Green board in a shower just doesn’t cut it, no matter what the marketing says. I’ve demoed too many bathrooms where the green board turned to mush behind tile. Cement board’s a pain, but it’s the right call. My go-to is cement board, then a waterproof membrane like RedGard or Kerdi—never had a callback with that combo. Cutting cement board outside helps with the mess. Green board might be fine for half-baths or walls away from water, but I wouldn’t risk it in a shower.
Green Board—Still Not Sold on It for Showers
I keep seeing green board hyped up too, but I’m with you—every time I’ve pulled tile off a shower wall and found that soggy, crumbling mess, it’s been green board underneath. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but it’s hard to trust it after seeing that a few times.
Cement board’s definitely heavier and a pain to cut, but I’d rather wrestle with that than deal with callbacks or repairs down the road. Curious though—has anyone actually seen green board hold up long-term in a shower with just a good membrane? Or is it always just marketing hype? I get that it’s “moisture resistant,” but that’s not the same as waterproof, right?
I’ll admit, I’ve used green board on bathroom ceilings or walls far from the tub, and it’s been fine. But for showers, I just can’t bring myself to risk it. Maybe I’m just set in my ways, but I’d rather overbuild than underbuild when water’s involved... anyone ever regret going the extra mile?
Green board in the news—worth the hype for bathrooms?
I’m right there with you—green board in a shower just feels like tempting fate. I tried it once (rookie mistake), and let’s just say my “moisture resistant” wall turned into a science experiment after a couple years. Cement board is a pain, but at least it doesn’t dissolve if you look at it wrong. I’d rather wrestle with heavy sheets than have to redo the whole thing later... Overkill? Maybe, but I sleep better knowing I won’t find mushrooms growing behind my tile.
