I am in the process of rebuilding and tiling our shower due to a leaking pan and resulting termite damage. Without thinking things through I added 2×4 against the old ones put up the Hardi board and am now ready to start the tiling. When I measued the wall for my spacing I find the bottom is 35 3/4″ the middle is about 36 1/2″ and the top 36 1/4″. I have no idea how I managed that. Now, what is the best way to try and tile this so it looks half way decent?
Is there a way to check the archives on this board?
Thanks,
Stuart Johnson
Red Oak, Texas
Replies
Stuart.....I'm assuming you nailed the Hardiboard up rather then screwing? If it was me, I'd take down the two side walls of HArdiback and shim those walls to make it all plumb and square and hopefully be able to salvage the boards for reuse. Your talkin probably about $30 in boards. Its not worth NOT doing that IMHO. You should also put a layer of felt paper on the studs before putting up CBU's. I wouldnt swear to that on Hardiboard because I only use Wonderboard in shower installations but I think its the same application.
BE well
Namaste
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 10/18/2002 7:14:44 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
Your walls are not plumb. Indeed you are 1/2" out of plumb. If it is only one wall or a pair of opposing walls, and you use thick tile, the difference could be covered up by the adjoining wall's tiles.
When I sister 2x4's onto existing studs, I do so for several reasons, the main one being to true up the wall. Sistering studs is one of the easiest ways to true a wall for tiling.
Somehow, you took the process and reversed it, e.g., took a perfectly good wall and used sistered studs to screw it up.
I would have about 3 beers and laugh at yourself, and rip it down. Pull out the studs and using a helper(s) with a straight edge and a 4 foot level, I would set each stud next to its neighbor so it it plumb and straight with its neighbors down the line. The Level is verticle and the straight edge is horizontal, if you get my description. Using a nail gun, attach the stud once it is plumb and straight. With my method you do not need shims of any kind. But it will take about 4-5 hours to cut the studs and get a perfectly plumb shower, which will make life a breeze. Add another day to set the CBU's and off you go.
The only other alternative is to learn how to mud a shower, using greenboard, poly, lathe and wall float. It produces a perfectly dead flat and plumb wall every time, in about 1/2 the time of the process set forth above.
Good luck, and now go have those beers.
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
Boris...Youre right about my shimming idea. It does work but the best way is to reset the sisters making it a mother....lol.a mother f'er of a job..lol. Hey, live and learn. I'd go four beers personally...did ya forget what day this is? FRIDAYYY!Trying to make the difference of a 1/2" up may work by doing the walls that would hide the difference up first but I have a feeling its seriously bowed and just wonder how much he cares that the grouted corners will be uneven. I'm bettin' too that if he runs a straight edge horizontally across the walls its crowned wrong in a buncha places. Shhhhhhhh. Personally I think my first idea was best. Take it down and redo it. Its only CBU right now. Prep is 3/4 of the work always and half of that is thinking before one gets to swingin the hammer. Another thing also is.....This is why I always use screws in instances like this. MAkes it cake to undo if necessary......specially hangin pre hung doors (under the stops of course....duh).
Be well
Namaste
andyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
just curious... what did you do about the pan? you mention it was leaking...
I gutted the entire shower, rebuilt the walls by sistering new 2x4s and then built a new pan. In building the pan I first made up a concrete sloping drain and then covered it with a pvc membrane. Once the walls are tiled I'll finish the pan by adding concrete to the drain and then tiling that. This whole thing has been a real learning expericane as I've never done any of the steps in the past which is why I ended up with my wall problem.
Stuart
gotcha. was just trying to get a picture of what stage of the process you're in.
Well then, tear it out again and do it over. You'll really learn a lot more.
Just kidding.
.
Excellence is its own reward!
An engineer I worked with used to say "It's good to re-invent the wheel. You get it rounder every time."
unc
MAybe rounder aint better......maybe choo choo trains should be more like the ones we played with as kids. they sure got more respect. Whatever happened to kids choo choo trains? Dont see em anymore. Know why? Or'dga ever even think about that? Its cause no one really respects the concept of the wheel anymore. To much is taken fer granted! Hmmmmm
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM