"Craig" wrote in message
...
Hello, I have a bathroom where the builder installed a shower head (by
mistake) over our whirlpool tub. The tub has a tile splashguard (two rows
of ceramic tile topped by a bullnose row of tile, for a total of three
rows). I've decided to go ahead and finish the tiling so that we can use
the shower. The tile is installed directly onto green board. My
questions
are these:

1) Is it okay to continue the next rows of tile above the bullnose if I
seal it good above the bullnose and the row of new tile (perahaps with a
good caulk of silicone)?

2) Given that this shower will only be used perhaps once or twice a
month (it is a secondary bathroom), will it be okay on the green board if
I
seal the grout on an annual basis?

Since this home is only 4 years old, I'm loathe to tear out the wall and
put
in cement board. Also, what alternatives are there to tile that would
look
good? I would install it above the existing rows of tile. Most surrounds
I've seen look like they wouldn't go in well with the oversized tub and
existing tile. I've toyed with the idea of glueing acrylic sheet to the
wall and then caulking the seams with white silicone, but am afraid it
won't
look good when I'm done. (But then I wouldn't be able to play with my new
Rotozip tile cutting bit :-) )
Thanks for the help,
Craig caheaton(AT)netzero.net (AT) = @




HOO BOY, another can of worms tile/greenboard/cementboard post.
Watch to see the blood and body parts flying LOL

But first, as you have been in the house for 4 years, are you constantly
punching holes in the existing greenboard ?
If yes, you better get the cement board up quick.
If no, and it's in good shape, there is no reason to rip out the existing
walls.

As it sounds like you have a general idea about what is involved with tiles,
you should not have any big problems.


The surrounds are usually more expensive than "standard" tiles, especially
if you are doing your own labor.
And never are as good. (come loose, hard to keep sealed) and you would have
to rip out the existing 2 rows of tiles and patch any damage to put them in
But then they go in fast.

Avoid the really cheap ones, they warp the first hot day you get.

Unless you can get acrylic/formica sheets very cheap, it usually costs as
much per sq.ft. as the ready made surround.
Will always look like you cut and glued it yourself, and the same problems
as surround, (hard to seal, come loose)

As it's very likely that any other bathrooms you (and all your neighbors)
have, are also greenboard with tile.
And you prefer not to remove it before adding more tiling.
Just carefully pry off the bullnose, being careful not to rip the greenboard
paper any more than you have to, and continue with tiles.
Grout and caulk it properly, and you shouldn't have any problems.

Of course some anal retentives will insist you rip it all out and put in
cement board.
Perhaps they will offer to cover the costs for you as well.

AMUN