Green board’s kind of the Rodney Dangerfield of bathroom materials—never gets much respect. I’ve got a 1920s house, and when I opened up the walls, I found all sorts of weird stuff (horsehair plaster, anyone?), but the green board in a 70s reno was still hanging in there. Sure, cement board is the gold standard now, but honestly, if you keep up with caulk and don’t let the fan die, green board isn’t the disaster people make it out to be. Maybe not my first pick for a new install, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over it either.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen green board fail in a couple of flips, especially behind old tile jobs where grout lines weren’t sealed right. Once moisture gets in, it’s game over—mushy drywall city. Cement board’s a pain to cut, but I’ll take the extra hassle for peace of mind. Maybe overkill for a powder room, but anywhere there’s a shower, I don’t mess around anymore.
Yeah, I hear you on the cement board—my hands still remember the last time I tried to cut that stuff. But for me, if I can save a few bucks and it’s just a half-bath or powder room, I’ll risk the green board. No shower, barely any steam... seems fine so far (knock on wood). Full bath with a tub or shower? No way, learned that lesson the hard way too. Moldy drywall is not a fun surprise behind tile.
Honestly, I get the temptation—green board is way easier on the hands and wallet, especially for a powder room. But have you ever had a client ask why their paint’s bubbling a year later? Even in “dry” baths, humidity can sneak up. Ever tried the lightweight cement boards? They’re not as bad as the old stuff...
Ever had to patch up old plaster behind tile? I’ve seen green board fail in spots where you’d swear it should’ve held up. Is anyone actually seeing cement board hold paint better over time, or is it just less likely to get those weird soft spots?