Replies

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 29, 2005 01:11am | #1

   johnbridge.com is a great tile forum

   Don't use mastic anywhere in a bathroom.  It has its uses, but the bath is not one of them. 

   Sticking tiles to the wall is not difficult.  Use a good quality modified thinset and the tiles stick quite well.  See if you can find Michael Byrnes book Setting Tile ... sometime HD and Lowes have it, or a good bookstorre, or Taunton on line.  You need to keep the lowest row of tiles from slipping down until the thinset grabs ... one way is to set the first row on day one, wait overnight, then do the rest of the wall.  or you can temporarily omit the bottom row and screw a straight edge to the wall, then tile from there up.  Next day, remove the straight edge, set the bottom row, and use masking tape to hold them to the row above.  Small tiles arre easy cuz they don't weigh much, but when you start doing 12 inch tiles, there's some weight involved.

   You have to use a lot more than just wonderboard on the shower walls.  Check the discussions at john bridge, and/or get the book.

    

   I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

1. 
   DML | Jan 29, 2005 03:35am | #2

   Generally I'm not a fan of installing tile on Drywall, although if you do it is better to use MR Drywall, or Greenboard. There are also types of drywall designed for taking mortar beds but mortar beds are not for the beginner.

   The best and easiest products for tile in the scenarios you describe would be either Hardibacker or Wonderboard, both cementanious based products sold in at most big hardware stores. You could easily cut  and remove your existing drywall 1/2" or so below the top of the wainscot and replace it with a backer board below.

   There are a number of issues regarding tile in the shower, certainly DO NOT use drywall. As a GC I have made a fair amount of money ripping out and repairing all the rotten studs and other damage from people who have installed tile over drywall in a shower. You also need to ensure that you use a waterproof membrane (usually 15lb tar paper) over the studs and behind the backer board. You also have to pay close attention to how you waterproof the bottom of the backer board to the tub/shower pan.

   I do not know the book the other gentleman suggested, but $25 on book to get this right will be much cheaper than paying me or one of my other brethren to fix the potential problems if you get this one wrong. It's not a particularly difficult job but there are still a lot of ways to get it wrong

   Good luck

    

1. 
   Scooter1 | Jan 29, 2005 05:01am | #3

   I'm the most Code compliant guy around, and I don't have a problem with regular thinset or heck even mastic on dry walls. Go for it. However, if this bathroom wall will get wet, then mastic is a no-no.Tile will stick better to CBU, but drywall is OK. For walls, I tile the second row (course) from the bottom, and use a water level or laser level to set level lines. Set this course and let it set overnight, then come back the next day and tile up from there, using spacers to support the tile, and the occasional blue tape.If this is a shower or bath enclosure, all the rules change, OK?Regards,
   Boris"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

2. 
   Taylor | Jan 31, 2005 12:23pm | #4

   Use Schluter Kerdi.

1. 
   andybuildz | Jan 31, 2005 04:02pm | #5

   Use Schluter Kerdi.>>>>>Thats easy for you to say....try and find it in most parts of any town.
   I wish they had it here and I live in a big town. Not to mention the cost...lol
   a...The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

   When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..

     I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,

   I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.

   I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you

   and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

    

    

    

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   Taylor | Feb 01, 2005 11:49am | #6

   http://www.tile-experts.com.Great service. Kerdi just seems like the obvious right way to do shower walls. Stop the moisture *before* it gets behind the wall.

1. 
   andybuildz | Feb 01, 2005 02:53pm | #7

   Thanks dude....great site.
   I did my laudry room with Ditra and loved it.
   Was on my way home from a ski trip in Canada and heard they carried it at HD there so we stopped in on our way back and I scored a roll cause its near impossible to find here.
   Still have a nice big piece left over.
   The site you posted makes it all that much more possible now. Thanks again.
   Stuff's great....expensive but not in the total scheme of things specially if you need to do an area on a second floor. The stuff weighs nuttin'and is a sinch to put down. No nails or Piffinscrews plus its a good cushion. Great invention!
   Be well
   a...The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

   When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..

     I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,

   I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.

   I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you

   and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

    

    

    

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   Taylor | Feb 01, 2005 02:59pm | #8

   You're welcome. Every little bit I can give back to this site is small repayment for what I've got out of it.

2. 
   andybuildz | Feb 01, 2005 03:08pm | #9

   Well happy to see you ain't no newbie anymore....by the way....did anyone show you our secret handshake? If not ask SPHERE or IMERC.Tell em' AndyC sent ya....that'll really get ya in trouble....lol
   BE one of da boyz
   a...The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

   When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..

     I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,

   I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.

   I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you

   and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

    

    

    

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

3. 
   Sailfish | Feb 01, 2005 05:13pm | #10

    

   What is a piffinscrew?-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "Have you seen my baseball?"

    

    

4. 
   GoldenWreckedAngle | Feb 01, 2005 08:39pm | #11

   You mean to tell me you've got that personal quote in your profile and you haven't heard of those little black screws piffin recommends for everything but drywall? Hanging cabinets with them is his favorite application. 

5. 
   Sailfish | Feb 02, 2005 12:10am | #12

   "those little black screws piffin recommends for everything but drywall? "

    

   You mean drywall screws???-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "Have you seen my baseball?"

    

    

6. 
   GoldenWreckedAngle | Feb 02, 2005 12:25am | #13

   Yea - That's what they used to be called anyway.

   Piffin loves them! Especially in load bearing applications.

    

    

    

    

   <G> This is actually a standing joke around here because, for a while there, piffin was given to frequent anti-drywall screw rants.  

7. 
   Sailfish | Feb 02, 2005 04:34pm | #14

   Now I know why he and I share a special bond-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "Have you seen my baseball?"