Can You Install a Shower Surround Over Drywall?
Remodeling your shower is a great way to revitalize your bathroom quickly and affordably. And, with modern materials, homeowners don’t have to use tiles for their shower surrounds and can instead opt for fiberglass, acrylic, cultured marble, or composite materials. Regardless of the materials they us, an important question homeowners often ask before beginning this project is, “can you install a shower surround over drywall?”
The short answer to the question is, “It’s not recommended.” However, this answer only really only suffices if you’re converting a room that was never a bathroom into a wet space. Drywall on its own is not suitable for use in bathrooms because it is prone to absorbing moisture and thus losing structural integrity. Besides being structurally compromised, wet drywall can allow moisture into your house’s framework and cause long-term damage to your home.
Because of this, most bathroom walls are not solely made of drywall. While still prone to moisture and not an ideal choice, regular drywall can be made suitable for bathroom use with the addition of a moisture blocking membrane between the drywall and framework.
There Are Better Options Than Drywall for Your Bathroom
If you’re unsure whether the drywall in your bathroom has such a membrane, it is important to install one before you install your shower surround over drywall. However, if you are going to go to the trouble of ripping down your old drywall to install a moisture barrier, it is probably worth it to simply install a better material in its place — like blueboard, greenboard, or concrete backing. These materials are far more suitable for wet areas. Blueboard and greenboard are specifically designed to counter many of the moisture issues that drywall has, and concrete backing is naturally resistant to moisture. Best of all, these materials are not much more difficult to install than regular drywall, so you can still have the ease of installation that comes with drywall without the dangers of mold, mildew, and rot.
At MaxHome, We Can Accomplish a Shower Remodel in as Little as One Day
If you’re considering installing a new shower surround, you might be surprised to learn that at MaxHome, we can accomplish the task in as little as one day. And, our team takes precise measurements to make sure that your new surround is a perfect fit to your bathroom. We can take care of all of the heavy-lifting and precise installation for you, leaving you more time to enjoy your new shower. What’s more, we can even convert your old tub into a stunning new shower. To find out more about our bathroom remodels or talk to a remodeling expert, contact MaxHome today.
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