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Installing Tub Surround Over
Old Plaster Walls
I was wondering what to do about my
bathroom walls. We just bought a home that is over 100 years old
exceptionally well built and the walls are still good... no major
cracks.
The bathroom originally did not have a shower and is very small, we
are remodeling it with a pedestal sink and putting in a tub surround
for a shower in the tub.
The people before us used plastic tile that has now started to come
off and you cannot replace. I have started to remove this and
realized the walls in the bathroom are still plaster-and-lath. We
really do not want to get involved in removing all the
plaster-and-lath at this time.
We are putting bathroom paneling up in the rest of the bath room.
Should we put this on the walls under the tub surround or is there
anything we can use to prime the plaster so the tub surround will
stick?????
Thank you
George
Are
you using that Masonite-based paneling that looks like tiles, and
comes in 4x8' sheets? I helped a friend install that a few years
ago... it looked pretty good, especially after we caulked the
seams with white silicone.
But if you use any wood-fiber-based paneling around your tub...
I'm sure you will regret it within a few years. I've seen it done,
and the surface always wears off around the tub, and then the
water just destroys the backing. Personally, I would only use
plastic or ceramic tile around a tub, or natural stone.
If I was faced with a project like yours, I would consider some of
these options:
1. Peel off the old plastic tub surround and patch the plaster
with an appropriate material. The trouble is, I'm not 100% sure
what the appropriate material is. I've done minor plaster repairs
with setting-type drywall compound, but for large areas I would
wonder if hiring a professional plasterer might be the best bet.
Professional plasterers use things like Imperial Basecoat plaster
followed by a finish plaster that is made from a combination of
gauging plaster (which you won't find at Home Depot) and lime. It
takes a bit of practice to master this craft. But... since you are
covering up the area, who cares if there are some flaws, right?
Once you have a reasonably smooth wall, I would prime the plaster
with a quality oil-based primer, such as Cover Stain from Zinsser.
The trouble with latex paints and primers is that they all take
about 21 days to fully cure. Sure, they're dry within an hour, but
latex paints are soft for three weeks. Oil based primer takes
longer to dry but can be covered after a day with a solvent-based
adhesive (such as Liquid Nails For Tub Surrounds) which is exactly
what you would be using.
2. Cut away the plaster around the tub, possibly going all the way
to the ceiling, and replace it with Moisture Resistant drywall. MR
board is that green drywall that costs a little more than regular
but holds up very well when wet.
3. Same as above but install 1/2" Durock behind the tub
surround areas and then apply plastic or tile. Durock is the ONLY
acceptable backing for tile walls.
4. Find a tub surround that does not lay on the wall. For a recent
bath remodel we bought a tub surround by Sterling (a Kohler
company). The product name is "Performa", I think. We
bought it at a home center called Menard's, which has stores in
the Midwest. This surround is pretty impressive... we installed it
right against the bare studs, and installed the drywall so it
overlapped the edges.
5. Remove the old tub and install a new three-piece fiberglass
tub/surround kit. These are replacement units that are the same as
those huge one-piece tubs that many new homes have. The beauty of
these is that there is virtually no maintenance... they never get
mildew in the corners because there are no corners to catch water.
The seams can't leak because of their design. They are a really
good idea for people who are doing a major bath project, but some
bath rooms do not have enough space to assemble the unit and then
slide it in place. I helped a friend install one once... luckily
there was a hole in the wall so I could escape into the hallway
after I assembled the fasteners in behind the unit. Otherwise I'd
still be there, stuck behind his 6-foot tall tub/shower enclosure!
From my experience with problem walls behind tub surrounds, I
would say "when in doubt, replace the plaster with
Durock". I've seen some rather spongy-feeling walls that let
the surround move, then the seams leaked, then the water got
behind and damaged EVERYTHING. Whatever you do, you need a good
solid wall before you apply the surround.
Bruce W. Maki, Editor.
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