Budget buster: wrong sheet rock in bathroom

[greens_in_WA]

So we haven't been great about checking the caulking around our standup shower in the mbr. We've been in the house 11 years (bought it new). So now, as I check the caulking its gone to heck and as I peel it off, the drywall comes off with it I remember when my Mom did a bathroom remodel back in the 80's that she used a special bathroom grade drywall manufactured to resist moisture... It doesn't look the builder did that. The drywall peels off with the paint where its been damp... Think I should contact the builder after the holiday? or just suck it up and replace the drywall with the right stuff now. And... should I replace the ceiling sheetrock too? or just the walls (where there is obvious damage.)

TIA

 

[clh2]

Is your shower a tile shower?

I know it is a royal pain when something goes wrong...but I don't think you have any recourse with the builder at this point in time.

 

[princessmom29]

Are you sure it isn't bathroom grade? After 11 years even bathroom grade can start to do that it if it had been subjected to water on a regular basis.

 

[Colleen27]

Greenboard isn't waterproof, just water resistant. It will still mildew and rot in damp conditions; it just takes longer to do so than standard drywall. After 11 years, especially with deteriorating caulk, I wouldn't be surprised to start seeing problems.

I'd just replace the damaged sections and look at ways to prevent future damage, like better ventilation in the bathroom, better maintanance on the caulk, maybe installing cementboard and tile instead of drywall in problem areas, etc.

 

[greens_in_WA]

Thanks! We'll replace and do better caulking maintenance.

 

[wdwfan16]

If the wall is tiles do not use dry wall but rock board. One brand is wonderboard. It is basically a sheet of rock rather than gypsum. Green board is use for other walls in the bathroom but is not a necessity if the room has good ventilation.

 

[greens_in_WA]

No tile, but the ventilation isn't great. We added a more powerful fan with a heater (light/heat/fan combo) 7 years ago. There's only one heat vent in the room so it was very cool in the winter.