Do You Need Mold Resistant Drywall?

Doing basement or bathroom renovations you try to prevent mold from erupting everything because of its frequent exposure to water. Mold and mildew growth have become a hot-button issue lately due to serious health concerns. We all know that it’s always better to prevent mold before it starts. Creating a healthy environment most of the homeowners consider installing mold resistant drywall, paying about 10% more for this product.

Find more info here about this innovation and if this improved product is worth the added expense to install it.

As it’s explained, purple drywall is an improved moisture resistant product that offers the same advantages as regular drywall, but with superior moisture and mold resistant characteristics. It might be installed on all wall and ceiling applications and is ideally suited where enhanced moisture and mold resistance is desired. But is it warranted or guaranteed to be mold-free?

Unlike traditional outer paper surface of gypsum board, mold resistant wallboard is manufactured in two forms:

• Homogeneous cover when the same material is used without any layers. In this case, the issue of mold growth is reduced because there is no cover.  

• Fiberglass facing with the same, traditional gypsum core – a fiberglass mat substitutes for the paper facing. 

The organically derived paper of traditional drywall is an ideal area that provides perfect conditions for mold growth. Theoretically, in both products mold doesn’t have the opportunity to feed on the organic materials which comprise paper-backed drywall. However, mold resistant drywall still can grow mold. It does have less of a propensity towards mold growth than traditional paper-covered drywall.

Another alternative to mold issue is green board. This paper-backed drywall with a light green tint is often installed in high-moisture areas, heavily coated with cement board or bathroom-quality paint on top. Though green board is a more cost-effective option than mold resistant wallboard, it’s less effective at mold prevention.

Unfortunately, solving the drywall problem is only part of total combat with mold.  Experiencing flooding, not just the drywall is soaked–the studs are, too. You can strip away all of the drywall yet still find an infestation of mold above the waterline.

As it seems, mold spores, have been floating around this earth since day one and can grow under practically any condition. No drywall manufacturer can warrant to overcome such kind of enemy, but only promise that his drywall has a lower chance of growing mold and mildew than a traditional one.