I had a plumbing disaster which resulted in the replacing of my tub/shower valve setup. I went from a 3 knob stup to a 1 knob setup. So, I have some tile patching to do. I’ve taken out the minimum amount of tiles, and have cut new tiles to insert. The problem is that the greenboard where these tiles were, is now destroyed in the process of removing the old cracked tiles (and some of the greenboard was soggy.) I have no surface to attach the new tiles. I only have limited tub-side access to this problem. I could tuck some chunks of backer board into the wall and glue these chunks to the greenboard that’s left, and then build up on top of that, but I know getting it to stick could be tough. How do plumbers deal with this? Is there some wonder-filler that needs only minimal backing? Thanks in advance!
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What I would do is cut back as much of the green board that is rotted/soft. Then cut pieces of 1x4 that are about 4" longer than the width of your green board opening. Slip them in the hole so that 2" of the 4" width backs up against the greenboard and the remaining 2" is exposed. I usually glue it with liquid nails and screw it tight. Now you have an edge where you can fasten new backer. I would use Hardi backer or Wonder board. Cut to the size of your opening and glue/screw to the exposed 1x. I hope my feeble explanation makes sense. Good luck.
You need to keep removing tiles until you have exposed all of the soggy greenboard, and then remove that greenboard. Keep going until you have a rectangular perimeter of dry greenboard, and then install 1x3 backing around the edges so that you can screw in a patch to cover the entire open area. The backing is attached to the back of the greenboard with screws thru the face of the greenboard, and about half of the 1x3 is left showing as backing for the patch material. Abandon any thought of just removing small bits of tile and backer... a repair like this isn't done that way.
Greenboard showers fail pretty fast, and usually take some of the framing with them. You can invest time in fixing this, but it'll have to get entirely redone sometime down the road.
How do plumbers deal with this?
Well, on my current job, the previous plumber used a big hammer to gain access, instead of going to the backside behind the refrigerator. So now we deal with a bigger problem. If the tile or substrate was in bad shape, maybe full replacement. In this case, not even close. Too bad thinking wasn't in his program.
Weigh the looks of a piecemeal patchjob v. full new replacement. I'm sure you can patch it with the suggestions above. But now is also the time to think new. Best of luck.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Greenboard should never be used as tile backing in the shower. peiord.
>>> Greenboard should never be used as tile backing in the shower. peiord.
Yeah, what he said. Tear it down and redo using CBUs. Pay now or pay later (with interest.)
30, I see you haven't posted here very often. When you hit reply you have the option of sending the msg to the post you hit the reply button on........or you can direct the reply to anyone and all at the top of your reply screen. I assume you were sending this to the original poster.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
>> ... or you can direct the reply to anyone and all at the top of your reply screen.Only if he's using Advanced View.30ALL: If you can only see one message at a time, you're in Basic View. Look at the bottom of the message viewing window and you should find a link that will put you in Advanced View.
Thanks man, learn something new everyday. To simplify, hit the reply button on the post you are replying to. I know this, but every so often........ooops. Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I am supprised you did not ask him about his profile, or lack there of... guess you were waiting on rez to get him on that one
james
james, I'm not very quick to check on the profile, but as you say, rez never seems to let it go unturned. I'm hoping he shows up at this yrs fest so we get a visual of this mystical guy.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Greenboard is not an appropriate setting bed for tile in a shower. Tile is not waterproof, and moisture gets in through the grout. I suspect most of the greenboard is a soggy wet mess. Now its been made worse with two holes on the fixture wall, not the worst place for a hole, but not very good either. Why you are trying to fix an already broken shower is beyond me.
I would demo the whole thing and start over with 6 mil poly behind backerboard. I guess you could do one of the walls only, but that makes no sense to me.
If, on the other hand, you are asking me how to fix an already screwed up shower by patching holes in wet greenboard with bondo or plaster mix, well, I'm not going there. Good luck. You'll need it.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Sorry - got you guys way off track. It's not greenboard, my misspeak. It's some kind of cement board. That being said, I think i have enough info to fix the problem. I don't have the option of retiling the whole bathroom, and I only have a limited supply of matching tiles. So I'll glue/screw in some chunks of marine grade plywood, attach new hardibacker, apply tiles, and hope for the best. Someday, that bathroom will get a full remodel, but not today. Eric Peltier
Oh, OK.This is what I would do- Two ways, the good way, and the c r a p p y way:Cra ppy way:1. Remove about a square foot (6-12") of tile around each faucet hole. 2. Once you are down to bare backerboard, shove some plastic baggies into the friggin hole to stop it up a tac.3. Cover the holes with a fiberglass tape suitable for masonry work, like the rolls of the stuff they sell for taping backerboard joints. Embed this tape into the area around the holes into thinset, covering the two holes. 4. Insert tiles into area over the bed of thinset. Grout as usual. Seal the grout.Good Way:Follow step 1-2.3. Buy some Laticrete 9235 or one of the clones. It is black latex rubber stuff with a sheet of fiberglass mesh. Paint on some latex, embed the mesh, paint over the mesh with more latex and let dry.4. Tile as usual. No need to seal the grout.Sorry to be so negative in the 1st post, but greenboard in a shower gets my dander up. Those are the two fixes I would do. Laticrete, or ThoroughSeal are pricey but they will bullet proof that fix.Good Luck. Follow my advice and you won't need it.Regards,
Boris"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934