Tile Over Sheetrock

If it s just white or grey tile away to your heart s content.

Tile over sheetrock.

If you re not sure if you have lead paint test kits are available. If the sheetrock is in an area that does not encounter a lot of moisture it is fine to use thinset to install tile. Lumps and bumps lead to misaligned tiles. Things you will need orbital sander 80 120 grit sandpaper safety glasses dust mask rags tape measure pencil 48 inch spirit level mastic or thin set mortar grooved trowel tile spacers tile cutting tool grout grout spreader sponge grout haze remover optional distilled white vinegar optional.

Step 1 obtain materials from home improvement center. Allow the mortar or mastic to sit for at least 12 hours to set properly. Go over the surface and repair any damage that might have been done during installation or through removal of older tiles. The top objective is to create a smooth and uniform surface on the drywall for the tile to be evenly placed.

Step 2 fill holes. Use a utility knife to remove a little 1 2 square section of paint paper from the face of the drywall. Compare this to the common practice of tiling over drywall and you get the idea that you have a totally different shower by using a product that is meant to function in the shower. Sheetrock is the trademark of the gypsum company.

Though it is perfectly acceptable and meets most county building codes to tile over sheetrock in both dry and wet applications its use as a tile backing should be reserved for dry areas. This surface will be the foundation which holds your beautiful backsplash together over the years and a crumbling foundation will shorten the lifespan. Purchase the joint compound putty knife primer adhesive and other materials needed to. The wedi board wedi shower system includes special bonding agents referred to as wedi caulk though is much more than caulk that waterproofs the seams in the corners as well as the joints where the 3 5 board pieces join together.

Home improvement can be messy business. Step 5 grout. You can tile over sheetrock. You should not tile over wallpaper glossy surfaces lead paint or plywood.

Step 4 place tile adhesive on the sheetrock. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for using the thinset. If the paper is green it s greenboard and you shouldn t tile over it. Peel back the paper and look at it carefully.

You may tile over existing tile painted or unpainted drywall plaster and textured walls. Neither tile nor sheetrock is 100 waterproof which means if sheetrock is used as a backing for tile in a wet area such as a tub surround or shower stall water leakage or condensation build up behind the tile will ultimately occur which will in turn begin. Clean the surface thoroughly and allow it to dry before applying the thinset to sheetrock. Step 3 apply primer to the sheetrock.

Place strips of blue painter s tape over the tile face sticking each end to the wall to prevent the tiles from sliding or falling off as the mastic sets. Use the sheetrock compound tape and screws to install any new pieces or fix damaged areas.