I'm in the process of redoing the shower tile in my four-year-old house located in southeast Texas. A contractor I hired just told me that the previous tile job was really poorly done and suggested I might need to redo the tile in all my bathrooms. He mentioned that the waterproofing tape should have covered the entire hard boards and that the adhesive used for the tiles wasn't applied correctly. I'm curious to know if he's right or if he's just trying to upsell me on fixing something that might not be that bad. What are the chances I'll run into problems in my other bathrooms if this is the case?
4 Answers
That waterproof coating is essential, especially in wet areas. Without it, you could be looking at issues in the future. Make sure to follow up with whoever did the original tile work; they need to know about the bad practices!
Absolutely, he’s correct. That waterproofing you mentioned is crucial; it should be behind any tile in wet areas. The tiles were likely 'spot bonded' with thinset, which creates air gaps, and that's not good. While many installations like this survive without immediate issues, the risk of water damage is there, especially if water penetrates the walls.
If there’s any indication the tile job was done wrong, I’d definitely contact the builder since your house is only four years old. At the very least, they should be aware that the work was not up to standard.
Yep, he’s right on both counts. If you’re not having issues in your other bathroom right now, it might hold up for a while longer, but it's definitely worth keeping an eye on it. You can always fix it when you’re ready to remodel or if something pops up down the line.
Right? And if water gets behind that tile, it can lead to rot in the walls. If you use the showers frequently, you might want to save up for a full replacement, especially if one of the bathrooms is for kids.