Wall surface in shower - best practice?

9 years ago

I'm searching GW and Google for this answer, but thought I'd ask the pros here. What is the best practice for the wall surface material that will go on the bathroom shower walls? The stuff the tile will attach to. Is it water-resistant drywall with cement board on top? Or just cement board on the studs with no drywall? Or some other method or material that I'm not aware of? I've run into results like 'Wedi' or Kerdi' or 'Denshield' but I'm not sure what the difference is or which one is considered best to use.

Cost IS a factor here, so while I do want to do what's right, I don't need to spend a fortune doing it.

Thanks for any advice you can give. As a self-GC on our new build, it's stuff like this where I have to research to make sure we're doing it right.

Featured Answer

Ron Natalie

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

What is marketed solely as "water resistant drywall" is NOT appropriate behind shower/bath tile, be it traditional "greenboard" or the newer paperless products like GP's Densarmor. You will regret it. Been there done that.

Understand that tile/grout is NOT waterproof.

What you want is something specifically designed as tile backer. Cement board is one option, but there are other products. My FAVORITE material to work with is GP's DensShield product. This is a waterproof board with a ceramic face on it. It's a lot easier to install than concrete board. When you install it you "tape" the seams with fiberglass tape and silicone (rather than drywall mud). Once you do this, the wall system is completely water proof, in fact, GP recommends NOT putting a water barrier behind it.

If you use concrete board (and probably some of the other products), you must put a moisture barrier (properly taped plastic) behind it and terminate it above your tub/shower plan properly.

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Comments (8)

My3dogs ME zone 5A
9 years ago
You might want to post this in the bathroom forum as pros there will help you a lot. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/bath
gthigpen thanked My3dogs ME zone 5A
cpartist
9 years ago
Post in the bathroom forum.
gthigpen thanked cpartist
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timwood06
9 years ago
Having remodeled a few bathrooms myself, this is something I really dug into as far as research. There are a lot of different options and the best place to read up is on the JohnBridge tile forum. Lots of professionals that do this for a living that give great advice.

I wouldn't use cement board or green board alone. Im a firm believer now in a waterproofing system. I did my parents shower with Kerdi. It seemed expensive and it was a little difficult to put up as a DIY'er. If you can buy Kerdiboard locally, it would be much easier and I'd go that route.

The three bathrooms in my current house I used Laticrete's Hydroban. Its a paint that makes a solid membrane. I think this is a much easier DIY method (paint brush and a roller) and the cost was reasonable. I got a 5 gallon bucket and did two showers (one a very large shower) and a tub surround most of the way up the wall. Home Depot sells Redgard which is similar but it is not rated to do the same and is not made for shower pans.

This is money well spent. Nothing worse than ripping out a shower due to a leak and mold. $100 here can save thousands later.
gthigpen
Original Author
9 years ago
timwood06 - thanks, I hadn't heard of that product. I read the installation instructions and I am a bit confused. Do you just roll/paint on the Hydro Ban onto a cement backerboard? Sounds like all seams, corners and plumbing penetrations just get coated with two coats of Hydro Ban with no seam tape required?

Ron Natalie - thanks for the real world review of DensShield. Sounds like this product is super easy to install and the taping of seams would be intuitive to a drywall or tile guy.

I haven't had a chance to talk to our tile guy directly yet. I think he's 'old school' so I'm not even sure he's up to speed on any newer methods. I'm happy to DIY something in preparation for his tiling, but wanted to do the best method. You've given me a couple of options to research further. Thanks all!
timwood06
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hydroban is just painted onto the cement board. I used thinset and mesh tape to fill the corners and cracks. There are videos on youtube about applying it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X2tZaZR5ao
gthigpen thanked timwood06
millworkman
9 years ago
All the joints get taped with a fiberglass mesh tape (non-alkaline).
gthigpen thanked millworkman
timwood06
9 years ago
millworkman is correct...I forgot to add it. You use mesh tape and thinset to fill cracks, corners, etc
gthigpen thanked timwood06