Drywalls are used to construct the walls and ceiling of the bathrooms. They come in different types and colors depending on the manufacturing material and price ranges.
Can You Use Regular Drywall in a Bathroom? You should not use regular drywalls in the bathroom because of moisture absorption, mold growth, the disintegration of gypsum, and porous or lightweight material. Instead, you can use cement, fiberglass, and MMR drywalls because these are water-resistant. It is better to coat the paint and wax to make regular drywalls resistant to water.
Most people use the regular drywall types for walls and ceilings in their living rooms because these are dry places and cannot damage their paper.
Can you add regular drywall in the bathroom?
Adding drywalls in the bathroom is not a good idea because these are not resistant to moisture. In addition, adding them in highly humid places can ruin the inner structure.
People often add them, which can ruin the original structure and increase repair costs. There are no strict rules and regulations from the American construction department.
According to construction guidelines, you can install them in the bathrooms, but water can damage them. Gypsum and thick paper sheets are used for their manufacturing.
The thick layer of gypsum is sandwiched between two exterior layers of paper. As a result, the paper is not resistant to moisture and absorbs the water from its surroundings.
You cannot use them in areas near the bathroom, like showers, vanity areas, and near bathtubs. You can only use them if your bathroom is only equipped with toilets and a separate bathing area.
The water splashes and moistures cannot come in contact with their surface and damage them completely.
Why you should not use drywall in the bathroom?
Drywall is the primary building material for the construction of walls and ceilings. You can use them as a base for the application of paints or the installation of tiles. These types need proper maintenance and inspection to keep them mold and moisture free.
Absorbs moisture
You cannot use regular drywalls in the bathroom because of standing water on the floors. These walls are not directly exposed to water, but water splashes come on their surface.
Moreover, these also come in contact with a high quantity of moisture. Therefore, the gypsum layer in these types is coated with paper which can absorb the water from the surroundings.
The paper has more absorbent properties relative to fiberglass material. However, the water from the paper layers also penetrates the inner side and damages the wood studs.
The strength of the building decreases when wood studs get damaged. These can also absorb moisture from the wall-fitted plumbing system and pipe leakage.
Leakage in plumbing pipes is common with age and can damage the structure.
Mold growth
The paper of the regular drywalls remains wet and provides the best media for the growth of molds. The molds grow there rapidly because they get food from the papers.
Paper is the organic matter and provides food to the mold species, and their number increases rapidly. You can see the dark brown spots on the hidden areas of bathroom walls because of mold growth.
Molds grow rapidly on a moist surface instead of in a hot and dry environment. The molds grow in these areas because of the dampness of the paper.
Paper remains wet for a longer once it comes in contact with water. In addition, the molds can damage the studs and insulation of walls.
Disintegration of gypsum
The water can make the paper layer moist and quickly enters the gypsum. Water reacts with gypsum and causes their disintegration. So you can see that paints come off their surface because of high moisture.
The paints cannot stick better on their surface because of dampness. The dry surfaces are suitable for better adhesiveness of the paint.
Gypsum is made of a strongly acidic or basic salt, and water can quickly disintegrate its structure by dissolving these salts. The gypsum layer breaking comes from long-term water exposure and the dissolution of salts.
The waxing of the outer fiberglass coating is the best remedy to prevent the dissolution of gypsum material and water seeping.
Porous and lightweight
People often want to add them to their homes because they are lighter and cheaper than other types. The lightweight material is not resistant to damage and can crack easily.
These cannot withstand environmental stresses, and you can see cracks and holes in their surface. The water can seep into their inner side because of cracking and holes.
In addition, the surface is highly porous, and water can penetrate the inner side easily. The small holes on their surface make them highly permeable to water.
The molds can also quickly grow on their surface and reduce their strength.
What type of drywall is suitable for the bathroom?
The installation of regular drywall is not suitable in areas where the relative humidity is high. For example, you cannot add them in kitchens and bathrooms because of high moisture and standing water.
It is better to select other material that is resistant to water and mold growth. For example, you can choose mold and moisture-resistant drywall, also known as green boards.
These are moisture and mold-resistant, and water cannot affect their structure. In addition, these types contain a thick coating of paper to increase their longevity and make them resistant.
The two layers of paper on the outer side of the gypsum are coated with wax material. The wax coating can make them resistant to water and molds.
Moreover, you can also use blue boards, which are also resistant to excessive moisture. These are made up of plaster backing and make the base for tiles.
The advanced version of regular drywall is also available in the market with the name purple board. These are pretty expensive than other ones but are made of waterproof material.
The gypsum is coated with fire- and water-resistant papers in this type. Paperless is also common and is water or mold resistant.
The sheets are not readily available in the market because of their high cost and less usage. However, cement-based long sheets are also suitable in these humid areas because of cement coating.
The gypsum is layered in cement material to make them waterproof.
How do you make regular drywalls in the bathroom waterproof and mold-free?
The reinstallation of new walls as the base material is expensive and time-consuming. Many people do not know about the materials of their different types and add them in the bathrooms.
The removal of old ones for installation of waterproof type is expensive and takes your time and effort. Therefore, it is better to use preventive measures until they do not cause severe damage.
You can make them water resistant by applying paints on them. Several waterproof paints are available in water that provides a protective coating against water damage.
In addition, you can also use latex-based waterproof primers and coat the exterior surface. These techniques cannot make them completely waterproof but delay the damage.
You can also replace the paper with fiberglass material to inhibit mold growth. However, fiberglass is a non-organic material and does not provide any media for the survival of their colonies.
In addition, it maintains the internal temperature and reduces the humidity content. Turn on the exhaust fan and add a dehumidifier in the bathroom to keep the moisture below its optimal level.
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