Drywall Recomendation for Bathroom?
What drywall should I use for bathroom areas (especially the ceiling in the tub/shower)? Do I use something different than the rest of the house? You need what is traditionally called 'greenboard'. It's basically drywall with a different paper facing and bonding agent to resit the humidity in bathrooms. I recommend it for the entire bathroom, but it's only required in areas that are 'likely' to get wet, such as near the shower/tub and sinks. I would use regualr drywall and thus is what our buidling officials recognize here as well. Greenboard paper actually holds in moisture and starts to produce mold after exposure to high humdity-granted not overnight, but it will happen. I have'nt seen greenboard in our lumber yards for over 2yrs. Proper painting and caulk any joints, you'll be fine. Walked through more new homes than I can count and have yet to see anything but normal drywall in any part of the home unless their getting plasterd then they use the blue board. Unclemoey Your not including the walls in the tub/shower area in this question are you? Pendragon is correct. Unified Building Code states that you will use water repellent sheetrock in any area of high moisture. You even have to have it on the inside of walls around a furnace. Yes, I know that some building departments say you do not need it, but they are not telling you correctly. And yes I myself have seen lots of new construction without it. But you will never see any of mine that way. Just remember, if you do it by the book, your never wrong no matter what someone else says. You have to have it on the walls behind the shower also. Make sure you also give it a coat of First Cote (primer) before painting or covering it up. Good Luck I disagree on the greenboard in the shower area. While greenboard was used in showers years ago it is no longer an acceptable backer for tile in a wet area. Cement board is now the correct backer for tile in a wet area. Johnn: Time to go back and read the original post. There is no mention of tile. You have inserted the tile into the question. If tile backing had been asked for, for tile, I would have said put up cement board. But that was not the question. Pendragon and I answered the original question correctly. Thank you for your input. Jack I was referring to your post #5. You have to have it on the walls behind the shower also. If I read it wrong, my apologies. Johnny: I just checked the code book again, and I was correct. On the walls behind also is the code. Your local code may say something else, but the UBC says waterproof sheetrock. Jack Yes, behind the tile I will be using cement board... I was concerned with the drywall on the ceiling above the tubs. Thanks for all your coments. If you use green board on a ceiling, you should add more blocking. Apparently, greenboard is more prone to sagging so it needs more dem screws to hold it up. I don't know the specifics cause I've just used drywall on shower ceilings. Personally, I would just use drywall everywhere, except around the shower, where you should use some cbu with a vapor barrier behind it. I agree with Picasso on this one. Greenboard does tend to sag on a ceiling and requires 12 oc framing. It doesnt hold paint as well as regular drywall either. If you are going to paint your ceiling regular drywall is the way to go. Could you please give me your professional opinion, after reading the threads on greenboard I want to make sure that I am doing the right thing. I plan on using greenboard as a backer behind a cultured marble shower, I already have a piece on the ceiling that is aprox 60x36. it is screwed to joists (new blocking) aprox. 12 on center. I plan on putting 3/8 cultured marble on the celing with the walls also going all the way up to the celing. Attached to the backer with 100% sylicone caulk. I only have one end of the shower that is on an outside wall. Which has the insulation with the brown paper on it. My construction friend says that It will be fine. Will that insulation with the vapor barrior be ok? I will have some greenboard exposed and will have to paint it. Do you think that it will turn out like regular drywall as long as I prime it? I can accept the fact that greenboard should not be used for tile, but should I have any issues using it as backer for a cultured shower? The marble panels will be sealed with silicone with no chance of the greenboard getting wet. My only other concern is the silicone sticking to the greenboard good enough. The celing marble will be supported also by the edges of the sides and back wall.If you have time I would greatly value your input. Thanks, Jeff According to the IRC section R702.4.3 (limitations to the use of water resistent gypsum backer - which is what green board is -for adhesive application of ceramic tile or other non-absorbent finish material) water resistent gypsum SHALL NOT be used 1) over a vapor retarder in a shower or bathtub compartment or 2) where there will be direct exposure to water, or in areas subject to continuous high humdidty. This is why cement backer board is used in the shower are to a height no less than 6 feet. The IRC also requires framing spacing to not exceed 12 OC for 1/2 and 16 OC for 5/8 thick green board. As to it's sagging qualities, totaly agree. Best of luck
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