Tile repair question--looks like the backing behind the tiles has some issues

2677 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Bud Cline, Jun 19, 2011

jbeall

Discussion Starter · Jun 18, 2011

Hi All,

We've got a bathtub/shower where some tiles were coming loose. I pulled out the loose tiles, ready to scrape the old mortar out, and put new mortar in to re-attach the files.

Well, this is what I found. You can see that the concrete backer board (where it exists) is crumbling to pieces, then there's plywood off to the right, and then there are spots where is no backing at all! The backing is completely missing in the corner (on the righthand side), and between the concrete backer board and the plywood.

By the way, the plywood was black with mold--I sanded a lot of it away. But I thought I would pause and come here for advice. Can I mortar this up and put the tiles back, or am I just asking for heartache later by doing that? Do I have to (gulp) rip all the tiles out in this quadrant of the shower, put up new backerboard, and then re-tile it?

Thanks for any insights!

-Josh

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oh'mike

· #3 · Jun 18, 2011

That enclosure is done----The plywood looks like OSB--flake board--that was not even invented when that was originally tiled.

So it's been patched at least once----Time for a make over---Mike----

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oh'mike

· #10 · Jun 19, 2011

That tub is cast iron----If the finish is very good and you like the color you could keep it.

However if the finish is worn,stained or ugly---replace the tub with another---Cast iron is still the best choice,and easily available.

There was a thread yesterday about removing a cast iron tub by breaking it with a sledge hammer---

It's always best to remove it whole,but that's not always an option.

Cast iron is brittle and will break into easily handled pieces with a sledge.---Mike---

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