What Goes Behind Shower Tile

You can use drywall above the shower head but anything below the shower head should be lined with cement backer board.

What goes behind shower tile. Usually two coats is sufficient for any shower except steam showers. There are several of these membranes on the market the most common being redgard. They can often cause damp and mould within surfaces behind tiles and can even threaten the structural integrity of walls so it s important to tackle the issue at the first sign of a leak. You don t want to price yourself out of the market in which you live or you won t make your money back.

It is a bit expensive but they are also simple and quick to install. Once you ve removed the old tile inspect what s behind it. Cement board and a sheet membrane. That will need to stay in good condition and you can t use fasteners below the curb height.

Even in the best of scenarios the tile and grout will eventually wear down leaving behind a clear route for water to seep through and soak into the drywall. Learning how to tile a shower wall isn t hard but it does require preparation. Secondly you have to consider the comps in your neighborhood. Regular drywall can be used as a base for tiles in a shower but only as an absolute last resort.

If you need to reroute. If you see any signs of mold stop work immediately and call a professional to remove it. The other things to keep in mind is that there is a shower liner usually that goes up behind the hardibacker. It s a little better i guess but it s still getting a tile makeover.

Additionally you don t want to redgard over the top of the shower pan. If water from a shower gets in behind tiles in either a shower enclosure or around a bath through cracked or missing grout an incomplete or broken silicon seal normally related to to the incorrect fitting of the bath the grout itself especially if you have a power shower. No plastic sheeting goes behind the cement board. In the end i promise you ll feel more confident tiling a shower and guess what if you have any questions we ll answer them.

Then tile is installed over the membrane. The master bathroom isn t as bad because the tub is separate from the shower but even the shower was done with material i wouldn t have chosen. If it has a liner then that s the waterproofing and painting redgard on the top can be counterproductive. Today we share 9 quick tips that ll make your project easier and get you great results.

It s not the acrylic shower surround but it s also not tile. Make sure the studs are in good condition and that everything is mold free. After is sets overnight just go in and stick the tile to the membrane itself. When you use the kerdi membrane it is right under the tiles and the wallboard not only stays dry but always has a drying potential through the rest of the wall to the outdoors.

Leaky tiles can occur anywhere where water is used whether it s a shower a wet room or a kitchen splashback. Remember all drywall manufacturers recommend not using a vapour barrier at all behind shower tiles because it sandwiches the wall board between the water source the shower and a dead end the vapour barrier. A liquid waterproofing membrane such as redgard or hydro ban is applied to the cement board and allowed to cure.