1 Whats The Difference Between Cement Board and Drywall? 2 Cement Board vs Drywall Cost 3 Is Cement Board Better Than Drywall? 4 Can You Use Cement Board Instead Of Drywall? 5 Can You Install Cement Board Over Drywall? 6 Cement Board vs Drywall For Tile 7 Conclusion Most likely, whenever you’ve considered cement backer board, you were preparing for a tiling project.
It turns out that you can replace drywall with cement board, but it doesn’t imply you should completely do away with your normal gypsum drywall panels.
Here are the differences between drywall and cement board and when each should be used.
What distinguishes dry wall from cement board?
Gypsum, a naturally occurring non-combustible mineral that is used to make drywall, is a fantastic material for use in homes. It has a paperboard exterior and a gypsum center.
Additionally, cement board contains various minerals. It typically has a fiberglass mesh cloth shell and a cement mortar middle.
There are numerous varieties of drywall.
For the majority of interior rooms, conventional drywall is either gray or white. Bathrooms, kitchens, and other spaces with a lot of moisture often utilize green and purple drywall that has been coated to withstand water and mold.
Form-X fire-rated drywall is the final type of drywall. Gypsum is already somewhat fire-resistant, but this drywall adds additives that enable it to tolerate tremendous heat for longer periods of time.
The most popular drywall thicknesses for walls and ceilings are 1/2 inch and inch, respectively. The sheet sizes for drywall are 4 x 8 and 4 x 12.
Let’s now discuss cement board.
Cement boards put on the wall are uncommon. Instead, the majority of individuals tile with it.
This is due to the fact that wet cement board doesn’t warp or degrade. As a result, it gives tiles a secure base on which to rest.
Even green or purple board cannot compare to how waterproof cement board is. For shower ceilings and behind showers, many contractors utilize this material.
Cement board is a perfectly acceptable alternative, despite the fact that most people would never replace their drywall with it.
Cement boards come in and inch thicknesses. It comes in a variety of sheet sizes, with 35 being the most popular.
Costs of CEMENT BOARD vs. Drywall Are you curious how the costs compare? Here are some examples of drywall kinds compared to cement board:
A 3 × 5 sheet of typical 1/2 inch thick cement board costs around $10, or $0.67 per square foot.
A 4 × 8 sheet of standard inch-thick drywall costs about $8, or $0.25 per square foot.
A 4 × 8 sheet of inch-thick greenboard costs about $12, or $0.38 per square foot.
Last but not least, a 4 x 8 sheet of purple drywall with an inch thickness costs roughly $17, or $0.53 per square foot.
Here’s a comparison of prices for square feet of material that is an inch thick:
Board of Cement: $0.67 $0.53 for purple drywall Drywall Green: $0.38 Drywall Standard: $0.25 Consequently, it is simple to see how cement board will drive up your expenditures if you are drywalling a large room. Cement board works well under tiles, in showers, and other areas that deal with a lot of moisture because of this.
CAN DRYWALL BE BETTER THAN CEMENT BOARD? All forms of drywall are not as watertight as cement board. Additionally, cement board doesn’t degrade or distort. This is why it works best in showers and under tiles.
Cement board is more waterproof and less likely to warp, but that doesn’t necessarily make it better. Drywall is still an excellent choice for use as a wall covering because it is less expensive, comes in larger sheets, and is simple to install.
CAN CEMENT BOARD BE USED IN PLACE OF DRYWALL? Although it is an alternative to drywall, cement board is not always viable. Cement board is 2-3 times more expensive than drywall, to begin with.
Additionally, 4 x 8 sheets of cement board are more difficult to locate.
However, cement board has its uses and is particularly beneficial in high-moisture environments.
CAN CEMENT BOARD BE INSTALLED OVER DRYWALL? Whether cement board can be installed over drywall is up for discussion. Avoid doing anything if you wish to err on the side of caution.
The drywall cannot breathe when cement board is placed on top of it, which is the cause. Therefore, drywall will collect moisture and mildew or decay if there is significant humidity in the space or moisture occurs.
Cement backer board should not be installed over drywall in the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room.
DRYWALL VS. CEMENT BOARD FOR TILE The best material for tiling is cement board. This is so that when exposed to moisture, cement board doesn’t rot, mold, or degrade.
Additionally, it gives the tiles a uniform, flat basis to rest on.
If moisture is not a problem, it is also completely safe to tile over drywall in those areas.
CONCLUSION Both cement board and drywall have advantages. Cement board won’t rot or grow mold, so it’s best used underneath tile and around showers.
For the remaining parts of the house, drywall is appropriate. You can use mold- and water-resistant greenboard in areas like restrooms and kitchens.
However, conventional drywall, which is far less expensive than alternatives, is well suitable for the rest of your house.
