Plasterboard in bathroom

Gewens

Hi
I am helping a friend redo his bathroom in his flat, we came accross a problem today. We removed the tiles which were half hight.
Where the tiles finished, they were 15mm from the wall. Half the wall is plasterboard and half is cement, Its like pic and mix.
We want to tile to the ceiling, so my question is can we put up some battons onto the current surface (enough to make it stick out the same distance if you see what i mean), and then put plasterboard on their and then tile it?
I know that this will lose some space in the room, but not too much, and seems the easiest way.
Hope this makes sence.
Thanks for any help
Glenn

flang

I know they do make plasterboard for damp conditions such as bathrooms however ive used normal plaster board in the past and tiled over the top and had no problems what so ever!

weekendwarrior

Tile backer board is made for this purpose and is used in much the same way as plasterboard.

Have you considered the Direct Bond method for fixing the sheets?

pcyumjb

I strongly advise against using any plasterboard above the bath or in the shower. Any moisture that gets through the tiles will go straight through to the timber and begin rotting. There are several cement based boards which can be used.

Also, make sure that once you have fitted the boards that you seal between the edge of the bath and the board with a silicon before you tile.

Also, make sure the boards are fitted very well as you do not want them to move and crack the tiles or grout. The cement based boards are usually quite rigid but some can be very difficult to cut.

ozskin

You could batten and board or direct bond as suggested. However be aware plaster board without solid back will give and in bathroom in shower bath area this could cause probs. consider proper board, would point you away from wickes as the board just crumbles when cut, look for hardi backer board, will score and snap like plasterboard

Moneymaker

pcyumjb wrote:

seal between the edge of the bath and the board with a silicon before you tile.

You mean "silicone" sealant. "Silicon" is a hard element used to make computer chips!

snaffler

If possible remove the plaster board this is not good in Bathrooms as previously stated in other posts.

If you want a good level surface and you are not able to plaster opt for WBP plywood this mean Weather and Boilproof ply, most builders merchants should sale you this, I would advise 3/4" min if possible.

This will allow you to bond new tiles to this, also I would advise a good coat of PVA on WBP before setting the tiles on to this.

Get all this right the first time and you will not need to revisit in later years with issues and problems.

All the best for the job.

BobProperty

snaffler wrote:

......If you want a good level surface and you are not able to plaster opt for WBP plywood this mean Weather and Boilproof ply, most builders merchants should sale you this, I would advise 3/4" min if possible.....

NO!
You want AquaPanel /Wedi cement based panels. They are about £13 a throw in Wickes / B&Q. They are designed for the situation the OP has. See http://www.trustedtradesmen.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4930

snaffler wrote:

This will allow you to bond new tiles to this, also I would advise a good coat of PVA on WBP before setting the tiles on to this.

Again NO!
See
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/tiling/diy_Tiling_Why_not_to_use_pva.htm

snaffler wrote:

Get all this right the first time and you will not need to revisit in later years with issues and problems.

All the best for the job.

As opposed to having the tiles fall off in as little as 6 months.

plumb1_2

Why does the Op need AquaPanel /Wedi cement based panels, there is no mention of a shower in the bathroom.
Imo you only need AquaPanel /Wedi cement based panels if it in contact with water, ie shower enclosure or around the bath that will come in contact with the spray from a shower fitted. The rest of the bathroom will be fine with plasterboard.

BobProperty

plumb1 wrote:

Why does the Op need AquaPanel /Wedi cement based panels, there is no mention of a shower in the bathroom.
Imo you only need AquaPanel /Wedi cement based panels if it in contact with water, ie shower enclosure or around the bath that will come in contact with the spray from a shower fitted. The rest of the bathroom will be fine with plasterboard.

Er, good point, I'm getting carried away with these ply and PVA posts (I've probably caught it off Alan M )
Re-reading the OP I'm wondering if the bathroom is quite old and the tiles are on some sort of render or the tiler used a very thick layer of adhesive.

Gewens

Thanks for all the replies, yes the bathroom is bery old, and the tiles were on render. Their is a shower above the bath. A friend has surgested using plastic tung and gruve.This looks ok and would sort out my problem i think. It is fully waterproof ect. Does any body have any experiance of using this, it is available in B&Q.