Green board in the news—worth the hype for bathrooms?
Couldn’t agree more—green board just can’t hang where water’s involved. I always go cement board behind showers and tubs, even if it’s a pain to cut and haul. For spots like above the vanity or halfway up a wall, green board’s fine, but anywhere you think water might sneak in, it’s not worth risking mold or rot. Learned that lesson after tearing out a “water-resistant” wall that was basically mush after five years… Never again.
Honestly, I’ve wondered if green board even deserves the “moisture-resistant” label sometimes. A few years back, I tried using it behind a bathroom sink—figured the splash zone was pretty limited—but within a couple years, I spotted bubbling and soft spots. Maybe it’s fine for low-splash areas, but for high-moisture? Cement board just seems like the safer call, even if it’s heavier and a bit of a pain to install. Anyone else feel like green board’s just a marketing thing most of the time?
Green board’s always felt like the “diet soda” of bathroom materials to me—looks good on paper, but doesn’t quite hit the spot when things get real. But I’ll admit, I’ve used it in a couple of half-baths and powder rooms where the only real moisture is from someone washing their hands (and maybe my kid splashing water everywhere). It’s held up fine there, no weird bubbles or soft spots yet.
But then again, I’m not sure I’d trust it anywhere near a shower or tub. Cement board is a pain to cut and lug around, but at least you know it’s not going to turn into mush if someone takes a long steamy shower. Still, for folks on a tight budget—or just tired of hauling heavy stuff up stairs—green board might be “good enough” in the right spot. Maybe it’s less about marketing and more about picking your battles? Or maybe I’m just cheap and lucky so far...
Green board’s fine for those low-moisture spots, but I learned the hard way it’s not up for a real shower. Years ago, I tried to save a few bucks and used it behind tile in a small bathroom remodel. Looked great for about a year, then the grout lines started getting weird and the wall felt soft. Ended up ripping it all out and going with cement board anyway. It’s heavier, sure, but I’d rather deal with that than redo the job twice. For powder rooms? Green board’s probably fine. Anywhere else, I just don’t trust it anymore.
Honestly, I’ve seen way too many folks try to cut corners with green board in showers and it always comes back to bite them. It’s just not built for constant moisture, no matter what the marketing says. Cement board’s a pain to haul and cut, but you only have to do it once. I get why people want to save a few bucks or make install easier, but if you’re already putting in the work to tile a shower, why risk having to rip it all out later?
I’ll use green board in half baths or maybe behind a vanity where there’s barely any splash, but that’s about it. Showers, tub surrounds—always cement board or one of those newer foam panels if budget allows. The extra effort up front is nothing compared to dealing with mushy walls and mold down the line. Learned that lesson early on... never again.
