The real trouble seems to come when folks skip that membrane step or just rely on grout and tile, which isn’t enough in the long run.
Totally agree—skipping steps is where things get pricey down the road. Curious, has anyone tried those newer foam panels instead of green board? Wondering if they’re worth the extra cost for a small bathroom reno.
I’ve used the foam panels (Wedi, specifically) on a couple jobs. They’re pricey up front, but honestly, the waterproofing is way more reliable than green board. Less mess, too. For a small bathroom, the time saved might actually make up for the cost difference. Only downside—cuts have to be pretty precise or you’ll burn through caulk.
Only downside—cuts have to be pretty precise or you’ll burn through caulk.
That’s the kicker with Wedi and similar panels. They’re fast, but if your framing’s not dead-on or you rush the cuts, you’ll be chasing gaps. I’ve seen guys try to fudge it with extra caulk and it just doesn’t hold up long-term. Green board’s cheaper, sure, but it’s not really waterproof—just water resistant. For showers, I’d rather spend a bit more up front than deal with callbacks later.
Green board just doesn’t cut it for showers, at least not in my experience. I tried to save a few bucks on one of my rentals a while back, and sure enough, I was patching up water damage less than two years later. Those panels like Wedi are pricier up front, but honestly, chasing leaks or callbacks is way more expensive in the long run. If the framing’s off or the cuts aren’t tight, you’re just asking for headaches down the road.
I hear you on the green board. Used it once in a bathroom reno and regretted it—just didn’t hold up around the tub. Cement board or one of those foam panels is worth the extra bucks, especially if you want to avoid headaches later.