Forum
« More on Mold.... Looking for Plumber »
June 12, 2009
Can you tile over dry wall
I would like to have tile as my kitchen backsplash. Can I just tile over the existing drywall?
Comments
Yes.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 12, 2009 12:47 PM
you can . . . but it isn't advisable. tile over sheet rock is not water proof or even close. A backsplash should be (thus the word "splash") but many people don't bother.
if you do tile over sheet rock just don't expect it to last very long. maybe 5-8 years.
Posted by: pmmtenement at June 12, 2009 12:51 PM
As long as there's a counter backsplash 3-4" high you shouldn't have any problem with water. This is not a "wet application."
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 12, 2009 12:56 PM
If you haven't rocked yet, try green rock instead.
Posted by: Arkady at June 12, 2009 1:00 PM
agree with you dib.
but i read the original question and assumed this would be the backsplash, not that it would be above one.
Posted by: pmmtenement at June 12, 2009 1:02 PM
Or cementboard
Posted by: cmu at June 12, 2009 1:02 PM
cementboard (durock) is definitely overkill.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 12, 2009 1:06 PM
you are totally fine. Tile it. grout it. Seal the bottom edge on counters.
You will NOT be replacing it in '5-8 years'. Unless you like to have water fights in your kitchen.
Posted by: MAT at June 12, 2009 2:00 PM
Respectfully disagree with the above posts.
As a backsplash, its durability will have a lot to do with the individual situation -- maybe you use the kitchen once a year, maybe you use it every day and splash water everywhere, I don't know. But tile grout is not waterproof and can transmit water to its underlayment, this goes for water vapor too if the tile's next to the pasta pot, for example.
For a workmanlike standard, you should prep the gypsum board with a waterproof membrane (such as laticrete) before you apply the tile. It's easy, fast, and you won't have to worry about it again. It doesn't make sense to risk mold damage to the drywall, however unlikely that might seem, when a membrane is so simple to apply.
Posted by: Smokychimp at June 12, 2009 2:29 PM
the other option is to glue up 1/4 inch tilebacker board (durock) aover the existing drywall
Posted by: eman1234 at June 12, 2009 4:17 PM
what eman said. it's insurance against cracks.
Posted by: southslope at June 12, 2009 6:00 PM
go to gardenweb.com and post there. you will get serious knowledgeable answers
Posted by: Ysabelle at June 12, 2009 6:19 PM
Of course you can. . . everybody does it. . . .
Posted by: IronBalls at June 12, 2009 10:23 PM
Sure... Under normal residential conditions it will last forever. I would paint bare sheet rock first with an oil based primer, otherwise let her rip
Posted by: IMBY at June 12, 2009 11:37 PM
I ripped out a plastic shower stall enclosure (about 6 ft tall). installed tile backer board in its place then tiled the entire shower walls up to the ceiling. Tile was installed over painted dry wall on the last 3 ft. of the walls. We have used the shower daily for the past several years with out a problem. Be sure to carefully caulk with good caulk the tile joints in the corners and where the tile joins the countertop/backsplash then seal the grout and tile with a good sealer several times before using.
Posted by: larryvab at June 16, 2009 3:45 PM
The idea that you can't use grout on a kitchen backsplash because it's not waterproof sounds more than a little nutty, given that most bathrooms have tile and grout!
Yes, seal the tile and the grout.
Posted by: neandergal at July 6, 2009 8:05 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.