Do you need to waterproof cement board in shower?
The whole point of this post is to get to this bottom line: Water containment on shower walls is important and a requirement. Waterproofing on horizontal surfaces is absolutely critical. If your shower doesn’t have a moisture barrier failure isn’t necessarily imminent.
How do you waterproof drywall before tiling?
You don’t really water proof the drywall itself. You protect it with a layer of water proofing material. You should not ever put tile directly onto drywall, even the “green board” water resistant kind. You should be attaching the tile to cement board or over a wire-lath with mortar.
How do you make regular drywall moisture resistant?
The best way to waterproof your drywall is to use a waterproofing primer. You can find both oil- and latex-based waterproofing primers made by most paint manufacturers. These products are created specifically to prevent mold and mildew on the surface to which they are applied.
Is moisture-resistant drywall required by code?
The surfaces of tub and shower surrounds are required to water resistant. Technically, the building code does allow water resistant sheetrock installed on ceilings of tubs and showers, but it must be nailed to ceiling joists that are spaced no more than 12″ apart.
Do I have to use moisture-resistant drywall in basement?
For instance, basement walls are cooler than those of other rooms of a house and moisture build up behind the walls may cause development of mold. If you need to replace your drywall after water damage or mold issue, it would be a good idea to replace it with moisture-resistant drywall.
Can you tile directly on cement board?
Cement board forms a durable, stable base for tile, and it has no organic materials (unlike drywall, greenboard, or plywood) so it is not prone to mold, rot, shrinkage, or decomposition due to moisture. Ceramic tile laid over cement board is one of the most durable floor or wall surfaces you can install.
Do you have to seal cement board before tiling?
Contrary to popular thought, tile and grout are not waterproof, and some moisture will penetrate even if sealant is used. However, if you choose to use concrete backerboard, which is much stronger and more durable than gypsum board, a water vapor membrane must be placed underneath it or a sealant applied on top of it.