I get the appeal of foam boards—they’re super light and cut fast, but honestly, I still trust cement board more, even if it’s a pain to lug around. Had a buddy try foam behind a shower surround and he ended up with some flex issues. Maybe it’s better behind a vanity, but for me, nothing beats old-school cement for peace of mind, especially if there’s ever a hidden leak.
Title: Green Board in the News—Worth the Hype for Bathrooms?
I hear you on the cement board—it’s basically the cockroach of building materials. Survives anything, even if it weighs as much as my first car. But I’ll throw a little curveball here: I’ve actually had pretty good luck with green board in a couple bathrooms, and my house is old enough to remember when indoor plumbing was “newfangled.”
Now, I wouldn’t put green board right behind a shower or tub where it’s getting direct spray. That’s just asking for trouble, like putting a paper towel in a rainstorm. But for walls outside the splash zone, especially in powder rooms or half-baths? It’s been solid. I did a guest bath reno five years back, used green board everywhere except the shower surround (that got cement board, because even I’m not that brave), and there’s not a hint of mold or mushiness.
I get the worry about leaks—trust me, I’ve spent more time than I care to admit chasing down mysterious drips in this place. But honestly, if you’ve got a leak big enough to soak through green board, it’s probably going to find its way through grout lines and seams even with cement board. At that point, you’re tearing out walls no matter what you used.
Foam boards though...I tried them once thinking I’d save my back, and immediately regretted it. Felt like building with pool noodles. Maybe they’ve improved since then, but I’m still a little scarred.
Bottom line: cement board where it counts, but green board isn’t just hype—at least not for every single wall in the bathroom. Sometimes you gotta pick your battles (and save your back for hauling the next load of tile).
Couldn’t agree more about green board being fine for the “dry” parts of a bathroom. I’ve flipped a handful of houses now, and honestly, I’ve never seen green board fail unless someone put it right in the line of fire—like, behind a shower head or tub faucet. That’s just asking for a soggy mess. But for the rest of the walls? It’s lighter, easier to cut, and doesn’t turn into a science experiment if you get a little condensation.
Cement board is a beast, no doubt. I swear, every time I haul those sheets up a flight of stairs, I question my life choices. But it’s the only thing I trust behind tile in a shower. I’ve seen too many horror stories with regular drywall or even green board in wet zones.
Foam boards...man, I tried those once too. Felt like I was building a fort for my kids, not a bathroom. Maybe they’re better now, but I’m still a little gun-shy.
At the end of the day, it’s all about using the right stuff in the right spot. No need to over-engineer every wall if you don’t have to.
Green board definitely gets a lot of hype, but honestly, it’s mostly deserved for the “safe” zones. I’ve had the same experience—never had it go bad unless someone got a little too ambitious and put it right where the water hits. Like you said, that’s just asking for trouble.
Dragging cement board around is basically a workout in itself. I swear, if I ever need to skip the gym, I’ll just do a bathroom reno. But yeah, nothing beats it for showers. I’ve seen green board behind tile in a shower once, and it was a total disaster. Mold city. Not worth the risk, especially if you’re flipping and want to avoid callbacks.
Foam boards...man, I tried those once too. Felt like I was building a fort for my kids, not a bathroom.
That cracked me up. I gave foam boards a shot last year, and I still don’t know how I feel about them. They’re light, which is nice, but I kept second-guessing if they’d hold up over time. Maybe I’m just old school, but I trust cement board more for the wet stuff.
I do see folks going overboard sometimes, putting cement board everywhere, even where it’s just not needed. It’s like wearing rain boots in the desert. Green board is fine for the rest, and it’s way easier on the back and the budget.
At the end of the day, it’s all about picking your battles. Save the heavy-duty stuff for where it counts, and don’t sweat the rest. If green board keeps the walls from turning into a petri dish, that’s a win in my book.
Honestly, every time I see someone slap green board right into a shower, I cringe a little. Maybe it’s just flashbacks from that one flip where the previous owner “upgraded” with green board behind the tile—six months later, we were tearing out mushy drywall and black mold. That was a fun surprise.
I get what you’re saying about foam boards, though. Tried them once, and yeah, they’re almost suspiciously light. Makes you wonder if they’ll actually stand up to the abuse over time or if you’ll be back in there patching things up way sooner than you’d like.
I do think people get a little carried away with cement board sometimes. I mean, does the wall behind your vanity really need to be bulletproof? Probably not. But for those shower walls, I’m not taking chances anymore. Curious—has anyone actually had green board last long-term anywhere near heavy moisture? I feel like even in “safe” zones, it’s a gamble if your venting isn’t up to par.
