Bathroom Refurb Help

[Andy F]

Hi everyone

Appologies for being a newbie to this forum. Tiling has been something i have just got on with in the past having freshly plastered walls but now im refurbing my 1930's bathroom im trying to research before i get on with it.

I have searched around the internet and this forum and found alot of information but am still baffled a little and want to ask some questions before i make purchases of materials.

1) Being a 1930's house insulation is pretty poor, i have stripped back the walls. The internal ones are concrete block and the externals are are 250mm solid brick. I have chiselled back the walls to remove cement etc. The walls are now fairly level.

I want to install some form of board to level of the walls and provide some form of additional insulation as the bethroom was previously quite damp. I am quite impressed with the thermal properties etc of the water proof backer boards but everyone i seem to have looked at seem to require backing on a frame which i dont really have the space to lose.

In the past i have installed moisture resistant boards and then paint on tanked around the shower.

I am looking to install travertine tiles which obviously are heavy so i understand i would need to use mechanical fixing and an adhesive on the boards.

I wondered if you could help with what i should be using to attached direct to walls? Thermal Backers or moisture resistant?

2) Ceiling - when i stripped out the bathroom there was a large amount of damp on the ceiling. I dare say a large amount of this was due to the poor ventilation in the room which i will be rectifying. I will be dropping the ceiling around 6" to allow for more insulation to be installed.

What i trying to understand is are the moisture resistant boards suitable for ceilings to be skimmed and painted or is this pointless?

Thanks for any help
:hurray:

 

[diamondtiling]

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum.

I have used 100mm thermal boards to build Aromatherapy rooms in Fitness clubs, they were then tiled inside and out with wall and floor heating installed. I cant see why you would have any problems skimming them for a painted finish. You can get 20 or 30mm boards for your walls which need to be mechanically fixed. Are you going to install an extractor fan for moisture removal? I think that would be a wise move.

 

[david campbell]

i was thinking along the same lines as diamond above,i'm pretty sure dakkaboard would be a good bet for your bathroom,they come in sizes of upto 100mm thick and 1300mm x 600mm,and as above fit an expelair into the bathroom to stop future moisture problems

 

[Andy F]

Thanks for the replies guys

Yes the plan for extraction is to put in a decent fan, again a bit of research needed as i have seen timed ones, ones that work on a moisture and even these strange heat recovery ones.

I was hoping to use 15-20mm board i was looking at the elektra thermo panel as they seem to do some good bulk deals.

So in your opinions these tile backer/thermal boards are as strong/useable to fix to block walls as moisture resistant boards?

Thanks

 

[diamondtiling]

20mm would be better, you can fix them to the blockwork with adhesive and fixings, have you looked at the boards from one of the forum sponsors, Uheat? you might get a better price.

 

[White Room]

If you fit moisture resistant boards on the ceiling, British Gypsum reccomend you pva before skimming due to the low suction

 

[Andy F]

ok guys

well i have had a look at uheat etc and im looking to head towards the marmox boards in 20mm. As after measuring the walls and having removed the 2 layers of tiles plus the cement off the wall a 20mm board plus travertine tile will put me about the same height as before.

Think im going to have a look around my local builders merchants to find some of this board before i spend alot more than using moisture board.

Im interested to see its weight and rigidity just to get it right in my mind before i make the order.

 

[diamondtiling]

Andy are you going to look for marmox at a builders yard? if so I doubt you will find it.
Marmox/wedi boards are extremely strong materials, I cant remember their weight capacities right now but its more than capable for your needs. You are entitled to some discount from uheat just by being a member of this forum, I would ring them and discuss your requirements, they are very helpful.

 

[Andy F]

well was in the hope of finding some in a builders merchants but as you said didnt find any. Most places looked baffled and a couple quoted me some terrible price for wedi boards.

Found this company insulation express they can supply me 25 for £275 which is cheaper than uheat. I am going to try and find the 2.4m boards though as it saves another couple of joints.

Looking at the marmox fixings they do 2 types the dowels and the backing plates for screws, any recommendations? also the instructions say 15 fixings per board 25cm from the edge?

Finally just need to find the best way of jointing tape or Silicon etc?