I’m getting ready to tile a shower and am wondering about waterproofing. The shower had a plastic liner in it and after removal I discovered that it had been tiled previously. I’m not sure how water proof the installation is so I figured I’d just demo the existing tile and lay new stuff to be on the safe side.
My original plan was to tear out the existing underlayment down to the studs and replace it with asphault paper covered by fiber cement. The current wall material is plastor and lathe and the thought of the mess has made me reconsider the underlayment process. My family has to live in the place (and use the bathroom) while I am working on it.
Any thoughts?
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The anticipation of demo-ing lathe and plaster is worse than actually doing it. Close the bathroom door, put on a respirator and a couple of hours later you will be on your way to peace of mind with a proper installation of building paper and fibre cement board to back up your tiles.
Sounds good. Frankly, it's not the mess that has been bothering me lately as much as it is the work itself. That ruthless vixen called procrastination has her claws in me at the moment.
I appreciate your cander and am replacing the filters in my respirator as I type this. VIVA LA CASA!!!
If you are not absolutely certain that the existing shower is absolutely waterproof, then you should demolish it before turning the water on.
The existence of a previous tile job (or evidence thereof) is meaningless when determining permeability. Look for evidence of moisture inside the walls, and in the flooring beneath the shower.
If there is no evidence of moisture, then you can probably line the stall with whatever pleases you.
If there is moisture in the walls or floor, then you have a very large task in your future.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
if your bathroom has a window in it, place a box fan in the open window to create negative pressure when you do the tile demo.
You can cut the tile fairly eaisly with a diamond blade in an angle grinder.
It also wouldn't hurt to have a second person present to hold a shop vac under the blade of the grinder, this would eliminate a good portion of the dust you create by cutting.
Any thoughts?
Hire it done?
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It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Touche.
I just tore out my tile and tub. I taped off the bathroom door and opened the window. I forget to tape off the access panel in my bedroom closet. After I started my wife asked me why the bedroom was full of smoke. 3 hours later after cleaning every surface and washing all the clothes I was able to get back to work. My house was built in 1941, it has 1x6 floor decking, so a lot of debris ended up in the basement on top of the washing machine. I just want to wish you good luck.
Is it acceptable to use 6 mil plastic sheeting under Durock for the shower stall instead of building paper? I was installing it on the outside walls in the bathroom as a vapor barrier and just kind of continued it into the shower stall.From what I understand,building paper(I'm assuming we're talking about black "tar paper" used for roofing and not pink rosin paper used for under flooring)allows water vapor to escape from inside,while the poly sheeting won't.Will this have any affect on the installation?I have'nt begun sheetrock or durock yet,so I can still change it if I have to.-thanks
I think of the paper or poly as last lines of defence that are made redundant by a good installation of tile and grout and are probably not even necessary. But they are so cheap and easy to install, why not. If you think about it, to direct moisture that gets back there, the paper layer should lap the edge of the tub like it would outside over flashing. I doubt many installers do this. I prefer to caulk the edge of the backer board to the tub or shower base. A skim coat of thinset and fibre tape over the seams and in the corner make the backer board layer virtually moisture proof as well. But really, the tiles and grout will take care of the water.
On the job we have a great tile setter who uses the Schluter brand system of tile backing. He also grouts with epoxy grout. Way overkill, I know, but what the heck.
Edited 2/5/2006 11:23 pm ET by manoman
The best tool for this kinda job besides demo hammers and bars and a resperator are "contractor bags" They hold an enormous amt of weight and you won't be dragging dust through the house and better yet if theres a window in there lower the bags down by rope........and be sure no one is below the window.
Be drinkin beer too...lol
andy
To be on the safe side - rip everything out and install a Schluter system
End of any problems
Check http://www.schluter.com