She also enjoys writing business and finance, food and drink and pet-related articles. The core of the green board drywall is a thicker and more resilient version of the drywall's gypsum core, which allows it to withstand indirect moisture applications, such as the humidity in a bathroom or near a laundry room. But I noticed after buying it that the side that faces the studs was made of the same paper as the regular drywall. The new mold resistant d/wall board is paperless (they should use the term resistant loosely because there is an absence of material for mold to grow). Once complete, the surface is ready for painting or another finish. It’s hard, durable, naturally moisture- and mold-resistant, and won’t rot, disintegrate or swell when exposed to water, making it ideal for use behind ceramic tile, backsplashes and countertops. Type X gypsum panels with moisture and mold resistance, up to 16% less weight; Lightweight 1/2 in. Baseboards and other trim are generally nailed in place after the drywall is installed. A paper sheet is an organic material, and it’s susceptible to mold when in constant contact with moisture, hence, … It was developed to replace lath and plaster construction. However, Fiber cement boards are far heavier than gypsum board. I had suggested to the home builder that I would rather put 15 lbs felt over the wood wall, then put the cement board over the felt, but the home builder said that they would not do that. Today moisture resistant sheetrock has been replaced in the shower area with cement board. This product is … While typical drywall uses standard paper, greenboards use a moisture-resistant, green-colore… gypsum panels, up to 30% less weight; Lightweight 1/2 in. 1/2 in. Cement board,Sheetrock, more Drywall? For tiling kitchen backsplash. Nor will it prevent mold in the case of flooding, when water saturates the drywall and the organic wood framing behind it. Use cement board for the tub area, especially if tiling. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Drywall is a ubiquitous material that is a common wall surface in both basic homes and in luxury construction. moisture- and mold-resistant gypsum panels, up to 16% less weight; Lightweight glass-mat … Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with almost 50 years experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. U.S. Gypsum (Sheetrock® Brand Humitek®) National Gypsum (Gold Bond Brand XP) Temple-Inland (Silent-Guard™ TS) Georgia Pacific (DensArmor® Plus; U.S. Gypsum (FiberRoc® AquaTough™) Deny mold spores the required air and moisture. When sheetrock is used in the shower area it will most likely fail within 3-8 years due to the fact that it is moisture resistant and not water proof. Ultralight Drywall Performs Well and Is Easier to Install. The applicable product standard for mold-resistant gypsum board is ASTM C1396. The smaller dimensions of cement board make the installation of it on large walls more difficult, but cement board panels fit vertically in 3-foot wide showers, or horizontally behind a standard 5-foot bathtub. But these products are by no means waterproof or moldproof—and the manufacturers do not claim so. Why PURPLE. You can use tile backer board on the ceilings, but it will require taping the whole sheet instead of just joints for a smooth finish. If you can find one that's combined with an abuse-resistant board (since it's a rental) that would be the best of both worlds. for the rest of the bathroom you can use a mold resistant drywall like these. The backside is still plain paper. moisture- and mold-resistant panel available. Common Types of Drywall or Gypsum Wallboard, Fireproof Drywall: Basics of Fire-Rated or Type X Drywall, How to Identify and Treat Mold in Your Basement, Composition of Drywall and Joint Compound, Hardwood Flooring in Kitchens Review: Pros and Cons. If the goal is to not have any mold growth in the assembly then all materials should be mold resistant. Glenda Taylor is a contractor and a full-time writer specializing in construction writing. rest of the bathroom), then use a mold/water resistant panel. Mold Resistant Drywall vs. Durock. Paperless Drywall . Another alternative to mold issue is green board. Specialty drywall panels are available with moisture-resistant and mold-resistant properties for installation on bathroom walls or in rooms with high humidity levels. With some mold-resistant drywall, this is accomplished by using a thicker paper facing and backing that is heavily saturated with a waxy substance that prevents moisture and air from getting at the paper. It's composed of a hardened gypsum core with a thick paper on the front, back, and long edges. Finishing my basement and getting ready to put drywall up in a few days. panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched between thick paper Drywall can accept surface finishes of paint, wallpaper, or textured skim-coat plaster. moisture- and mold-resistant panel available. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Concrete backer-board, once commonly referred to in the field by the brand name Wonderboard(r), is a cement product designed as a sheathing material for walls and floors. Essentially, drywall is gypsum pressed between two sheets of paper. (2)You can cut gypsum board easily with a utilityknife. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Gypsum Board is the first and lightest 1/2 in. Mold resistant drywall is exactly as it states. Drywall vs. Plasterboard Sometimes the terms drywall and plasterboard are used interchangeably, but they're actually two different products. Moisture exposure can occur during all phases of the construction process and through the building life cycle from roof, wall and pipe leaks, gross water penetration of the façade, vapor diffusion and condensation, and capillary rise. Need to replace a tiled wall behind a 5' tub with a shower. The easiest brand of mold resistant drywall to find is the USG Sheetrock Mold Tough Drywall. Drywall cuts easily with just a utility knife, but you'll need a circular saw, fitted with a heavy-duty blade, to cut cement board. It is an older form of water-resistant drywall that is gradually being phased out in favor of products that combine both moisture resistance and mold resistance. These are available in 4×8-foot and 3×5-foot sheets that are either 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch thick.Greenboards or blueboards, on the other hand, are types of drywall. To grow, mold spores require oxygen, moisture, and an organic food source. Cement board is suitable as an underlayment on countertops, walls and floors. Note that these products all combine mold-resistance with the moisture resistance that was once the virtue of green board drywall. Rotted drywall can also lead to a buildup of mold and mildew which is what leads to dirty tiles. Not all drywall is created equal. It costs more than regular drywall and its thickness means it needs to be used next to the thickest form of regular drywall. Drywall is an alternative to the traditional lath-and-plaster method of constructing interior walls. This paper-backed drywall with a light green tint is often installed in high-moisture areas, heavily coated with cement board or bathroom-quality paint on top. Water-Resistant Drywall vs. Cement Board . In my last basement I finished I put up the Purple Mold/Mildew resistant board. Big box home improvement centers sell a sheet of 1/2-inch, 4 x 8-foot standard drywall for about $12 per sheet, while a comparable sheet of good mold-resistant drywall costs about $16. Don't use mold board on the ceiling as it will sag. The other walls in non-wet areas should be done with mold board because of the humidity in bathrooms. Sheet-type materials cover large areas, installing quickly and forming a base for the addition of paint, wallpaper or tile finish. It is the standard wall finish material used throughout the construction industry. Green board is a paper-backed, water-resistant drywall that has a light green "hospital" tint. Paperless drywall has been replacing paper drywall. Modern mold-resistant drywall combines the moisture resistance of older green board with materials and engineering that also make it quite resistant to mold. In normally dry locations, the substantial extra cost of this product is probably not worth the investment. Wallboard, drywall and cement board are widely available panel types contractors and homeowners use in new construction or remodeling projects. 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