Can You Waterproof Drywall for The Shower?

Drywall is a mixture of gypsum dust and water, by this definition, it may not be the best material to use in showers.

However, it is possible to waterproof drywall using a waterproofing membrane, cement, and even paint.

These materials will help your drywall maintain its quality even in the presence of intense moisture, you just need to pick the suitable material.

What happens when you use regular drywall?

Once the water seeps into the drywall, it will begin to soften, crumble, and even produce mold. Soon enough, your whole shower installation will fall off and break.

And no, you can’t tile over it either (At least not without waterproofing drywall). Since the tile itself isn’t waterproof, the water will find its way toward your drywall.

It will loosen, sag, and bubble until the tiles have loosened off. You might be asking, if I can’t use tiles, then what?

The right material for waterproofing drywall

There are many to choose from but it still depends on your needs and circumstances. Here are some of the materials that you can use:

Waterproof Membrane

Cement/Cement Board

Cement is popular since it’s cheap and easy to find anywhere. The installation can be cheap and easy.

It also acts as an additional defense to your wall. Cement is guaranteed to toughen up your drywall.

But, once exposed to extreme hot/extreme cold, it will begin to chip away. It’s not the most flexible material out there.

Waterproof Paint

Paint is reliable and definitely at the top of the list of most homeowners when it comes to waterproofing their drywall.

And rightfully so, it’s a material that’s the most familiar to us out of everything on this list. It’s not expensive and can be DIY.

However, there are certain drawbacks to this. Since you’ll be waterproofing it in the shower, you ought to remember that paint isn’t permanent. 

Sooner or later, the paint will wear off and too much moisture from the shower will surely seep through the paint and onto your drywall.
That’s why it’s more of a quick fix rather than a permanent solution. But, if you’re convinced about using paint then make sure to get the most high-quality waterproof paint there is.

If you’re unsure, make sure to ask the store clerk or browse and research their available paints beforehand.

Bituminous Coating

Bitumen is a black mixture of hydrocarbons. It is the residue from petroleum distillation. It’s also commonly known as asphalt.

It’s a pretty good material, it’s durable, flexible in terms of usage, and if compared to other water-resistant materials, it’s considerably cheaper.

Its only weakness is the heat. It also can’t be exposed to sunlight or else the durability will weaken.

So, if you don’t plan on having much sun inside your shower then a bituminous coating should be enough to waterproof your drywall.

Polyurethane Membrane

Polyurethane Membrane is a liquid that you apply to your drywall. It’s the most flexible material on this list as it can even fill in the cracks on your drywall as well as toughen it up.

Usually, water vapor would kill off most waterproof materials but this is very resistant to it due to its high waterproof components.

During application, you have to be really careful, especially if you’re doing a DIY because it’s a harmful chemical that can harm your skin upon contact.

It’s also quite expensive although that’s justified due to the sheer effectiveness and additional benefits of this material.

What about moisture-resistant drywall?

No, it shouldn’t be used on your shower because it isn’t waterproof. As the name suggests, it’s only moisture resistant.

Even water-resistant drywall like Greenboards wouldn’t be able to handle the direct contact of water from the shower. Although, they can be used in the other areas surrounding it.

Things to consider before waterproofing your drywall

Your measurements

Measurements are important since they will dictate the number of materials that you’ll be using for the project.

It will also give you a clue as to what type of material is the best to use on your drywall. Should you use boards or liquid types? 

Boards need to be cut up to fit the exact measurements, it’s harder to make them fit if your shower has an odd shape. 

Liquid types on the other hand are very flexible with this issue.

Your budget

Some of the waterproofing options cost a lot of money. That’s why most homeowners and DIYers opt for waterproof paint, even if it isn’t that permanent.

When you have a tight budget, you ought to get the most value out of your money. In this circumstance, one can opt for cement boards rather than buying waterproof membranes.

If everything’s sealed

In most homes, the shower area still gets a lot of damage, and the culprit most of the time are holes, cracks, and even your faucet.

Sometimes, the installations inside our shower aren’t watertight, letting the water seep through unknowingly through our drywall.

That’s why it’s better to let professionals handle the shower area. It may cost more but it’s better than paying for water damage and renovation.

Exhaust Fan

If you already have existing drywall

In this case, the type of drywall that you have will either require more or less waterproofing. For example, if you’ve already used water-resistant drywall then it’s okay if you don’t go overboard with waterproofing.

However, if you only have regular drywall then you should be extra prepared and careful. You should also use the most waterproof material to cover it up, even if it’s quite expensive.

This is because regular drywall will easily crumble under the pressure of water. That’s why it needs the utmost protection.

And it’s also the reason why you can’t reuse or try to save drywall. In some cases, even though the drywall looks fine, there’s still water damage and it will slowly deteriorate your drywall at a rapid pace.

Fixing water damage in drywall

Sometimes, it’s too late and the damage has already been done and that’s alright! You’ll need to remember four basic steps to fix your damaged drywall.

First Step: Locate

You have to know the source of water damage. Is it an improperly sealed faucet? Or maybe a spot in your wall that you haven’t properly waterproofed?

The point is that you need to know the source, or else you’ll keep replacing the same drywall over and over again even though the problem persists.

Second Step: Remove

At this point, you’ll be removing the damaged section. Try to remove the whole panel that’s been affected.

You can expect that they’ll be soggy due to water damage. Do not attempt to keep some of the mildly damaged parts as a way to save money, it’s counterproductive. 

Third Step: Replace 

Replace the previously damaged drywall with a new one. You’ll need the usual materials for installing drywall such as the sheet, mud, and paint.

Fourth Step: Renovate

This step is when you conclude that your current bathroom set-up poses a problem. You’ll need to renovate the areas that cause water damage.

For example, the problem itself is that you’ve already done this multiple times and you still have water damage. Turns out, you used regular drywall and waterproofing was ineffective. 

At this point, it’s much better to renovate the whole thing than to spend a ton of money on multiple repairs. 

On the other hand, it may be because of a faucet or your shower installation. Make sure that it’s properly sealed as it can leak water through your waterproof layer.

Conclusion

As a homeowner, you really ought to watch out for water damage in your drywall. Because before you know it, you’ve spent a high amount of money on repairs and renovation.

Fortunately, multiple waterproofing methods can be utilized for your specific needs and circumstances.

Just make sure to double-check if your shower installation’s been properly sealed before you begin waterproofing. If you don’t, you’re letting water into your drywall, effectively damaging it.