Do they make glueless tub surrounds? I need to quickly finish up a bathroom remodel. I had planned to tile, but I’m short on time and money. I’d rather not glue on panels and then have to rip them from my new drywall later. Is there another practical option?
I’m open to suggestions.
Thanks.
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Replies
It sounds like you want something temporary, and you're expecting to rip it out and do the wall over with tile or something nice in the future.
Y'know, sheetrock isn't the best wall substrate out there for tile. Concrete backerboard, or Wedi or other surfaces will do you better for tile than greenboard. So even if you have virgin sheetrock , it's still JUST sheetrock.
Guess I'm saying that even with a good temporary surface, you need to commit to a good substrate if you're planning on putting up tile.
I don't see the point in trying to save drywall (or why drywall is there in the first place), but there are fiberglass and ABS units that are essentially free-standing -- need to be fastened around the edges but don't need any backer behind them. Ideal for remodels (where a single-piece unit won't fit) are the units in 4 pieces -- base and 3 walls -- but they're fairly hard to find.
Keep in mind that the drain needs to be placed where the unit wants it.
Thanks, guys. You're right about my intentions. I simply want a temporary substitue for a few months until I can install the tilework. I used drywall because I plan to put kerdi behind the tiles. I already have the kerdi and even considered just using that for the time being. The cast iron tub that was originally there is being reused.
Could I get away with just using the kerdi for now? Would something like RedGuard protect the drywall short term? Should I just get some cheap tile and go for it?
I've seen showers last for a few months with just "moisture resistant" drywall and paint. And you can certainly come up with something a step up from the paint, if only vinyl shelf liner or some such. The trick is the shower pan -- that needs to be reasonably robust or water damage will sneak into adjacent spaces.
If it's just temporary you are looking for, cover the walls with I&W Shield. Waterproof and as permanent as you want it to be (You don't have to peel all of the backing). You can even fasten though it if you want.
slumming suggestion...
I did vinyl flooring on the walls in a rental once. To make it temporary, you could screw (minmal screws and located for future removal) some masonite off against the sheetrock and glue the vinyl to the masonite. When you're ready to take it down, stab through the vinyl to pull the screws holding the masonite on. It would last long enough to get tile in your budget and wouldn't look like you're showering on the edge of your roof...
DW cleaned homes in a very affluent suburb (River forrest, IL) 45 years ago earning her way thru college, lots of high end tile installations.
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE TILE in our house. DW would take a sledge to it rather than trying to clean to her standards.
So, when we built 40 years ago, we did the shower in melamine panels -- that lasted only 25 years, developed some blisters.
Replaced with formica over marine grade plywood, it is still immaculate, like new, after 20 years.
Yeah, there are the textured plastic panels you see in gas station and big-box restrooms. Or the older "tile board" (not cement board but hardboard with a plastic coating, embossed with a tile pattern). And nothing really wrong with the thin rolls of glue-on surround -- drywall's cheap.
Why isn't Formica promoted as a good tub surround solution? Its plastic so you would think that its the perfect solution to those moldy grout lines. Can moisture make its way thru the material or only at the edges? Can you glue it to cement board?
At a big box store I saw a display where a company would cover your existing tub and walls with fiberglass panels. The material appeared more substantial than the plastic tub surrounds the store sells. Apparently you can't buy the material alone. You have to get the company to install it for you.
Is there a panel material out there that is more substantial than plastic but less expensive than solid surface material? A material that you could cut to size around window openings and glue to backer board would be ideal.
Thanks, guys. These are some very unique ideas.
It occurred to me that some cheap vinyl sheet flooring might do the trick for you.