New to the newsgroup.

My house is 35 years old. I have a bathtub enclosure - regular tub with
three tiled walls. The tiles are falling off the walls (behind the the
tiles there appears to be some kind of paper - I don't know if that is
relevant) and the subsurface is crumbling. I had been re-attaching
individual tiles with grout for a long time but the time has come to tear
the tiles down and start over with something different. Problem is, I'm a
geologist not a carpenter.

Here is what I'm thinking and I want some sage advice from the members on
this group as to whether, or not, it's feasible. Tear the tiles off the
walls. Replace the subsurface, whatever it was to begin with, with green
board (I think that's what it's called) and re-surface the whole thing with
that fibreglass/plastic boarding that looks like tiles.

Obviously, I am trying to do this not only in an economic fashion (i.e.
inexpensively) but also in a manner that requires a low skill level (i.e. I
have never laid tiles on a bathroom wall and I don't want to start now).

So, fire away! Suggestions and advice are welcome and being sought.
Remember, I am a newbie and am a geologist not a carpenter or a tile layer -
so, please, go easy on me.

Thanks!

Rob

Oz wrote:
New to the newsgroup.

My house is 35 years old. I have a bathtub enclosure - regular tub with
three tiled walls. The tiles are falling off the walls (behind the the
tiles there appears to be some kind of paper - I don't know if that is
relevant) and the subsurface is crumbling. I had been re-attaching
individual tiles with grout for a long time but the time has come to tear
the tiles down and start over with something different. Problem is, I'm a
geologist not a carpenter.

Here is what I'm thinking and I want some sage advice from the members on
this group as to whether, or not, it's feasible. Tear the tiles off the
walls. Replace the subsurface, whatever it was to begin with, with green
board (I think that's what it's called) and re-surface the whole thing with
that fibreglass/plastic boarding that looks like tiles.

Obviously, I am trying to do this not only in an economic fashion (i.e.
inexpensively) but also in a manner that requires a low skill level (i.e. I
have never laid tiles on a bathroom wall and I don't want to start now).

So, fire away! Suggestions and advice are welcome and being sought.
Remember, I am a newbie and am a geologist not a carpenter or a tile layer -
so, please, go easy on me.

Thanks!

Rob


Guy that built my home was chintzy and used drywall as subsurface in
bathrooms. You can get away with it if not a lot of moisture. There is
cement board and, I believe an intermediate board, you should replace
regular drywall with these.
Frank

"Frank" frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote in message
. ..
Oz wrote:
New to the newsgroup.

My house is 35 years old. I have a bathtub enclosure - regular tub with
three tiled walls. The tiles are falling off the walls (behind the the
tiles there appears to be some kind of paper - I don't know if that is
relevant) and the subsurface is crumbling. I had been re-attaching
individual tiles with grout for a long time but the time has come to tear
the tiles down and start over with something different. Problem is, I'm
a geologist not a carpenter.

Here is what I'm thinking and I want some sage advice from the members on
this group as to whether, or not, it's feasible. Tear the tiles off the
walls. Replace the subsurface, whatever it was to begin with, with green
board (I think that's what it's called) and re-surface the whole thing
with that fibreglass/plastic boarding that looks like tiles.

Obviously, I am trying to do this not only in an economic fashion (i.e.
inexpensively) but also in a manner that requires a low skill level (i.e.
I have never laid tiles on a bathroom wall and I don't want to start
now).

So, fire away! Suggestions and advice are welcome and being sought.
Remember, I am a newbie and am a geologist not a carpenter or a tile
layer - so, please, go easy on me.

Thanks!

Rob
Guy that built my home was chintzy and used drywall as subsurface in
bathrooms. You can get away with it if not a lot of moisture. There is
cement board and, I believe an intermediate board, you should replace
regular drywall with these.
Frank

Frank,

Thank you for that info. How about your thoughts on the surface material?
I'd like to stay away from tile. So, is the stuff I described doable?

Rob

"Oz" wrote in message
et...

"Frank" frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote in message
. ..
Oz wrote:
New to the newsgroup.

My house is 35 years old. I have a bathtub enclosure - regular tub with
three tiled walls. The tiles are falling off the walls (behind the the
tiles there appears to be some kind of paper - I don't know if that is
relevant) and the subsurface is crumbling. I had been re-attaching
individual tiles with grout for a long time but the time has come to
tear the tiles down and start over with something different. Problem
is, I'm a geologist not a carpenter.

Here is what I'm thinking and I want some sage advice from the members
on this group as to whether, or not, it's feasible. Tear the tiles off
the walls. Replace the subsurface, whatever it was to begin with, with
green board (I think that's what it's called) and re-surface the whole
thing with that fibreglass/plastic boarding that looks like tiles.

Obviously, I am trying to do this not only in an economic fashion (i.e.
inexpensively) but also in a manner that requires a low skill level
(i.e. I have never laid tiles on a bathroom wall and I don't want to
start now).

So, fire away! Suggestions and advice are welcome and being sought.
Remember, I am a newbie and am a geologist not a carpenter or a tile
layer - so, please, go easy on me.

Thanks!

Rob
Guy that built my home was chintzy and used drywall as subsurface in
bathrooms. You can get away with it if not a lot of moisture. There is
cement board and, I believe an intermediate board, you should replace
regular drywall with these.
Frank

Frank,

Thank you for that info. How about your thoughts on the surface material?
I'd like to stay away from tile. So, is the stuff I described doable?

Rob
You're a geologist- go buy the big flat things that look and weigh like
rocks. Concrete backer board and 3 sheets of some sort of solid-surface
material are the best way to go. Stay away from the plastic-face masonite
faux tile panels- they don't last worth squat, in my experience. If
solid-surface isn't in the budget, buy a plastic tub surround kit, with
panels as thick as you can afford. The backer board just nails up, and if
you aren't putting tile over it, you barely need to seal the seams. The
solid-surface or surround kit goes up with construction adhesive.
Cross-brace with padded 1x4s till glue sets, caulk any seams, install trim
kit if needed, and you are in business. (Yes, I know, greenboard would work
and is cheaper than backer board. But every tub surround eventually leaks
at one seam or another, and backer board will handle that better.) But
before you do anything, spend 20 bucks on one of the bathroom remodel DIY
books- the pictures in there will explain all this better than words ever
could. It ain't rocket surgery, but there are a few tricks. (Like if tub is
metal, and on an outside wall, this is a great time to add insulation
under/around it to reduce cold butt syndrome in winter. Any ladies in the
house will really like that.)

aem sends....

"aemeijers" wrote in message
...

"Concrete backer board and 3 sheets of some sort of solid-surface material
are the best way to go."

solid-surface material . . . . .

Great advice all the way around but I need to know what this is.

Rob

On Jul 29, 7:28 pm, "Oz" wrote:
New to the newsgroup.

My house is 35 years old. I have a bathtub enclosure - regular tub with
three tiled walls. The tiles are falling off the walls (behind the the
tiles there appears to be some kind of paper - I don't know if that is
relevant) and the subsurface is crumbling. I had been re-attaching
individual tiles with grout for a long time but the time has come to tear
the tiles down and start over with something different. Problem is, I'm a
geologist not a carpenter.

Here is what I'm thinking and I want some sage advice from the members on
this group as to whether, or not, it's feasible. Tear the tiles off the
walls. Replace the subsurface, whatever it was to begin with, with green
board (I think that's what it's called) and re-surface the whole thing with
that fibreglass/plastic boarding that looks like tiles.

Obviously, I am trying to do this not only in an economic fashion (i.e.
inexpensively) but also in a manner that requires a low skill level (i.e. I
have never laid tiles on a bathroom wall and I don't want to start now).

So, fire away! Suggestions and advice are welcome and being sought.
Remember, I am a newbie and am a geologist not a carpenter or a tile layer -
so, please, go easy on me.

Thanks!

Rob

Do a search for 'solid surface' and for 'cement board'.
Standard practice is to leave 1/4" between tub and wall.
This joint is filled with sealant to exclude water.
Your enclosure may be suffering from wicking of water up behind the
surface.
T

On Jul 29, 7:55 pm, "Oz" wrote:
"Frank" frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote in message

. ..





Oz wrote:
New to the newsgroup.

My house is 35 years old. I have a bathtub enclosure - regular tub with
three tiled walls. The tiles are falling off the walls (behind the the
tiles there appears to be some kind of paper - I don't know if that is
relevant) and the subsurface is crumbling. I had been re-attaching
individual tiles with grout for a long time but the time has come to tear
the tiles down and start over with something different. Problem is, I'm
a geologist not a carpenter.

Here is what I'm thinking and I want some sage advice from the members on
this group as to whether, or not, it's feasible. Tear the tiles off the
walls. Replace the subsurface, whatever it was to begin with, with green
board (I think that's what it's called) and re-surface the whole thing
with that fibreglass/plastic boarding that looks like tiles.

Obviously, I am trying to do this not only in an economic fashion (i.e.
inexpensively) but also in a manner that requires a low skill level (i.e.
I have never laid tiles on a bathroom wall and I don't want to start
now).

So, fire away! Suggestions and advice are welcome and being sought.
Remember, I am a newbie and am a geologist not a carpenter or a tile
layer - so, please, go easy on me.

Thanks!

Rob
Guy that built my home was chintzy and used drywall as subsurface in
bathrooms. You can get away with it if not a lot of moisture. There is
cement board and, I believe an intermediate board, you should replace
regular drywall with these.
Frank

Frank,

Thank you for that info. How about your thoughts on the surface material?
I'd like to stay away from tile. So, is the stuff I described doable?

I had the wall board in my stall shower replaced with cement board and
it was retiled with the small tiles. This has been over 20 years ago
and shower still looks great. In other bath with tub and tub shower,
original wall with tiles has held up. In a powder room with the small
tiles, I had to have a plumbing repair that broke through wall and I
replaced tiles on dry wall which was completely intact. So tile over
cement board will solve any problem but you can get away with lesser
moisture proof backing if not heavily exposed.
Frank