Hey everyone! I'm diving into a pretty ambitious DIY renovation of our double wide manufactured home, and I'm curious whether using cement board everywhere instead of traditional drywall is a smart move. I know cement board is more expensive, heavier, and can be a pain to finish nicely compared to drywall, but I feel like I might have some good reasons for going this route. We have a lot of wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens, plus a wood stove in the living room which needs extra fire resistance. Almost all the walls, except the bedrooms, might benefit from cement board to support art and withstand moisture. However, I've noticed that not many people do this, so I wonder if there are key reasons to avoid it beyond just cost and handling difficulty. Any advice or experiences to share?
3 Answers
If you’re really leaning towards cement board, just remember it’s not designed for the applications you’re considering. It’s heavy, hard to hang stuff on, and there are much better options, like moisture-resistant drywall for your kitchen and proper backing for hanging heavy art. You need to think about the long-term maintenance and potential issues.
Honestly, I think this is a bad idea. Cement board is perfect for places that will get wet, like showers, but using it all over your home can lead to a lot of structural headaches. It’s super brittle, and if it cracks, you're in for a mess. Plus, drywall is much easier to finish and paint.
You've mostly answered your own question! Cement board is indeed tougher to handle, more costly, and doesn't have the same finish quality as drywall. Hanging pictures on it can be tricky too. If you're set on using cement board, just be prepared for a lot of extra work when it comes to finishing and hanging things up.