I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had better luck biting the bullet and upgrading the main house plumbing first—yeah, it’s a pain, but it saved me a ton of headaches (and leaks) once the guest house was hooked up. Sometimes patching old lines just kicks the can down the road. And on plywood walls: they’re cool, but I’ve seen them get dinged up fast if you’ve got rowdy guests or kids. Drywall’s boring, but sometimes boring wins in the long run.
Yeah, I hear you on the plumbing. I tried patching my old copper lines before adding a backyard studio, and it was just one leak after another—ended up redoing the whole thing anyway. Wish I’d just done it right from the start. As for walls, plywood looks cool but dents and scratches show up fast, especially if you’ve got kids or pets running around. Drywall’s not exciting, but it’s way easier to fix when stuff happens. Sometimes boring is just less hassle.
Drywall’s not exciting, but it’s way easier to fix when stuff happens. Sometimes boring is just less hassle.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve gotta say, I’m not totally sold on drywall for a backyard build. I did drywall in my garage conversion and yeah, patching is easy, but it’s so unforgiving with moisture or if you ever want to hang anything heavy. Plywood’s not perfect, but I actually like the character it gets as it ages—scratches and all. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes “boring” feels more like “bland.” If you’re already spending a fortune on plumbing, might as well make the walls something you actually enjoy looking at, right?
Plywood definitely has its own vibe, especially if you’re into the more rugged or industrial look. I’ve done a couple of backyard offices and guest sheds, and honestly, I’ve seen people regret drywall once they realize how easy it is to ding up—or worse, when it gets a little damp and starts to bubble or mold. Plywood’s tougher, and you can actually screw shelves or hooks straight in without worrying about anchors ripping out.
That said, some folks really hate the seams or knots showing, so it’s kind of a trade-off. If you’re already dropping serious cash on plumbing and electrical, maybe it’s worth splurging a bit on nicer plywood or even paneling? I’m curious—are you planning to insulate the walls? That can change what makes sense for wall material too, especially if you want it usable year-round.
Insulation’s a game changer if you want to use the space year-round, especially in places with real winters or hot summers. I’ve seen folks go with rigid foam between studs, then slap up plywood—keeps things sturdy and you don’t have to baby it like drywall. If you’re worried about the look, you can always sand and clear-coat nicer plywood, or even paint it for a cleaner vibe. Personally, I’d rather patch a ding in plywood than deal with soggy drywall any day. Just watch out for warping if you go cheap on the panels... learned that one the hard way.
