Green Board in the News—Worth the Hype for Bathrooms?
I hear you on the price of Wedi and similar foam boards. Every time I spec them for a client, I kind of brace myself for the budget conversation. That said, the install speed and the lack of dust are hard to beat, especially if you’re working in an occupied home or tight space. I’ve always wondered about long-term adhesion too, especially with heavier tiles or mosaics. Have you noticed any flexing at all after install? That’s my main concern—if the substrate moves at all, even a little, it could spell trouble for the tile down the line.
I’ve seen some folks use modified thinset with those boards, but it makes me wonder if unmodified is ever really enough. Sometimes the manufacturer says either is fine, but I can’t help but question it. Would love to know if anyone’s had tiles pop off after a year or two, or if that’s just one of those theoretical worries.
Also, did you seal the seams with their proprietary tape and goop, or did you try something else? I’ve heard some installers skip the pricey branded accessories and just use regular mesh tape with waterproofing membrane, but I’m not sure if that voids warranties or impacts performance.
I’ve only used foam boards in a couple of powder rooms where weight was a concern, so not a ton of data points here. For most bathrooms, I still lean toward cement board just for peace of mind, even if it’s a pain to cut. But I totally get the appeal of foam for showers—especially if you’re working solo and want to avoid lugging heavy sheets up stairs.
Curious if you’d use it again, or if you’d go back to green board or cement board for your next project? Sometimes I feel like we’re all just guinea pigs for these new products...
Green Board in the News—Worth the Hype for Bathrooms?
- Foam boards are a back-saver, but yeah, my wallet cries every time I buy them.
- Haven’t had any flexing yet, but I always worry about it when I’m laying those big ol’ 24x24 tiles. Maybe I’m just paranoid?
- I stick with modified thinset—unmodified just feels risky, even if the box says it’s fine. Maybe overkill, but I sleep better.
- Tried the “off-brand” tape and membrane trick once... worked fine, but yeah, warranty is probably toast. Sometimes you gotta pick your battles.
- Cement board is still my go-to for tub surrounds. Cutting it stinks, literally and figuratively, but it’s solid.
- Anyone here actually had green board fail in a bathroom? I’ve heard horror stories but never seen it firsthand.
- Gotta say, I’ve wondered the same thing about green board. I keep hearing stories but never seen it actually fail in a bathroom either.
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Couldn’t agree more—cutting cement board is the worst, but it’s hard to beat for peace of mind.“Cement board is still my go-to for tub surrounds. Cutting it stinks, literally and figuratively, but it’s solid.”
- I’ve got a 1950s bath with original drywall (not even green board) behind tile, and it’s somehow still holding up. Makes me question how much of the hype is just marketing.
- Modified thinset all the way... I’m with you there. Overkill maybe, but better safe than sorry.
- Honestly, if you’re not seeing flex or failures, you’re probably doing it right. Sometimes paranoia just means you care about the job.
Yeah, I hear you on the marketing hype. My last reno, I debated green board vs. cement board for days. Ended up with cement board just for the peace of mind, but honestly, I’ve seen 40-year-old regular drywall hold up fine too. Sometimes it feels like we’re just overthinking it, but I’d rather be safe than sorry... especially when water’s involved.
Honestly, I’ve been down that rabbit hole too. I usually just bite the bullet and go with cement board in showers and tubs—insurance against call-backs, you know? But I’ve seen plenty of old houses with regular drywall behind tile, and it’s still hanging in there. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just the marketing machine at work or if we’re all just a bit paranoid after seeing one bad leak. At the end of the day, a little extra peace of mind isn’t the worst thing, especially if you’re not the one living there long term.
