What are the best budget-friendly waterproofing options for my small bathroom with limited wall space and texture issues?
What are my options for fitting a bath in this limited space? Right now, I only have about 71cm between the wall and the door frame. I was planning on using moisture board, but when I removed the tiles, I’m left with this rough texture that has me a bit concerned about fitting the bath properly.
Do you have any other ideas or alternatives?
I’ve heard that I can bond the low spots and then file them down. Or I could skim plaster and then tile over it. Another option is to fill the low spots with plaster, use PVA, and then tile.
I also thought about using a waterproofing sheet or membrane for added protection. My first choice would be to use the boards, but the space is tight and I’m not sure if it’s safe to screw them in with the wall texture like this.
What do you think is the best option considering the limited space and wall texture? I’m only 22, this is my first house, and I’m a full-time student on a tight budget, so I’m trying to make the most of what I have! 😅
We should probably remove all of it. Seems like you ripped the paper off the denshield backer board. It’s a type of drywall with silicon impregnation and a grey rough textured paper with fiberglass. The best solution is to take it down to the studs.
Do you have any thoughts on what that green backing piece might be in the first video? Do you think it’s related to the backer board?
This is what it seems like to . Den shield was found to fail with heavy tile eventually, the face would come off and entire walls were known to collapse. This was especially seen around fireplaces with stacked concrete stone tile.
Foam backer board with a fiberglass face is not common. It’s yellow. You can paint it with rubber paint for extra durability. It’s really strong. There are also other types like Wedi.
Mentioned that there were actually two layers of tile, making it very heavy and securely attached, almost like it’s bomb proof.
I’m pretty clueless about what was used before, to be honest. I’ve only worked on basic renos with my dad using cement board or moisture boards. Thanks for the advice! So, would you recommend I strip it back to the studs and reboard? That wall will be for the bath, so it really needs to be properly waterproofed. The other walls won’t be exposed to water.
If the paper face is missing, then yes, it definitely looks to be in poor condition now.
Hey, I checked and turns out the wall is only 50mm thick! I’m thinking it might be a cardboard type wall since I couldn’t find any studwork. I might just start fresh for peace of mind.
So, for the surface stuff, don’t worry about the gouges as long as there are no high spots. You can laminate with green (water-resistant sheetrock) – they only make thin stuff that’s 3/8″ thick. Use liquid nails in the field and screws at the joints. I usually smooth it out using a 2×4 scrap with carpet nailed to it to even out the sheetrock surface where the liquid nails might create uneven spots. Just press down hard and go at it like you’re ironing.
Thank you, I value the advice. I attempted to locate the joists this morning by making a few holes in the wall and discovered it’s only 50mm deep. I didn’t have the time to investigate further, but I assume it’s not framed with studs. Would you recommend taking down the wall and reframing it, then putting boards directly onto the studs?
Am i spotting a stud at the bottom right of the first picture next to the sink?
Sure thing, you are. It’s running along the bottom of the wall. I feel like I might be missing something, shouldn’t there be stud framing in the wall? I drilled several holes a few inches apart, but didn’t hit a stud. Tried drilling at the edge of the walls too, still no stud. Went straight through the wall at about 50mm. Wall to the left with the sink and toilet is an external brick wall.
Attempt measuring 15.5 inches from the center of the visible stud. 50 mm is close to two inches, which is the depth of a 2×4, indicating the presence of studs in that area.
The only studs visible to me are those running along the floor. What would be the most effective method to locate additional studs?
A stud finder is an inexpensive tool that can assist you in locating nails by detecting magnetism. The debris on the floor and the surface in your second video appears to be old plasterboard. During the age of plaster and lath, plasterboards were typically 2 feet high and 8 feet long, resulting in horizontal studs. The vertical stud in the corner could potentially be a transitional corner. In the event that you are unable to locate vertical studs, search for horizontal studs spaced 1 inch and 11.5 inches apart vertically on the wall. Reach into the hole and explore upwards. It is advisable to wear a mask as the dust is harmful, especially if the material is old plasterboard containing asbestos. If your studs are horizontal, it is recommended to retain them, fill the hole with sheetrock (you can add 2×4 nailers for attachment), and utilize thin 3/8″ sheetrock to cover the area with joint compound until level with the existing wall. It is safer to leave asbestos plasterboard in place, seal and cover it, as removing it will result in dust exposure which is harmful to you and your family.
Keep me updated on your findings and I’ll continue to assist you in solving this puzzle.
Okay, after a bit more investigation, I can spot this in the attic. It’s at the top of the wall.
There are a few different membranes you could go with. Kerdi and Guru are probably the best in terms of performance and cost ratio.