I have removed the wall tile and greenboard around my bathtub – I cut straight through the wallboard along the vertical edge of the trim tile on the wall opposite the fixtures. I will be installing wonderboard for backing the new tile. How do I make the joint between the new wonderboard and the existing gypsum wallboard? In other words, do I use wallboard joint compound, thinset, silicone caulk? Also, should I run the wonderboard further out, into the painted wall? In my current plan, the edge of the trim tile will be right along the joint line. I will probably use mastic to set the wall tile. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
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The joint should be covered with the backer board mesh and thinset. Best case senerio is to have the tile split the joint and cover the thinset....then caulk the top of the tile with matching grout caulk.....or...if a small/thin bullnose cap tile.......a simple bead of regular painters caulk should do the trick. Jeff
.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......
I tape the joint with setting type joint compound but Jeff's sounds better.Excellence is its own reward!
tape the joint and finish with joint compound. Set the tile over the joint and run a thin bead of paintable caulk between the top of the tile and the wall. If I'm capping with 2" bullnose for example, I'll run the bullnose right over the middle of the joint, so that the top edge requires no additional finishing. Just caulk and paint. You can certainly use thinset for this purpose but I find this much easier. if in doubt, consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for whatever backerboard you intend to use.
I also suggest you use a latex-modified thinset for setting the tiles instead of mastic. Mastics have inferior bond and compressive strength when compared to thinset, and when cured aren't as flexible as latex-modified thinset (which may lead to cracking). Also not all mastics are approved for use over cement board or in wet areas.
Great, Andy. I feel much better about how to proceed. And thanks for the advice on the thinset. For a DIYer, I've set a lot of floor tile with thinset, but have never set wall tile, and I thought the premixed mastic would be easier to use. I have the latex modified thinset to lay the wonderboard on the floor, and I'll get the right thinset for the wall tile as well.
Best regards,
Ron
Piffin:
Thanks for your reply. Sounds like either thinset or joint compoiund will work. I have the thinset so it will be easy to go that route.
Regards,
Ron
reason I say setting type instead of premixed is that it resists water better. Premixed wil disolve from water. Thinset is the adhesive for the tiles.Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks, Jeff. I do plan to use the bull nose tile, and I am relieved that I can end the tile right over the joint. A 2" bull nose wll match the opposite (plumbing) wall of the tub/shower. I appreciate your advice - now I can proceed. And I like your slogan, especially since I drive 100 miles on the tollway every day!!!
Best regards,
Ron