What type of drywall is used for bathroom walls?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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Blueboard is a type of drywall that is frequently used for a tile wall in a shower. Not only is it water-resistant, but blueboard is easy to find and inexpensive, making it an ideal option for those on a budget.



Keeping this in view, what kind of drywall do you use in a bathroom?

Cement board – also known as backerboard – is specially designed for use in place of drywall behind tile in the wet areas in bathrooms and kitchens. It's hard, durable, naturally moisture- and mold-resistant, and won't rot, disintegrate or swell when exposed to water.

Similarly, what is the best material to use for bathroom walls? Drywall and Paint Gloss or semi-gloss are the best options for the bathroom because water beads on them and can be wiped away easily. Also look for a paint that helps combat mold and mildew.

In this way, can you use regular drywall in a bathroom?

You can hang drywall in the bathroom but not the same type that you hang in the rest of the house. Bathroom drywall must be moisture-resistant, and it's colored green to distinguish it from the regular variety. It isn't appropriate for areas that actually get wet, however, such as shower and tub surrounds.

Is Greenboard required in bathrooms?

Green board is water resistant – it is not water-proof. Green board is highly efficient in bathrooms and kitchens where moisture is frequently in the air, but it is not the drywall that should be set behind tile in your shower or any other areas where it can come in direct contact with water.

36 Related Question Answers Found

What is best board for bathroom walls?

What's the Best Backer Board
One of the best options for bathroom walls & ceilings is cement board. Cement doesn't contain any organic matter for mold to use as a food source. Cement boards are usually sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass mesh, so there is no paper in the product.

Do you need mold resistant drywall in a bathroom?

Installing moisture resistant drywall in the bathroom can help prevent growth of mold. This type of drywall should however not be installed behind ceramic tiles. Regular drywall will not protect your property from water and mold damage. You will have to replace your cheap drywall if it's exposed to moisture or mold.

What is the difference between green and purple drywall?

What's the difference between PURPLE® drywall and traditional green drywall? Traditional green drywall (also known as greenboard) is only moisture-resistant. PURPLE® drywall, only made by National Gypsum, is superior because it offers moisture, mold and mildew resistance.

What is the difference between sheetrock and drywall?

Drywall is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is used to make interior walls and ceilings. Sheetrock is a trademark for drywall made by the US Gypsum company.

How much weight can drywall hold?


How much weight can drywall hold without anchors? This can be 5 to 10 pounds, but keep in mind that the drywall is an extremely brittle material and, it is not strong enough to hold the weight for a longer period of time.

Is mold resistant drywall worth it?

In brief, mold-resistant drywall still can grow mold, and with surprising vigor. However, it does have less of a propensity towards mold growth than traditional paper-covered drywall. Mold resistant drywall is more expensive than paper-faced drywall, but not vastly so.

Is moisture resistant drywall required in bathroom?

Technically, greenboard and other water-resistant drywall panels can be used in highly wet places. According to ASTM C 1396, Section 7, water-resistant drywall can be used in wet locations such as behind tile in bathtub or shower stalls.

What kind of drywall do you use for a bathroom ceiling?

Conventional drywall is commonly used for ceilings in non-shower/tub areas of bathrooms, although some builders prefer to use moisture-resistant drywall — a.k.a. greenboard — instead. Moisture-resistant drywall is similar to standard drywall but has face paper that's treated for extra resistance to mold and moisture.

Is moisture resistant drywall required by code?

Changes made to the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) no longer recognize moisture-resistant, paper-faced drywall (commonly known as “green board”) as a suitable tile backing material in wet areas such as tub and showersurrounds.

Is mold resistant drywall required by code?


Technically, the building code does allow water resistant sheetrock installed on ceilings of tubs and showers, but it must be nailed to ceiling joists that are spaced no more than 12" apart. However, the performance limitations of the sheetrock was not fully understood until a few years after its use.

How many screws are in a sheet of drywall?

The short answer: 28 screws are needed for attaching a 4-by-8 sheet of drywall. If it's 4-by-12, it'll take about 36 screws. When screwing drywall sheets (4-by-8) to the studs vertically, use four screws, and start at the top.

Should I put drywall behind tub surround?

Fiberglass and acrylic tub and shower enclosures come with a flanged edge that attaches directly to the wall studs, and the proper way to hide this flange is to install drywall over it. Consequently, enclosures are typically installed on the bare studs.

What is purple Board drywall?

Drywall. Drywall – also known as gypsum board or wallboard – is a naturally fire-resistant, paper-covered sheet of natural or synthetic gypsum used to build interior walls and ceilings in most homes. PURPLE® drywall is unique because it resists moisture, mold and mildew.

What is the most popular color for bathroom walls?

Our Picks for the Best Bathroom Paint Colors
  • Bright White.
  • Charcoal.
  • Light Blue.
  • Light Green.
  • Creamy White.
  • Pistachio.
  • Brown.
  • Cerulean Blue.

What can I put on bathroom walls instead of tiles?


Popular Tile Alternatives for your Bathroom
  • Acrylic Panels. Acrylic shower panels offer a smooth and seamless look to your shower.
  • PVC Panels. This is one of the most affordable shower material options on the market today.
  • Marble.
  • Stainless Steel.
  • Stone Resin.

How can I cover my shower tile cheaply?

Paint. If it's the tile color or pattern that's the problem, you can cover it with an epoxy paint. Do not paint over the grout. To avoid accidentally doing so, cover grout lines with masking tape before you begin painting.

How do you waterproof a wall?

DO apply a masonry waterproofing product to bare interior basement walls. If your foil test showed that water is soaking through your basement walls and leaving them wet, seal the interior of the walls with a high-quality waterproof paint, such as DRYLOK White Extreme Waterproofer (available from Home Depot).