How can I safely remove fake tiled walls in an apartment building basement and prevent mold buildup while maintaining tenant safety?
Asked by Jarand Kalleberg 
5 months ago
Last Updated: June 26, 2024
Hey, can you lend me a hand? I’m assisting my grandpa with fixing up this apartment building, tackling one room at a time. But down in the basement, they’ve got these faux tiled walls. I’m hesitant to rip them out since I have no clue how to repair an entire wall. Maybe I could just cover it up or patch up any holes and give it a fresh coat of paint? The tenant is asking for wallpaper, but without proper ventilation, we don’t want any mold issues for her safety.
Most likely the imitation tile is situated above drywall. If it’s screwed in and not glued, you’ll simply have to fill in some gaps in the drywall. This can be done quickly and easily with spackling and sanding. If it’s glued, it might cause some damage when removing it. However, repairing drywall is not too complex and can be quite satisfying if done patiently. The mold problem might pose a challenge due to the lack of an exhaust fan as you mentioned. Nevertheless, using mold-resistant primer and paint can help.
If this bathroom will continue to have a shower, I suggest finding a way to install a ventilation system. I’m not sure if it’s possible to direct the vent through the wall instead of the attic, but that’s how the vent in my bathroom is (it was already there when I moved in). It’s in the ceiling, but the exit vent is on the exterior wall.
Hey Stacey! So, the basement is mostly underground, right? I was thinking about running a fan into the shower area, but I’m not sure if that’s the best idea. I’ll see if I can put it over the toilet instead. However, there are a bunch of pipes behind it, so I’m not sure if the vent would work there either.
I’m just trying to find ways to make it brighter. The previous tenants smoked indoors, so now it has a dull yellow hue. 😔
Having wallpaper in a bathroom without proper ventilation or a window is not a good idea, even if that’s what the tenant prefers. The walls likely have paneling that resembles tiles for easy cleaning and sanitizing.
If this is in the basement, it seems like there’s paneling directly against furring strips without drywall. You could remove it, but then you’d need to replace it with something in the basement. Drywall paper is more prone to mold growth than a paneled surface.
Is that a cement cinderblock wall, brick wall, or wooden wall? If you’re concerned about mold buildup, I would recommend keeping the tiles on that surface. Mold is unlikely to grow on it, unlike sheetrock and wallpaper.
That wall has a tile panel that’s made for high-moisture environments. If your bathroom doesn’t have proper moisture ventilation, this is a better choice than using drywall. Also, avoid putting wallpaper in a high-moisture area without a bathroom fan.
Add a ventilation fan. The drop tile ceiling makes it easy to install the exhaust tubing. I put in a vent in my basement apartment’s bathroom, directed the exhaust to the nearest exterior wall without concrete (3 sets of 8-foot tubes) and cut an opening outside. It was a quick job done in under an hour.
If you take out the tile board and see only framing studs, just put up drywall. We used moisture-resistant drywall (blue) in the entire downstairs bathroom. You could consider using vinyl wallpaper instead of regular wallpaper – it’s easier to clean and prevents mold.
If you remove the tile board and it’s attached to drywall, how difficult it is will depend on how it was secured. It probably has glue/liquid nails, which can be a hassle. Scrape off as much as you can and then apply a couple of skim coats of mud.
There might already be mold lurking behind these panels. Bring a dehumidifier down here first and set it to low.
Thankfully we can see behind the wall and it seems like the lack of a vent is causing the issue with mold. I really don’t want to have to remove the wall, but it might be necessary for mold control.
Hey Nikkita! Do you think there’s drywall behind that panel, or is it just the back of the fake tile? If the panel is fine, I’d leave it be. But if you want to replace it, your best bet is to take it down, install moisture-resistant drywall, mud/tape, prime the walls, and then decide on paint or wallpaper (just not in the shower/tub). Also, make sure the coverings are bathroom-friendly by checking with the manufacturer. If you’re not adding a vent fan, consider using a dehumidifier to prevent moisture issues.
The tenant doesn’t have any options. After all, they won’t be staying there permanently.
Right now the tenant is actually a close friend of mine. She’s pregnant with her first child and has two dogs. We plan on staying here for a while. The previous owner didn’t take care of the building. My friend is helping me update things, so I want to consider her input. I just don’t have experience with this kind of walling project. I’m nervous about how the drywall is attached to the wall. I think switching to mold-resistant drywall would be the best choice. It’s just frustrating that it’s yellow from the previous tenant smoking.
Wow, that sounds like quite the project. You won’t really know what you’re dealing with until you take down that wall covering.
Oh, that’s what I was thinking too! I’ll just tackle the smaller wall first.
Here are some valuable life lessons: Never lend money expecting it back, avoid selling vehicles to family members, and refrain from renting to friends or family.
I’ve learned that lesson as well. My fiancé’s best friend demonstrated it to us, and she’s the ideal tenant I could hope for. Not only does she always pay on time or in advance, but she also helps with apartment repairs, my children, and our dog. In return, I assist her as well. She goes above and beyond what a typical tenant would do. Life is full of lessons, and I’m content with my current situation.
Nope, it’s not important what they want. It serves a specific purpose in this situation.
I’m planning to remove the small wall behind the toilet, replace it with drywall, and possibly install a vent if there’s enough room above. This is my first major project, but I discovered from this group that the wall served a purpose, and I’m grateful to see that there was no mold behind it.
That appears to be a vinyl wall covering commonly found in commercial bathrooms. It is highly durable and serves its purpose well. Hopefully, there is drywall behind it that can be patched and painted. However, with tenants, you might consider installing something similar yet modern, as it is easy to clean and tenants tend to be less careful than homeowners.
It doesn’t matter what the renter prefers.
I mentioned in my reply to Jay that a close friend and I are currently working on fixing up this old building on our own due to financial constraints. However, I am eager to make all necessary repairs with the help of experienced individuals 🙏🏼 I plan on taking off a panel soon to assess the situation and consider using mold-resistant drywall, as well as adding a vent!
It’s just a rental. Tenants come and go. It doesn’t really matter who’s renting it because, at the end of the day, the owner is getting their return on investment. It’s sort of like flipping a house, but your wife has expensive taste.