Green board in the news—worth the hype for bathrooms?
I hear you on the cement board hassle. I’m halfway through my first bathroom reno and honestly, it’s been a learning curve. The weight and dust are no joke, but seeing how green board can fail over time (especially with old plumbing and unpredictable leaks), I’m glad I went with the tougher route. Double-checking framing was a must for me too—nothing like discovering a stud that’s way out of line when you’re already holding up a 3x5 sheet. It’s slow going, but knowing it’ll last is worth the extra sweat.
Yeah, I’m with you—cement board’s a pain to haul and cut, but the peace of mind is worth it. Green board might be cheaper up front, but if you ever get a slow leak or bad caulking, it just doesn’t hold up. I tried it once years back and had to redo the wall after a few years... not fun and definitely not cheap in the long run. For wet areas, I’d rather put in the extra effort now than risk mold or soft spots down the line.
Green board might be cheaper up front, but if you ever get a slow leak or bad caulking, it just doesn’t hold up. I tried it once years back and had to redo the wall after a few years... not fun and definitely not cheap in the long run.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen so many folks try to save a bit with green board, only to end up with headaches later. It’s one of those things—looks fine on paper, but real life is messier. Cement board is heavy and awkward, yeah, but honestly, once it’s up, you just don’t have to worry about it. I always tell people: “You’ll forget about the hassle of installation way before you forget about moldy drywall.”
I will say, though, green board has its place. If you’re doing a powder room or somewhere that’s not going to see much moisture, it can be fine. But for showers or tub surrounds? I’d rather wrestle with cement board any day. The peace of mind is worth every sore muscle.
Funny enough, I had a client who insisted on green board behind their shower tile because they’d read some article hyping it up. Fast forward three years—tiles popping off, soft spots everywhere. Ended up costing them way more than if they’d just gone with cement board from the start. Lesson learned (the hard way).
It’s tempting to cut corners when you’re staring at the price tags at the hardware store, but bathrooms are just one of those places where water finds a way. Better safe than sorry... even if your arms are sore for a week after hauling those boards around.
Ended up costing them way more than if they’d just gone with cement board from the start. Lesson learned (the hard way).
I hear you on the “you’ll forget about the hassle of installation way before you forget about moldy drywall.” That’s basically my mantra at this point. I’ve got a 1920s house and let me tell you, water will find every single weakness you didn’t know existed. I tried green board in a guest bath years ago—figured it’d be “good enough” since it wasn’t a daily-use shower. Well, one leaky valve later and I was peeling back soggy drywall like wet cardboard. Not my finest hour.
Cement board is a pain to cut and maneuver, no argument there, but once it’s up, it’s like armor for your walls. I get that green board has its place (powder rooms, maybe laundry), but in any spot where water might linger or sneak behind tile? Not worth rolling the dice. The upfront savings just don’t stack up against the cost of redoing tile and chasing down hidden leaks.
Honestly, if you’re already putting in the sweat equity, why not do it once and be done? My back might complain, but at least my walls aren’t growing science experiments behind the scenes.
Totally agree—once you’ve had to rip out tile and mushy drywall, you never want to do it again. I’ve flipped a few places where someone tried to save a buck with green board in showers, and every time it’s been a mess. That said, I’ve heard some folks swear by the newer waterproofing membranes over green board. Anyone actually had luck with that combo, or is it just marketing hype? I’m all for saving time, but not if it means redoing everything in five years...
