[kkv]

My kids had an accident and they broke the soap dish which I believe was grouted to the drywall. Now there is a hole in the drywall and a few of the tiles around seem to have lost their adhesive strength and coming off easily. The house is a 60s one.

I was able to get a ceramic soap dish fitting this hole. Now the questions. I am a newbie and I like diy - have already fixed a few holes in drywall.

1) Are ceramic soap dishes held on by the drywall ? Are there any that can be attached to the studs ?
2) I dont have studs bind this soap dish. Is it better to get a recessed soap dish and install a contraption to fix it to the nearby stud ?
3) Assuming I go with the non-recessed soap dish,
a) Do I need to first fix the drywall (using the wood backer, nailing and then filling with drywall compound) or
b) Should I just put the wooden backer and push the soap dish till the backer ?
4) I assume I should put grout/adhesive paste behind the two loose tiles.

Did I miss anything ? Is there any other way ?
Hope somebody can help.

Thanks

 

[danpik]

The problem started in the 60's when builders thought it was a good idea to tile over drywall. That method in not used today for obvious reasons.

The grout in between tiles is not water proof. Over the years water has slowly migrated thru the grout and weakened the drywall behind the tiles. That is why other tiles seem loose. My shower was originally done this way and after a similar incident I wound up re-doing the entire thing.

You could try repairing it but, I can guarantee you will be back in there in no time fixing it again as the drywall behind the shower is shot.

 

[cleveman]

I can't think of any clever way to fix this.

Looks like you are in for a full bath remodel.

In the meantime, you can put a curtain up against that wall with a rod holding it up.

Another poor solution would be to install a fiberglass tub surround wall system.

 

[kkv]

Thanks to both the comments. Pardon my ignorance, how are bath tiles correctly done ? If it is just some material other than grout like the tile adhesive then maybe I can think of a weekend or o next with the kids - remove all tiles and put tile adhesive and stick back. Maybe in the process we can get new tiles too.

 

[rjniles]

Thanks to both the comments. Pardon my ignorance, how are bath tiles correctly done ? If it is just some material other than grout like the tile adhesive then maybe I can think of a weekend or o next with the kids - remove all tiles and put tile adhesive and stick back. Maybe in the process we can get new tiles too.

Correct would be to remove the tile and drywall, install tile backer, add water proof membrane, install tile with thinset and grout.

Drywall is not a proper tile backer, cement board is.