Tile Backer for a Bathroom: Mold Free

LESLIE: Art in Indiana’s doing some work in the bath. How can we help?

ART: Yes, I am going – tearing out some old ceramic tile over an old lath and plaster wall in a shower. And I’m wondering what the right way to prepare the wall for putting the ceramic tile back. In particular, is there any type of waterproofing I should put over any drywall that I use to repair the old lath and plaster wall that was underneath the ceramic tile?

TOM: Alright, are you taking the old wall out completely, Art?

ART: Yes, I’m going down to the bare studs and then going back with waterproof drywall.

TOM: (overlapping voices) Don’t use drywall.

ART: But I had read somewhere where I should put some sort of waterproofing …

TOM: Don’t use drywall.

ART: OK.

TOM: That would be a big mistake. You want to use a tile backer and it’s called Dens Armor.

ART: OK.

TOM: There’s a version of Dens Armor, Leslie, I think it’s designed specifically for tiles.

LESLIE: Mm-hmm. It’s – I think it’s simply called the Dens Armor Tile Backer.

TOM: Yep.

LESLIE: And it’s the same principle that they use for their Dens Armor drywall which has a fiberglass facing except this is really made to really take a lot of moisture, which is what you’re going to get. Because even though you’re putting tile on top of a moisture-proof product, the grout lines are still going to, you know, suck in a lot of water and put it to that bottom surface. So you want to make sure it’s really something that can get wet.

ART: Yes. Yeah, like cement board or something of that effect.

TOM: Yeah, and it’s like that. That’s right. It’s a replacement product for that but it’s better. And you know, Art, you’re going to through all the work of pulling off this old tile and the old plaster lath, you certainly want to put something on that’s just as durable as what you had to start with.

ART: Most definitely. It’s a major …

TOM: It’s a big job.

ART: It’s a major demolition …

TOM: Exactly.

ART: … and I want it to last when we go back with something new.

TOM: Well, if you use the Dens product it will last.

ART: Alright. Well, I certainly appreciate. Listen to your show and you have quite a bit of good information.

LESLIE: Thanks, Art.

TOM: Thank you, Art. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT. 888-666-3974.