I'm getting some quotes for drywall in my basement, and I have a couple questions about the bathroom.

1. I'm going to tile my shower, so I know that I'll have to use cement board within the shower. However, if I also plan to put tile on the bottom 4 feet or so of the rest of the bathroom wall, do I need to do cement board there also, or is normal sheetrock fine there?

2. Can the ceiling within the shower have normal sheetrock on it, or do I need cement board there also?

3. I'm planning to finish and tile the bathroom as the last phase of my basement finishing project. I assume I can just have the drywaller sheetrock and mud everything but the walls within the shower, or is there some step I'm missing there?

4. One of the drywallers who came out and gave me a quote said that it's not very common anymore to do green board within a bathroom, and they just use normal sheetrock. Is this true?

Thanks,

 

Cement board (CBU) should be put up where direct water contact is possible so inside the shower yes, outside the shower no, on the ceiling, either way!

Now if you want the ultimate solution, go with a membrane covering, Prova/Ditra in your drywalled shower, or if really anal, CBU!

 

I would use moisture resistant sheetrock (green, yellow, purple or whatever your favorite color) everywhere in a bathroom. It's just added insurance against moisture issues in the future and I certainly would use it in the ceiling above the shower.

 

IMO there is no need for green drywall. Part of it's waterproofing comes from wax that is impregnated into the drywall which can also complicate getting paint to adhere like it should. Normally if regular drywall is primed and coated with 1-2 coats of latex enamel [any sheen] it has all the moisture protection it needs.

 

Is there a downside to using green drywall except cost?

 

Green drywall is impregnated with some type of waxy substance which means it needs a better primer to insure adhesion. Green drywall is water resistant but not water proof.