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Hi everyone,
I am currently attempting to renovate my en suite shower as there was some moisture damage to some of the surrounding plaster and tiles were starting to come loose. I am taking the opportunity to retile and also fix whatever the cause was of the leakage in the first place. After reading around I decided that I would like to replace all the walls so I had a fresh start and also lift the shower tray to replace the damaged wood. I removed the water damaged plaster around the base of the shower and tried to ascertain the wall contruction.

However, it was not immediately clear what the construction was and I wanted some advice before ripping any more of it off. My questions are as follows:
1. What is the most likely wall construction and the best way to remove it OR is there a better approach?
2. Does the existing construction look adequate? I don't see obvious evidence of waterproofing and having plaster directly under the tiles seems to contradict some of the things I have read.

Thanks a lot for your help on this - I can tell you now it won't be my last post!

Cheers, Andy

It looks like bonding/plaster with the tiles on top. It will be upto an inch deep before you hit brick.

If it's wet, I'd take it off and it's more than likely blown around the bottom anyway. Tap it - does it sound different to the rest of the wall higher up?

What are you wanting to finish it with?

If it was me, I would:

- Take it all off (I done this about two weeks ago - I used a SDS drill with rotor stop and a wide chisel attachment. Makes mincemeat of it the job compared to hammer and bolster)
- Repair any damage to pipework/joints
- Batton the walls out with treated battons (25 deep x37wide should be around the same depth as the plaster so the new boards hit the tray in the same place)
- Buy yourself waterproof boarding - no joints, no grout, easy to clean) like this: http://www.ipsluk.co.uk/designer_panels ... -wall-kits (note: not used these, just found them recently - it's just an example)
- Install
- shower and be happy

You can buy individual panels or thinner ones that are MUCH easier to handle. This is just a kit - shop around. I know my local merchant can supply full boards at around 60 quid easy (1200x600) and then the jointing kit/glue is seperate.

When you price it up - take into account upkeep of the grout if you go tile route. Someone on here said no grout is fully waterproof, it eventually passes through and finally, with the boards you don't need all the adhesive, grouts, etc - just a saw and some other basic tools.

My thoughts only.

BG

Mine isn't a shower square like yours - I went with the T&G boards (4 of). Put the joints at the back of the shower cubicle walls so there was never going to be a leak.

It looks like this (sorry for the finger prints, etc....still not finished or wiped it all!)
BG

I'm having a stupid day today - this one is what you need: http://www.ipsluk.co.uk/designer_panels ... parkle.htm

Cost: £295.36

Kit contains: 3 Aquabord 1000mm wide panels, 2 internal corners, 4 edge trim, 1 silicone sealant, 6 PU adhesive

there are other designs too - cost varies! :)

BG

Thanks for the replies everyone. Interesting - I hadn't picked up that one could just use panels alone. However, we were planning on tiling this as we would like the shower to be consistent with the rest of the bathroom.

Billygoat - now I am taking the tiles off the extent of the damage to wall seems limited to what I have already removed but the fact that I had paint bubbling halfway up one wall suggests otherwise?

Assuming the rest of the wall is ok could I just repair the bottom of the wall and what would I use? Could I just then sand down the rest of the wall to smooth and tile onto it?

Thanks

Andy