Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

And I thought that I was being so clever! Just to set me straight - why exactly is the wonderboard a bad idea?

Posted by: guest2 at February 9, 2008 3:10 PM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

what would you "seal" it with? the paper is going to get wet and look like crap.

Posted by: guest at February 9, 2008 5:14 PM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

Are people confusing wonderboard with sheetrock? I don't see why it would be such a bad idea. It's made up of cement and fiberglass. You would have to fill the joints with grout or mortar. Sheets are typically 3x5, not 4x8 like sheetrock. You can stain or paint it, then use a concrete sealer and/or poly. I say go for it!

Posted by: rh at February 10, 2008 9:50 AM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

I think the exterior of Dorsky gallery in Long Island City is made of Hardee-backer or similar cement fiberboard... I don't see why your idea would pose a problem.

Posted by: guest at February 10, 2008 6:52 PM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

i think there is a thai? restaurant (EM I think) in CG that uses it on their walls in part

Posted by: guest at February 10, 2008 9:40 PM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

Use stainless steel screws.
I don't think sanded grout will hold up to contraction/expansion. How would you "finish" the joints? Might use silicone for better results. Also wonder board is very porous and has the occasional large air bubble void that would eventually foster mold growth. What about some type of stucco (Smooth) overcoating?

Posted by: guest at February 11, 2008 11:29 AM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

If you are not planning on using the cement panel around the shower you might be okay. Around the shower I would make sure that you have some kind of good membrane underneath. I agree with the warning above about grout not standing up to the expansion/contraction of 3x5 panels. Silicone would be better. If you use stainless steel screws, you should drill pilot holes because wonder board will chip and put a dab of silicone in the hole. If you try to use thinset to attach you might need two layers of cement panel, the first layer attached with screws, the second with the thinset. Start from the bottom and use spacers, because the panels will slide down the walls.

Posted by: Left Hook at February 11, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls

Do you mean that the name of the manufacturer would show too? Yuch

Posted by: guest at February 11, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Sealed wonderboard for bathroom walls