You can use any drywall you want in your bathroom, technically. However, there are some drywalls made specifically for bathrooms that are moisture and mold resistant. I have a confession, years ago I would use regular drywall in bathrooms in my own homes because I knew I would be sealing everything up and that having the drywall boards exposed to moisture likely wasn’t going to happen.
Can you use regular drywall in your bathroom? Yes, you can, however, it is not recommended. Regular drywall is not made to withstand moisture like moisture and mold resistant drywall is. With exposure to moisture and water, regular drywall will succumb to damage and molding.
It’s good to know that regular drywall could cause you problems down the road but maybe it’s best to have a better understanding of when and why you use these types of drywall. When you think about it, installing drywall in your bathroom will be underneath either tile and or paint. You will have vanities and toilets in front of the walls. What a pain it would be if in just a few years you decided you needed to rip out the drywall and start over. I think you will agree. So, let’s look at this a bit further to get a better understanding.
Do You Need Mold Resistant Drywall in Bathroom?
Mold can cause health issues, so it’s probably not about whether you need to use mold resistant drywall its more about why wouldn’t you? There are always those people that won’t believe something like a mold will cause issues when they themselves don’t have issues.
You need mold or moisture resistant drywall for a bathroom to prevent potential molding and damage to the drywall and the framing. Once moisture penetrates the wall board, it will travel in the walls causing damage and deterioration.
The best way to help prevent this problem is to use products specifically made to prevent the issue from happening in the first place.
I know some home owners will think “what does it matter” because no one will see the damage (maybe) anyways. Or, you’re selling your home in a few years so why spend the extra money? If you sell your home, chances are the potential buyer will have a home inspection performed. If the home inspector is thorough, he/she will find mold in the walls.
After all of that, do you feel mold resistant drywall is needed now?
What is the Best Drywall to Use in a Bathroom?
The best drywall to use in a bathroom is a mold/moisture resistant board. The core of these boards (gypsum) are the same as regular drywall. The difference is in the paper wrapping. The outer layers are made of materials to resist moisture.
It is important to understand that these boards are “resistant” not waterproof. Meaning, they will resist moisture to a certain degree. If the board is constantly getting wet with water, then most likely, it will start getting moldy.
Green and blue boards were very popular years ago and now manufacturers are creating mold resistant boards that look just like regular drywall. There are even lite versions of the boards, making it easier to carry them.
Something to consider is you might be able to use regular drywall in parts of a bathroom that will never be exposed to water. Just remember though that there is still quite a bit of moisture in a bathroom so you will need a good air exchanger going to get rid of the moist air ASAP.
What Kind of Drywall Do You Use for a Bathroom Ceiling?
If you can afford it, I would say use the mold resistant drywall for the bathroom ceiling. The square footage shouldn’t be too much, so you won’t require that many sheets of drywall.
If money is tight, just use the mold resistant in areas above showers and tubs and use regular in the rest of the bathroom.
Is Mold Resistant Drywall Worth it?
I feel for overall piece of mind, mold resistant drywall is definitely worth it. Once walls are covered with tile and paint, it is really hard to see what’s going on underneath until the problem has been around for quite some time.
Another thing to consider, even if you have no thoughts of selling your home, is that if you were to sell it, you don’t want any issues popping up that will stall or potentially end the sale of your property.
Yes, it’s worth spending the extra money.
What is the Difference between Green Board and Cement Board?
- Green Board is the same as mold resistant board. Many years ago, the color of the paper covering on these boards was green to differentiate it from regular drywall. Nowadays, it is more and more common that mold resistant boards look no different than a regular sheet of gyproc.
- Cement board is mainly used in place of drywall when a wall is being tiled. Cement board made out of cement and fibers is the ideal backing for tile work. It won’t absorb water and is incredibly durable. One word of caution is that cement board is extremely heavy and does not come in full 4×8 sheets because of its weight.
Drywall Thickness for Bathroom Walls
The drywall thickness recommended for residential bathroom walls is ½”.
Depending on where you live, you might have a ⅝” ceiling thickness as a fire rated thickness is required in commercial properties like apartments etc. If you are not in a regular residential home, I would check with your local governing bodies for what the code is on drywall thickness in bathrooms.
It is worth mentioning that most, if not all, electrical boxes, outlets, light switch, lights etc. will be set assuming the drywall is ½” (for residential). If you are using ⅝” drywall you might want to adjust those boxes so they are flush with the drywall.
Conclusion
In conclusion; you now know that you could potentially use a regular drywall in your bathroom if you want. This wouldn’t be the recommended way to go, however. Using moisture or mold resistant drywall are always the recommended materials to use in rooms that have moisture present on a daily basis.
Cement board is the best option when tile will be applied to the walls. There will be no molding with cement board.
For ceiling drywall thickness it will depend on what type of property the bathroom is in. It will either be a ½” or a ⅝” thickness. Good luck!
