Green board gets a lot of hype, but honestly, I've had mixed luck with it in bathrooms. In my experience, cement board might be heavier and a pain to cut, but it just doesn’t get those mushy spots over time—especially where there’s even a hint of moisture. Paint seems to stick about the same on both if you prep right, though. One thing I’ve noticed: if you’re dealing with old plaster, sometimes it’s just better to rip out and start fresh instead of patching, even if it feels like overkill. Long-term headaches are way less likely that way.
Cement board really is the workhorse for wet areas. I get why green board gets attention, but in showers or anywhere water might sneak in, cement board just holds up better long-term. Cutting it’s a pain, yeah, but worth it for peace of mind.
“sometimes it’s just better to rip out and start fresh instead of patching, even if it feels like overkill.”
Couldn’t agree more. Patch jobs on old plaster almost always come back to haunt you. If you’re already in there, might as well do it right and avoid future headaches.
Green Board Isn’t Always a Bad Call
I get where you’re coming from with cement board—definitely the gold standard for showers and spots that see a ton of water. But I’ve gotta say, green board isn’t totally useless in bathrooms. I’ve flipped a few places where the previous owners used green board on the upper half of bathroom walls (above tile or wainscoting), and honestly, it held up just fine after years. It’s not meant to be submerged or take direct spray, but for areas that just get humidity? It’s lighter, easier to cut, and way less of a hassle to hang.
Cutting cement board is such a pain. The dust gets everywhere, and if you’re working solo, it’s like wrestling a bear sometimes. I’ll use it for tub surrounds or shower stalls every time, but if I’m just doing a powder room or half bath with no shower, green board is usually enough. Never had an issue as long as there’s decent ventilation.
On the “rip it out” vs patching debate... I’m kind of split. Sometimes patching makes sense if the damage is small and you’re not dealing with ancient crumbly plaster. I’ve done full gut jobs that felt like overkill in hindsight—especially when you realize how much extra mess and cost comes with starting from scratch. If the bones are good and you can blend the patch well, sometimes it’s worth saving yourself the headache (and your wallet).
Guess it all comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take on future repairs versus upfront work. But yeah, cement board for showers—no argument there. Just don’t write off green board completely for every bathroom job.
Green board’s fine for low-moisture spots, but I’ve seen it fail in bathrooms with poor ventilation—especially in older homes where fans are more decorative than functional. Mold loves to sneak in behind paint or tile if there’s even a hint of a leak. Cement board is a pain, yeah, but I’d rather deal with the hassle up front than risk a hidden mess later. Maybe I’m just paranoid after too many “surprise” demo days... but I’d rather overbuild than under-protect, even above wainscoting.
Mold loves to sneak in behind paint or tile if there’s even a hint of a leak.
You nailed it with that. In my 1920s place, the original bath walls were practically a science experiment after decades of “just paint it again.” I learned the hard way—green board above wainscoting looked fine until we had a slow leak and the whole section turned soft. Cement board’s heavy and awkward, but once it’s up, you don’t have to worry. I’d rather patch plaster than rip out moldy drywall, any day.