Cement board’s a pain to haul, but honestly, it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Couldn’t agree more—lugging cement board up stairs is no picnic, but green board just doesn’t cut it behind tile. If you’re tiling a shower or tub surround, here’s my usual process:
1. Measure and cut cement board to fit (leave a 1/8" gap at seams).
2. Screw it into studs with proper backer screws.
3. Tape seams with alkali-resistant mesh tape.
4. Apply thinset over the tape.
5. Waterproof with a roll-on membrane if you want extra insurance.
Green board’s fine for bathroom walls outside wet zones, but anywhere water might sneak in... cement board all day. Learned that lesson after tearing out mushy drywall more than once.
Title: Green Board in the News—Worth the Hype for Bathrooms?
I hear you on the cement board hassle. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to wrangle those heavy sheets up narrow stairwells—my back still remembers a few of those jobs. But honestly, every time I’ve tried to cut corners with green board behind tile, it’s come back to bite me. Had a client a few years ago who insisted on green board in their shower because “it’s moisture resistant.” Fast forward two years, and we’re tearing out soggy drywall and redoing the whole thing with cement board. Not fun for anyone.
I get why folks want to use green board—it’s lighter, cheaper, and easier to work with. But in wet zones, it just doesn’t hold up. Maybe if you’re doing a powder room or just the bathroom ceiling, sure, go for it. But for showers or tub surrounds, I’ll take the extra effort for cement board every time. Peace of mind is worth a little sweat, in my book.
Green board’s one of those things that sounds great in theory, but I’ve seen it disappoint in practice too. It’s tempting when you’re trying to keep things light and eco-friendly, but showers just demand more. I’ve had better luck using cement board with a waterproof membrane—yeah, it’s heavier, but it holds up. For low-moisture spots, green board can be fine, but for anything that gets soaked, I’d rather not risk having to redo the job later. Just not worth the waste or hassle.
I get where you’re coming from—green board just doesn’t cut it for wet areas, no matter what the marketing says. I’ve had a couple rentals where previous owners used it in showers, and it always ended up with soft spots or worse after a few years. Cement board with a membrane is more work up front, but honestly, it’s saved me headaches (and cash) down the line. For half-baths or powder rooms, green board’s fine, but anywhere there’s daily moisture? I’d rather play it safe.
Green board in the news—worth the hype for bathrooms?
Couldn’t agree more with your take. Green board’s one of those things that sounds good on paper, but in practice, it just doesn’t hold up where you’ve got real moisture. I’ve seen too many “budget” bathroom renos where someone thought green board was enough behind tile or even just paint in a shower alcove, and a few years later you’re dealing with mushy drywall and that musty smell creeping in. It’s like, sure, it’s “moisture resistant,” but there’s a big difference between resisting a little humidity and standing up to daily showers.
Cement board with a proper waterproofing membrane is a pain to cut and hang, no question. But honestly, once you’ve had to rip out soggy green board (and maybe deal with mold remediation), you realize the extra effort is worth it. I always tell folks: if you’re already investing time and money into a bathroom remodel, why risk having to do it again in five years? The cost difference isn’t huge compared to the hassle of repairs down the line.
I will say, I’ve used green board in powder rooms or as a ceiling in bathrooms with good ventilation, and it’s been fine. But anywhere near a tub or shower? Not worth rolling the dice. And don’t get me started on people using regular drywall in those spots...that’s just asking for trouble.
Funny thing is, I think some of the confusion comes from how stores market these products. “Water-resistant” gets tossed around so much that folks assume it means waterproof—which it definitely isn’t. Maybe there’s some rare scenario where green board would be okay behind tile if you had perfect ventilation and zero leaks ever...but who wants to gamble on that?
Anyway, I’d rather spend an extra afternoon wrestling cement board than deal with soggy walls later. Just my two cents from too many demo days spent cursing old shortcuts.
