Should green drywall be used on the kitchen side of the shared wall between the kitchen and bathroom to compensate for the lack of drywall on the bathroom side?
Asked by Giacomo Fontai 
3 months ago
Last Updated: September 1, 2024
You’re checking out the wall that the kitchen and bathroom share.
The shower surround is installed directly onto the studs and doesn’t require any caulk. I had this set up in my old condo and it worked really well without any caulk.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Do you think it’s a good idea to use green drywall on the kitchen side since there won’t be any drywall on the bathroom side?
2. Would it be a good idea to put some vapor barrier on the kitchen side against the studs before putting up the drywall for extra protection in case any moisture makes its way back there? There’s a pretty big gap in the floor under the tub that leads down to the utility room, so there should be good airflow in that wall cavity.
You’ll only get moisture from the bathroom, so I don’t think it will protect the wall studs on the kitchen side. I’m not sure what to use on the bathroom side, but definitely looking for suggestions.
You know, make sure to put vapor barrier on the bath side if you think it’s needed. Also, make sure there isn’t a “decent size gap” under the tub anywhere, just enough for the drain assembly. I always set my tub bases in mortar as well. I haven’t come across a big box store tub that didn’t flex in some way.
The tub doesn’t budge at all. I was actually anticipating a bit of flex, but it’s completely sturdy. The intentional space underneath is a crawl space utility room, making future access a breeze if needed.
Make sure to red guard the studs on the bathroom side for a good result.