Green board’s like that friend who’s fine at a party but you wouldn’t trust to watch your dog. I used it in a half-bath once—no shower, just the occasional steamy mirror—and it’s held up okay. But man, for showers? I’m team cement board, sore arms and all. The dust is brutal though... pretty sure I was coughing up cement for a week. Still, peace of mind is worth a little misery sometimes.
I used it in a half-bath once—no shower, just the occasional steamy mirror—and it’s held up okay. But man, for showers?
Cement board is my go-to for showers too, even though the install’s a pain. The dust is no joke—mask up if you can. I’ve seen green board hold up in powder rooms, but I wouldn’t risk it behind tile where there’s daily moisture. For rental properties, I’d rather overbuild once than deal with repairs later. Peace of mind, like you said, is worth the hassle.
I’m with you—cement board just feels safer for showers, even if it’s a pain to cut and install. I tried green board behind tile once (rookie mistake), and a year later I found some soft spots near the grout lines. Not worth the risk, honestly. For walls that only get the odd splash or steam, it’s probably fine, but anywhere water lingers? I’d rather deal with the mess of cement board than redo tile down the line.
I hear you about the cement board hassle, but I’ve seen too many callbacks from green board in wet zones to trust it. Out of curiosity, has anyone here used one of those waterproofing membranes over green board and had good results long-term? I keep seeing manufacturers push that combo, but I’m not convinced it holds up in a real-world shower. Maybe I’m just too cautious, but I’d rather overbuild than risk a failure behind tile.
I keep seeing manufacturers push that combo, but I’m not convinced it holds up in a real-world shower.
I get where you’re coming from—manufacturers always have a way of making things sound bulletproof on paper. In my old house, I’ve seen what happens when shortcuts get buried behind tile, and it’s never pretty. Even with a membrane, green board just feels like a gamble in a shower. Has anyone actually opened up a wall years later to see how that combo fares? I’m curious if the membrane really keeps the board bone-dry, or if moisture still finds a way in over time.
