If you are planning to underlay a floor or wall, whether in your living room, kitchen, or bathroom, there are some options that you have at your disposal. Two popular materials for this job include green board and cement board. They are two very different things, and today we are here to figure out what exactly makes them different.
We also want to determine which one of these two materials you want to use for specific situations.
Green Board and Cement Board: The Basics
Before we start talking about similarities and differences, let’s first figure out what both green board and cement board are.
What Is Green Board?
First, we have green board, which is the colloquial term used for drywall that is designed to be extremely water-resistant. Drywall is made out of a gypsum slurry that is covered in a paper facing. Drywall can be fairly durable and is used for a wide number of applications.
Now, green board is special because it has a much thicker coating of paper, as well as a special layer of water-resistant wax. It can, therefore, be used for purposes that require a great deal of water resistance, such as for the underlayment of tiles in bathrooms and kitchens.
The most common size of green board is 4’ by 8’, although it does also come in different sizes. Of course, green board is a little bit more expensive than regular drywall.
What Is Cement Board?
We then have cement board, which is an extremely hard and durable material, one made out of a cement slurry that is then reinforced with fiberglass mesh. This is therefore a very dense type of panel that is also extremely water-resistant.
Due to the fact that it does not contain any organic materials, cement board is extremely resistant to direct moisture, rotting, and general degradation. It also has a great deal of impact resistance, strength, and weight-bearing capabilities.
Due to its many benefits, cement board is rather expensive, and also not the easiest to install, but it is a preferred choice for many moisture-related tasks, such as for shower and bathtub tile underlayment. The most common size of cement board is 3’ by 5’, although it may also come in other sizes.
Similarities of Green Board and Cement Board
Now that we know what both green board and cement board are, let’s figure out what makes them similar. As you will see, they really don’t share many similarities at all.
1. They’re Both Water Resistant
One of the biggest similarities shared by both of these building materials is that they are extremely water resistant. That special layer of wax and thick paper on the exterior of green board makes it very resistant to water, which is why it is often used in high moisture areas.
That said, green board has in the past few years somewhat fallen out of popularity in favor of things like cement board. Of course, due to its composition, cement board is extremely water resistant, if not just downright waterproof.
2. They May Be Used for the Same Purposes
Due to the fact that both are highly resistant to water, they are often used for similar purposes. This includes things like underlaying tiles in bathroom and shower walls, general floor underlayment in high moisture areas, and even underlaying kitchen countertops.
Differences Between Green Board and Cement Board
Now that we know what makes green board and cement board similar, let’s figure out what makes them different.
1. Composition
What these two materials are made of is very different. Greenboard is a special kind of drywall made with gypsum and an especially thick layer of paper that is coated with water-resistant wax. On the other hand, cement board is made out of a cement slurry that is reinforced with fiberglass mesh. They are two completely different things.
2. Water and Mold Resistance
Now, green board is of course specially designed to handle high levels of moisture. That layer of wax on the outside does a good job of fending off water so that the drywall doesn’t absorb too much of it. That said, this only goes so far, and greenboard is only water-resistant to a certain degree.
It can absorb a bit of water, which then brings the risk of degrading the composition of the green board. For this reason, this type of drywall is also somewhat susceptible to developing mold over the long run.
Cement board, on the other hand, due to its synthetic composition, is nearly 100% waterproof. Because of this, it’s also very resistant to mold, pests, and general degradation caused by moisture. It’s just a better option in terms of moisture resistance.
3. Strength and Durability
Another major difference between these two materials is the fact that, although green board is not weak per se, it’s certainly not all that strong either. You could easily stomp on a piece of green board and it would snap in half.
It just doesn’t have a great deal of impact resistance, and it can’t bear much weight. Cement board is very different in this sense, as it is very hard, dense, and durable. It can take much more punishment without the risk of breaking. It can also handle more weight than green board can.
4. Ease of Use
Both materials are fairly easy to work with, but to cut green board all you need is a utility knife, and to install it you just need some basic drywall screws.
However, to cut cement board, you need a power saw combined with a masonry cutting blade. You also need more specialized screws and nails to install it. Sure, both can be installed at home following a DIY method, but cement board is slightly harder to work with.
5. Cost
Green board is a bit more expensive than regular drywall but still cheaper than cement board, as you can expect to spend up to twice as much on a piece of cement board.
Green Board vs. Cement Board: Which of the Two Should You Use?
Generally speaking, whatever green board can do, cement board can do better, but at a much higher cost. If you want the best results, the most waterproofing, and the highest level of durability, it is cement board that you want to choose.
You might also want to learn about other cement board alternatives.
Summary
Now that you know what makes green board and cement board similar and different, you can choose the best one for your purposes.
How Does Cement Board Compare with Other Materials?
You might also be interested in seeing how cement board compares with: