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Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 519
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 10:09 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

OK, so what's the bottom line? Is "green board" still being made? Is it being used - and where is it being used - behind tile? on "wet walls"? Have manufacturers all gone to mold resistant gypsum board? There seem to be a lot of questions; what are the answers?
George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: geverding

Post Number: 277
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 10:13 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We had a similar discussion, now archived:

Greenboard

I think it was fairly comprehensive, but if you have other Q's or comments or updates, post here and we'll revisit it.
Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 521
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 10:24 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Well, that's what got me to here in the first place. I keep hearing "mold resistant" and "no more greenboard", but I don't actually see that on manufacturer's web sites or in their literature. I guess I want a statement "we no longer make moisture resistant gypsum board (greenboard); use mold resistant gypsum board instead" - something I can take to a contractor or change my master specification by! Is a definitive answer so difficult? Thanks, George - I needed that.
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 337
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 01:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In some parts of the country municipalities are outlawing greenboard for backer board in wet areas, for example on Feb 1, 2006, Dade County, FL issued such an amendment to their Code of Ordinances. My phone conversations with reps from GP and USG has been that greenboard will eventually no longer be manufactured, until that happens we will probably still see its use in non-wet areas.
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 338
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 01:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Per this link from USG, their brochure says not to use moisture resistant board in tub and shower surrounds (if you look at the same catalog in 2005, this language did not exist - I wonder if USG is seeing a lot of legal action regarding mis use of greenboard:
http://www.usg.com/navigate.do?resource=/USG_Marketing_Content/usg.com/web_files/products/prod_details/SHEETROCK_Brand_Water-Resistant_Firecode_C_Core_Gypsum_Panels.htm
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat

Post Number: 204
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 01:50 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Where have they been??
I haven't specified "green board" in "wet" or shower/tub surrounds in over 10 years!

By the way - that goes for ceilings too!

Is "Mold-Resistant Gypsum Board" the correct term for the new material - I have a project where I may need to specify it - not in "wet" areas.
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 339
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 02:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Theoretically you could use greenboard for a ceiling as long as the the shower is ventilated and not used as a steam shower, we on occassion still call for green board on the ceilings with furring spaced at 12" oc rather than 16". The problem with the Backer board products on a ceiling is that it requires a plaster finish, backer board is meant to receive tile not be used as a finished surface. If the shower is ever used for steam, we always specify cement board.
Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI
Senior Member
Username: rliebing

Post Number: 566
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 02:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We have found that the series of boards put out by Georgia-Pacific [Dens-Armor, etc.] serve very well.
Ronald L. Geren, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: specman

Post Number: 427
Registered: 03-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 11:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Just some building code clarifications:

IBC Section 2509.3 permits the use of water-resistant gypsum backing board (their term) on ceilings with framing at 12" o.c. for 1/2" and 16" o.c. for 5/8" panels.

Additionally, the 2006 edition of the IBC (Section 2509.2) restricts materials to cement, fiber-cement, and glass mat gypsum panels for tile backers in tub and shower walls and for walls and ceilings in showers. Water-resitant gypsum panels are only permitted for tile backers in water closet compartments. Regular gypsum may be used for tile backers in walls or other ceiling applications.
John Harris
New member
Username: jharris

Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:57 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Yes, moisture resistant or "green board" is still being manufactured. Most of the mold and mildew resistant boards that are now available can be used in place of green board as a tile backer. Of course, neither green board nor mold and mildew resistant panels can be used in wet areas under the IRC and IBC codes. Hope this helps.
Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 186
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 11:36 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Here is a correction to the link Mr. Lazar posted:
http://tinyurl.com/3xxzey
Dale Roberts CSI, CDT
Senior Member
Username: dale_roberts_csi

Post Number: 23
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 03:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The performance of a properly installed thin-set ceramic tile installation is dependent upon the durability and dimensional stability of the substrate to which it is bonded. Certain substrates materials used in wet areas are subject to deterioration from moisture penetration. According to the 2006 ANSI A108, AN-2.4.1 some backing materials are subject to deterioration when subjected to moisture. When a tile installation is subjected to frequent wetting, backing materials of concrete, Portland cement mortar, cementitious backer units (CBU), or masonry are recommended.
Tile Council of North America (TCNA) B413, B430 the two Details that incorporate Greenboard NOTE: Not to be used on bathtub walls incorporating a shower head.
ANSI 3.5.1.1 Caution Gypsum wallboard (ASTM C1396/C1396M) and water resistant gypsum backing board shall not be used on ceilings or critical exposure areas such as exteriors, showers, saunas, or steam rooms.
In my opinion if the backer board can not be used exterior, than it should not be used in a wet areas were you consistently (day in day out) apply more moisture to the assembly than the exterior assembly would ever receive, especial in the southwest.
Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS LEED-AP
Senior Member
Username: rick_howard

Post Number: 125
Registered: 07-2003
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 03:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Dale, I have to agree with you. I can't remember the last time I specified MR gypsum board, but it would have to be more than 25 years ago.
Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: lazarcitec

Post Number: 342
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 03:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Several years ago I reviewed drawings for a high rise condominium project in order to prepare specifications for the Contractor, yes my client was the GC, it seems the Architect did not believe it specifications...anyway, I found in my review of the drawings that the Architect was calling for MR Gyp Board as a backer board in bathtub and shower surrounds, when I pointed this out to the Architect....well, it was not pretty, I got my head handed to me...seems I being a small insignificant firm and the Architect being a large significant firm...well I lost that fight...the building was constructed with MR Board in those areas... to continue this story, same architect has now asked us to prepare specifications on another similiar project, after reviewing their current drawings, we found that MR Board is no longer specified in wet areas...probably due to code changes, I wonder if that firm even realizes the potential nightmares that may be forthcoming from all their previous work...live and learn.

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