I’m adding a shower head to what was a bathtub-only installation in my 70’s home. I intend to tile the walls and know I’ll have to replace or cover the existing drywall around the tub with cement board. The question is …. can I cover the existing drywall with a 1/4 inch thick product like hardi-board and expect the job to last (assuming I follow the manufactuer’s installation procedure)…. or should I bite the bullet and take down the existing drywall and install all new 1/2 Duro-rock or Hardi board? 8 years from now I don’t want to have to retile the shower. If the 1/4 material will work, should I install a barrier between it and the old drywall … 15lbs felt, like I’ll do for the 1/2 inch complete re-rock? The manufacturer says to intall the 1/4 material using thinset and using felt would preclude me from doing anything other than screwing the thin sheets to the wall. THanks in advance for any advice.
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Replies
do it right ...
get the drywall out of a wet location ....
VB behind the new backer ...
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
"or should I bite the bullet and take down the existing drywall and install all new 1/2 Duro-rock or Hardi board?"
Fred,
Bite the bullet? You're looking at an hour or two of extra labor to do it right and maybe $60. in mtrls.
Tear it out, 30# felt, 1/2" CBU, thinset the tile. That's the right way. Done right, no worries.
Jon
don't forget to leave the cbu off the the tub a little and "tape" the joints.
you"re kiddin', right?
Take the rock down and do it right.
Put felt on the studs and use "Wonderboard".....its just a personal preferance of mine.
Don't use mastic, use thinset and yer good forever
Be well
andy
My life is my practice!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
It is my understanding that the 1/4 material is for floors, where a stucturally sufficient subfloor already exists. Walls use the 1/2 material because there generally isn't any backing and the material must span between the studs.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.