Drywall repair in shower

[PonderInc]

I have a 50's era shower that has tile going up about 6 feet from the floor.  From the top of the tile to the ceiling is painted drywall.  The paint is all cracked (looks like a pond in a drought year).  When I started scraping the paint, it took off the drywall paper coating.  This led me to decide to replace the drywall with a more waterproof material (greenboard or the like?) and then give it a couple good coats of waterproof, mold/mildew resistent paint, then caulk, etc.

The problem is: I need to remove the drywall above the tile, but the tile itself is in good shape.  I don't want to tear out the tile.  

If I remove the drywall down to the level of the tile, I can't make a good butt joint (with tape, etc.)  I can insert 2x4s horizontally between the studs to give myself something to screw into...but how do I seal the joint where the new board meets the old?  (Which would be right at the top of the tile.)

One website recommends leaving several inches of drywall above the tile...but that sort of defeats the purpose of removing it in the first place (the area just above the tile has very slight mold growth in the drywall material).

If anyone has any experience/suggestions with this, I'm all ears.

[sgrizzle]

Because it's you and not me, I recommend two extremes:

1. Rip it all out
2. Spackle

[RecycleMichael]

I am no good with tools.

I have a box with different-sized sticks in it.

I use 'em to poke stuff with and say, "yep, it's broke."

[Conan71]

Ponder- the only advice I can give on shower wall repair is:

Make sure the water is off before proceeding.

[PonderInc]

Thank you, my dear friends, for your...er...advice.  

I am encouraged to see that it's now 3:45...the time at which men and women who actually work with tools start to get off work.  I've got my fingers crossed that, after a few beers, these hardworking souls will take a moment to relax, log onto this website, and respond with actual knowledge...[]

[cyndezu]

The garden web has a lot of capable do it your-selfer's  

Why not peruse this and check the photo gallery too.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/

[Chicken Little]

I lean toward the "spackle" end of the spectrum.  I wouldn't replace anything you don't have to.  As long as the drywall is relatively intact, just get some drywall mud, put a  skim coat on the wall, wet sand, and paint 'er up.  You could have it looking great with virtually no mess in just a couple of hours (with a little drying time here and there).  If you can ice a cake, you're qualified to do this.

If the board has disintegrated, patch what you need to above the tiles, wet sand, paint.  If you are replacing lots of board, I'd want to avoid having the transition right at the tiles for a couple of reasons.  Can you cut it a couple inches above?

If the tiles aren't popping off or anything, I'll bet the drywall beneath is just fine.  I wouldn't mess with it.

Probably the only thing you DON'T want to do is leave that drywall exposed like that.  If the gypsum gets soaked, the backing for your tiles could go kablooie pretty quick.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

I lean toward the "spackle" end of the spectrum.  I wouldn't replace anything you don't have to.  As long as the drywall is relatively intact, just get some drywall mud, put a  skim coat the wall, wet sand, and paint 'er up.  You could have it looking great with virtually no mess in just a couple of hours (with a little drying time here and there).  If you can ice a cake, you're qualified to do this.

If the board has disintegrated, patch what you need to above the tiles, wet sand, paint.

If the tiles aren't popping off or anything, I'll bet the drywall beneath is just fine.  I wouldn't mess with it.

Probably the only thing you DON'T want to do is leave that drywall exposed like that.  If the gypsum gets soaked, the backing for your tiles could go kablooie pretty quick.

I agree and have done this many times before.  Simply buy a bucket of mud and get something to spread it around with and, in essence, create a new layer on your drywall.  Has worked great for me.

[cyndezu]

My only other suggestion would be to use a paint that inhibits mold.. you can add to the paint or buy already mixed in.

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

I lean toward the "spackle" end of the spectrum.  I wouldn't replace anything you don't have to.  As long as the drywall is relatively intact, just get some drywall mud, put a  skim coat the wall, wet sand, and paint 'er up.  You could have it looking great with virtually no mess in just a couple of hours (with a little drying time here and there).  If you can ice a cake, you're qualified to do this.

If the board has disintegrated, patch what you need to above the tiles, wet sand, paint.

If the tiles aren't popping off or anything, I'll bet the drywall beneath is just fine.  I wouldn't mess with it.

Probably the only thing you DON'T want to do is leave that drywall exposed like that.  If the gypsum gets soaked, the backing for your tiles could go kablooie pretty quick.

I agree and have done this many times before.  Simply buy a bucket of mud and get something to spread it around with and, in essence, create a new layer on your drywall.  Has worked great for me.

Oh yeah, this is the internet.  I should probably note that it has worked fine for me, too.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by PonderInc

I have a 50's era shower that has tile going up about 6 feet from the floor.  From the top of the tile to the ceiling is painted drywall.  The paint is all cracked (looks like a pond in a drought year).  When I started scraping the paint, it took off the drywall paper coating.  This led me to decide to replace the drywall with a more waterproof material (greenboard or the like?) and then give it a couple good coats of waterproof, mold/mildew resistent paint, then caulk, etc.

The problem is: I need to remove the drywall above the tile, but the tile itself is in good shape.  I don't want to tear out the tile.  

I have the exact opposite problem in my 1954 master bathroom.  The wallboard above the tile is fine.  The tile itself is loose and falling from the wall due to moisture and old plumbing over the years.  I would rather have your problem than mine.

If your tile is fine and solid, I don't know why you can't cut out the damaged wallboard and replace that only, leaving the tile intact.  Assuming the underlying studs are not damaged from mold or moisture, seems to me that it would be a simple drywall job.  Of course you would want to finish the new drywall with some type of moisture-resistant paint or finish.

[waterboy]

I would be suspicious of your existing tile. If the sheetrock is crumbly and moldy it implies that moisture may be seeping downward. But if you want to be optimistic the advice given above is good. For sure replace the board with green board or tile backer (1/4in cement board). You could use a trim piece of ceramic tile or resin molding to cover the joint.

The fifties era paint was prone to curling up in showers anyway. Poor ventilation, no mold inhibitors. They are also often lead based.

I started repairing my shower/bath a year ago. Ended up stripping the walls to bare studs whereupon I found damage around the tub area. Some fun.

[TeeDub]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

I started repairing my shower/bath a year ago. Ended up stripping the walls to bare studs whereupon I found damage around the tub area. Some fun.

I got to do the same thing when my wife was getting out of the shower one morning and put some weight on the soap holder.   To her surprise, the soap holder and a bunch of tiles jumped in the bath to join her.

But, ripping it all the way back to the studs you know it was all fixed right.

[HoneySuckle]

If you decide to hire someone, I know of a drywall guy that does PERFECT work.  He's the best I've found so far in my neverending remodelling.

[ARGUS]

I have not read all of the previous posts but I do come w/ 22yrs of experience in the matter....forget drywall....think FRP....yep....fiber re-inforced panels....almost any color and you can glue them over the damaged drywall. My .02 for free.