What is Greenboard Drywall?
what is drywall greenboard?
Green board – so called because of the distinctive green color of its paper backing – is a variety of moisture-resistant drywall board that’s been available since the 1960s. It is similar to standard drywall but the paper backing is thicker and coated with wax to help block out moisture.
is greenboard waterproof?
No, green board is more resistant to moisture than standard drywall but it isn’t waterproof and will still deteriorate in the presence of constant humidity or direct water flow. However, the wax coating helps it fair better in damp environments than standard drywall because water has a harder time penetrating to the gypsum core of the board. The wax coating also makes green board more resistant to mold, since mold growth on drywall occurs on the paper (the gypsum core isn’t a good environment for mold).
Using greenboard
The best areas of a house for green board are those that experience regular, moderate humidity (like kitchens or bathrooms except for the bath/shower enclosure). In these areas, you can expect green board to hold up better and last longer than standard drywall.
Green board isn’t a great fit for saunas, indoor pools, shower enclosures, or any other environment where you can expect high levels of humidity around the clock, though. In these cases, you’d be better off using cement board which is waterproof and intended for use in truly wet – not just damp – environments.
Green board is not more fire resistant than standard drywall, so if you’re looking for a board for hot environments or fire-risk areas, you should consider Type X drywall rather than green board.
phasing out greenboard
Though still in production after more than 50 years on the market, green board is starting to become less popular thanks to the invention of paperless drywall. This relatively new addition to the drywall market is gradually replacing green board because it’s suited to the same tasks but even more water- and moisture-resistant than green board. Paperless drywall consists of a water-resistant gypsum core and a fiberglass (rather than paper) backing. As a result, paperless drywall resists mold growth even better than green board – but it costs more, so it might not be right for every project or budget.