I hear you on the plywood vs drywall debate. I’ve done a few backyard builds and honestly, I’m with you—plywood’s just tougher for these kinds of spaces. That said, if you’re going for a more finished look, you can always do a combo: plywood lower half (takes the abuse), drywall or beadboard up top. Makes patching easier and keeps costs down.
Just watch out for warping if you go cheap on the panels... learned that one the hard way.
Yeah, cheap panels are a pain. I once tried to save a few bucks with bargain plywood and ended up redoing half the walls after one humid summer. Lesson learned.
If you’re worried about budget for the whole guest house, insulation’s one spot where it pays to spend a little more upfront. Good foam or mineral wool will save you headaches (and heating/cooling bills) down the line. You can always upgrade finishes later, but fixing bad insulation is a nightmare once everything’s closed up.
Bottom line: sturdy materials and solid insulation are worth it, even if you have to cut back elsewhere. You’ll thank yourself when winter hits or the AC’s running nonstop.
Plywood on the bottom, drywall or beadboard up top—love that idea. I’m right there with you on the “learned the hard way” front. My first go at a shed, I grabbed the cheapest panels I could find, thinking, “How bad could it be?” Fast forward to the first rainy season and those things looked like potato chips. Never again.
Insulation is one of those things you don’t really appreciate until you’re either sweating buckets or freezing your toes off. I tried to cheap out with fiberglass batts in my garage conversion, and now I swear I can feel the wind blowing through the walls some days. If I could do it over, I’d pony up for spray foam or at least mineral wool. It’s not the most exciting thing to spend money on, but it’s way less fun to rip out finished walls later.
I get wanting to save where you can, though. The price tags on some of this stuff are wild. For me, I found that if you’re handy and willing to put in some sweat equity, you can get a pretty decent guest house without totally draining your savings. Just gotta pick your battles—splurge on what matters (like insulation and sturdy walls), and maybe hold off on the fancy tile or high-end fixtures until later.
One thing I wish someone had told me: don’t forget about permits and inspections. They’re a pain, but skipping them can cost way more in the long run. Learned that one after a “friendly” visit from the city inspector...
Anyway, it’s definitely doable without going broke, but yeah—deep pockets help. Or at least deep patience.
Permits are such a headache, right? I tried to “wing it” with a little studio in my backyard and ended up having to redo half the electrical just to pass inspection. Honestly, I’m always torn between saving money and just biting the bullet for quality materials. Has anyone here found a clever workaround for insulation that doesn’t break the bank but actually works? I keep hearing mixed things about rigid foam panels versus spray foam...
Honestly, I’ve been down the insulation rabbit hole more times than I care to admit. Rigid foam panels are way more DIY-friendly and you can cut them to fit, but they don’t seal every little gap unless you’re super meticulous. Spray foam is pricier, but it fills every nook and cranny—just watch out for off-gassing and make sure you don’t overdo it or you’ll warp your studs. If you’re on a budget, I’d lean toward rigid foam plus some canned spray foam for the seams. Not perfect, but it’s a solid middle ground.
If you’re on a budget, I’d lean toward rigid foam plus some canned spray foam for the seams. Not perfect, but it’s a solid middle ground.
That’s basically what I did in my shed-turned-office. Rigid foam everywhere, then I went wild with the spray can in the gaps. Not gonna win any awards for craftsmanship, but it’s warm enough for me to survive winter Zoom calls. If you’re building a guest house, just brace yourself—insulation is just the tip of the “how much is this gonna cost me?” iceberg. My wallet still hasn’t forgiven me.
