How to pick Moisture Resistant Drywall For Bathroom
In bathrooms, you'll want to make sure you choose the right type of drywall - from mold resistant to moisture resistant. The Coach explains what you'll need to know.
Whether you’re building a new bathroom in your home, or you’re remodeling a section of your house that’s exposed to humidity, it’s important to know about greenboard and where it’s appropriate to use it. It’s a product that’s good in several sections of the home, and something that you’ll want to use instead of standard gypsum board also known as drywall.
What is Greenboard?
Greenboard is a water-resistant gypsum board or drywall panel that came out in the 1960’s. The product is essentially a more durable gypsum board. It has the same gypsum core that you’ll find on standard drywall all over homes, but it comes with a thicker coating of paper that’s protected by wax for water resistance. The exterior paper has a green tint to it helping to separate it from standard gypsum board, and leading to the product being known by most people as “greenboard”
It’s Thicker
While standard drywall comes in ¼” and ½” thicknesses, greenboard is sold in ½” and 5/8″ thicknesses. That’s something that you have to keep in mind if you’re replacing ¼” drywall in your home with greenboard. It’s thicker because of the added wax that’s infused into the material, and also because it has to be. Studies show that greenboard is actually weaker than standard drywall when it gets wet and the added thickness helps compensate for this. When installed properly the slightly weaker material isn’t a problem at all and offers superior moisture resistance.
It Isn’t Water Proof
Greenboard drywall isn’t designed to line the inside of showers or for use in environments exposed to outdoor weather. It’s the type of stuff that you want to use down in your basement or another part of your home that’s exposed to more humidity and moisture in the air. Greenboard drywall isn’t water-proof, it simply resists moisture better than the standard gypsum board that’s on most walls in homes around the United States.