breaks the wall's rating.
How much does fire-rated drywall cost?
5/8" Type X is a small premium over standard 1/2" board. Total install cost is driven more by penetrations, sealing and rating class than the board itself.
Do you firestop HVAC and plumbing penetrations?
Yes — fire-rated caulk, collars and putty as required by the assembly.
Can you install two-layer 2-hour assemblies?
Yes — two-layer 5/8" Type X with offset seams for 2-hour rated corridors, shaft walls and stairwells.
Will fire-rated walls pass inspection first time?
Yes when installed to the tested assembly. We build for inspection, not just for the plans.
Related services
Garage Drywall Installation
5/8" Type X fire-rated board, installed to code — new builds and retrofits.
View detailsADU Drywall Services
Detached, attached and garage-conversion ADUs — code-correct fire and sound assemblies, finish, paint.
View detailsCommercial Drywall
Retail, medical, office and TI drywall — off-hour schedules, on-time turnovers.
View detailsNew Construction Drywall
Full-house rock, tape, texture and paint for single-family, ADU and small multi-family.
View detailsRequest a free fire-rated drywall installation estimate
Written, itemized and no obligation. Reply times average under 24 hours on weekdays.
Oregon CCB #252320. Fully insured on every project. Certificates on request.
Available across the Portland metro
Fire-Rated Drywall Installation is available in every city we serve.