What material goes behind tile in a shower?

In showers, the standard substrate is tile backer, also called cement board or cement backer board.

What is the best material to use behind a tile shower?

Use an appropriate waterproof or moisture-resistant backing material behind grouted tile or stone or segmented plastic or fiberglass tub and shower surrounds. Appropriate materials include cement board which has a cementitious core and glass mats on both sides to strengthen the board.

What material do you put behind a shower?

Rigid air barrier materials for use behind showers and tubs include fiber-cement, fiber-reinforced gypsum, glass mat gypsum, or fiber mat-reinforced cementitious backer panels.

What should be behind bathroom tile?

Once you've removed the old tile, inspect what's behind it. If there's drywall, remove it and plan to replace it with cement backer board to protect the walls from moisture and mold. You can use drywall above the shower head, but anything below the shower head should be lined with cement backer board.

What is the best backer board to use in a shower?

Cement board is a good, reliable backer board that works well on both floors and walls. Keep in mind that most tile setters err on the side of caution and brush a waterproofing membrane on top of cement board when it is in wet areas like showers or tub surrounds.

4 Types of Shower Waterproofing Systems for Your Bathroom

What do you put behind wall tiles?

These are the most commonly used tile substrates:

• Cement Backer Board. Cement backer board is also called cement board, and it's the most commonly used backer board for all manner of ceramic and porcelain tiles. ...
• Fiber Cement Board. ...
• Glass Mat Gypsum Board. ...
• Styrofoam Backer Board. ...
• Water-Resistant Drywall. ...
• Plywood.

Can you use green board behind tile in shower?

So what does all this mean? It means "Greenboard" can still be used in bathrooms (and other areas), it just cannot be used as a backer for tile in a shower or tub surround. It can be used in areas not subject to direct water exposure (tub/shower surround), and areas of noncontinuous high humidity (bathrooms).

Do I need cement board for shower walls?

Shower walls must be backed with a waterproof backing board. Drywall is not an acceptable backer board. Even moisture-resistant drywall (green or blue varieties) will not hold up in showers. Use a true cement backer board, or try a shower backer board kit like this one.

Do you need to waterproof cement board before tiling?

Although most backerboards currently available won't fall apart when exposed to moisture and are somewhat water-resistant, they aren't waterproof. To prevent moisture from seeping through to the wood or metal studs beneath the tile, a barrier or sealant must be used on porous materials.

Which is better green board or cement board?

For bathroom applications, green board can be used on ceilings and walls where there is no direct water application, such as behind sinks and on bare walls. Only cement board can withstand the wear and tear of a shower or tub enclosure.

Do I need a vapor barrier behind cement board in shower?

If it's a cement board, you need a vapor barrier, because cement retains moisture, which means the wood next to it is always damp. It does retain moisture, but the advice given by others here is to move the waterproofing between the tile and cement board with products like Redguard or Ditra.

What can I use for shower wall panels?

​Acrylic:​ Acrylic can also be an affordable pick for shower walls. Although it can get a bit more expensive than fiberglass, it's a very popular choice for shower panels. Lightweight and resistant to chipping or cracking, it's also low maintenance and attractive.

Can you put tile on drywall in a shower?

The bottom line is that drywall (and this includes moisture resistant drywall) should never be used behind tile in wet areas (showers and tub-shower combinations).

Can you tile over drywall?

In most areas of your home, you can put tile over drywall without any issue at all as long as you prepare the drywall first and use the right mortar for your project. It is safe and effective and what most professional contractors do.

Should you put plastic behind shower walls?

They are required beneath your shower pan and behind your shower walls. Moisture barriers can be made of polyethylene or a membrane that is rolled directly onto the drywall. No matter what they are made of, without them, your shower is subject to moisture damage.

What type of drywall goes behind a shower?

Green. Green drywall is a type of drywall that's mold resistant and is used in applications where moisture can be an issue—so most commonly, bathrooms. To maximize the mold resistance, use mold-resistant drywall mud, aka joint compound. Green drywall generally costs about 20% more than regular drywall.

Does shower pan liner go behind backer board?

The wallboard must be installed 1/8 inch above the shower pan. If the shower pan is not in place, the wallboard height must be guessed, which can lead to inaccuracies and an expansion gap that is too large or too small.

Is backer board required for wall tile?

Use backer board for all your tile jobs, including floors, walls and counters. You can also use it for thin exterior brick and stone. Some companies manufacture backer-board sheets with a rougher side for use with thinset mortar and a smoother side for use with ceramic-tile mastic.

What is the thinnest backer board for tile?

A vertical backerboard over which you plan to tile should be at least 1/2 inch thick.

What thickness backer board should I use?

The industry standard is to use 1/2-inch-thick backer board on wall tile installations, such as a tub surround.