“Cement board’s a pain to cut, sure, but it’s way less painful than dealing with moldy drywall down the road.”
Totally get where you’re coming from. I just finished my first bathroom reno and had the same “what’s hiding behind the walls?” anxiety. Here’s what helped me:
- Used a scoring knife and snapped the cement board outside—less dust, but yeah, still a workout.
- For the corners and outlets, I switched to an oscillating multi-tool. Not perfect, but way less mess than a circular saw.
- Wetting the board a little before cutting seemed to help with dust, though it made cleanup a bit stickier.
I was tempted by green board + RedGard too, but after seeing how water finds every tiny gap, I went with cement board for peace of mind. Maybe it’s overkill, but like you said, “tile isn’t cheap, and neither is my sanity.” Haven’t seen a recent green board fail personally, but I’d rather not be the test case.
Demo day trauma is real... but you’re not alone. It gets easier after the first one (or at least you know what to expect).
I hear you on the demo day nerves—old houses are full of surprises. I’ve always wondered, for folks who’ve done a few bathrooms, have you ever regretted going “overkill” with cement board? I keep thinking about resale value too… do buyers even notice what’s behind the tile, or is it just peace of mind for us doing the work? Sometimes I wonder if I’m just making things harder on myself, but then again, I’ve seen what water can do in these old walls.
Title: Green Board in the News—Worth the Hype for Bathrooms?
I’ve always wondered, for folks who’ve done a few bathrooms, have you ever regretted going “overkill” with cement board? I keep thinking about resale value too… do buyers even notice what’s behind the tile, or is it just peace of mind for us doing the work?
I get where you’re coming from. I used to think I was being a bit obsessive with cement board, especially after my first bathroom reno. It felt like overkill at the time—hauling those heavy sheets up a narrow staircase in a 1920s house, cursing every corner. But then I demo’d a neighbor’s bathroom (same era) and found green board behind the tile, totally crumbling from years of slow leaks. That was enough to convince me.
Here’s how I look at it now:
1. **Peace of Mind**: You’re right, most buyers won’t know what’s behind the tile unless they’re super into home improvement. But *you* will know. And if you’re planning to stay in the house for a while, that peace of mind is worth something. Water damage is sneaky and expensive.
2. **Resale Value**: It’s not like you can list “cement board under tile” on Zillow and expect a bidding war. But if you ever sell to someone who brings in an inspector or contractor, they’ll notice the quality work. I’ve had a buyer’s agent mention it during a walk-through—small thing, but it made me feel like the extra effort wasn’t wasted.
3. **Effort vs. Reward**: Cement board is a pain to cut and install, no doubt. But after seeing what water can do to green board (or worse, regular drywall), I’d rather deal with the hassle up front than risk mold or rot later. Especially in old houses where nothing is square and you never know what’s lurking behind the plaster.
4. **Green Board Hype**: Honestly, I think green board is fine for walls outside the wet zone (like above wainscoting or on the ceiling), but I wouldn’t trust it in a shower or tub surround. Cement board plus a good waterproofing membrane is my go-to now.
I guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take on. For me, after seeing some gnarly surprises behind old tile, I’d rather overbuild than underbuild—even if nobody else ever notices.
Cement board is a pain to cut and install, no doubt. But after seeing what water can do to green board (or worse, regular drywall), I’d rather deal with the hassle up front than risk mold or rot later.
Totally relate to this. I did my first bathroom with green board years ago because it was “the thing” at the time, and yeah, it held up...until it didn’t. Found soft spots behind the shower tile after about 7 years. Since then, I just stick with cement board and RedGard. It’s a slog, but I sleep better knowing I won’t have to rip it out again anytime soon. For me, the extra work’s worth it, even if nobody ever sees it.
Cement board’s a beast to work with, but I’m with you—worth it for peace of mind. Here’s what I’ve seen in my 1920s place:
- Green board *can* handle some moisture, but it’s not waterproof. I’ve pulled out sections behind old tile and found the paper layer peeling, mushy spots, and even a bit of black mold.
- Cement board’s heavy and messy, but it doesn’t care if there’s a slow leak or condensation. It just sits there, solid.
- I always tape and mud the seams with alkali-resistant mesh, then roll on two coats of RedGard. Overkill? Maybe, but I’d rather overdo it than have to demo again.
For me, the extra work’s worth it, even if nobody ever sees it.
Couldn’t agree more. The only thing I’d add—if you’re dealing with an old house, check your framing. Sometimes studs aren’t plumb or spaced right, which makes cement board even trickier to hang. But once it’s up, you know you’re set for decades.
