Building Better Shower Walls
The foundation of any shower should include cement backer board. There are many brands of backerboard on the market, and each brand has pros and cons, so choose the best one that fits your application. Using cement backer board will greatly lengthen the life of your shower and adds a few sanitary characteristics to your shower as well, including mold and mildew prevention. Visit your local home improvement center for more information.
Instructions
1. (For existing shower walls) 1. Ensure the green board (drywall with a green paper covering) is in good condition, is not squishy, and is free of mold and mildew; or 2. If the green board needs to be replaced, remove the green board to expose the studs. Clean up any residual gypsum dust and drywall debris.
2. Check studs and insulation to be sure they are structurally sound and in serviceable condition. Replace if needed. Also, check for the presence of mold. Have a mold test completed professionally, or purchase a mold test kit in the plumbing department at your favorite home improvement retailer. If mold is present, spray the entire area with a bleach solution to kill the mold spores. If the mold spores are not killed, they will continue to grow and may become a health issue in the future.
3. Determine the best layout to use while installing the backerboard. Backerboard can be installed either horizontally or vertically. Backerboard is cut by scoring with a utility or backerboard knife and snapping the board along the scored line. Additional studs may need to be installed to give the backerboard the needed support.
4. Apply sheet plastic to the studs using a hammer tacker or hand stapler to act as a vapor barrier.
5. Begin installing cement backerboard 1/4 inch above the floor, tub or shower pan using a drill and the recommended backerboard screw. Keep the screws 3/8 inch away from the edges and 2 inches away from the corners. Screws should be set flush with the surface of the board.
Cement backerboard comes in 1/4 inch thicknesses and in 1/2 inch thicknesses, and the typical sheet is 3 wide x 5 feet long. If you are able to keep the existing drywall intact, use 1/4 inch backerboard. If the drywall needs to be replaced, use 1/2 inch backerboard. Backerboard that is 1/2 inch thick is designed to replace drywall in areas that receive a lot of exposure to water. The 1/2 inch thickness ensures that the areas where backerboard is used will be compatible with the areas where drywall will be installed (drywall used in bathroom areas is 1/2 inch thick, also).
6. Tape each joint before tiling. Apply latex-modified thinset to each joint and 2-inchwide fiberglass tape. Using a 4 inch or 6 inch joint knife, press the tape into the thinset and scrape away the excess thinset making the tape level with the backerboard.
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