Ceramic Tile Over Sheetrock

Raj asks i am planning to install a ceramic backsplash in the kitchen over painted drywall.

Ceramic tile over sheetrock.

The wall has to simply be prepared in order to complete this task properly. You should not tile over wallpaper glossy surfaces lead paint or plywood. You may tile over existing tile painted or unpainted drywall plaster and textured walls. Thinset adheres to sheetrock as well as any other surface but you need to consider the purpose of the area when installing tile.

One word of caution though. Once the adhesive dries and the grout has set it will be impervious to moisture. Lumps and bumps lead to misaligned tiles. Home improvement can be messy business.

How to tile over painted drywall. Place strips of blue painter s tape over the tile face sticking each end to the wall to prevent the tiles from sliding or falling off as the mastic sets. Tiles are ideal for showers bathtubs and backsplashes. Allow the mortar or mastic to sit for at least 12 hours to set properly.

By far the most common problem i have encountered has been tile installed over drywall in shower wet areas. If you are tiling an area that is not in a bathroom tiles can be applied directly to the sheetrock simply and easily. This is the case so much of the time that when people tell me on the phone that they have tiles they can push in with their hands in the shower or that the tiles are falling off the wall or seem squishy i immediately get the image. Greenboard is a kind of water resistant drywall.

The top objective is to create a smooth and uniform surface on the drywall for the tile to be evenly placed. This surface will be the foundation which holds your beautiful backsplash together over the years and a crumbling foundation will shorten the lifespan. However it is not a good substrate for tile because it s softer and more flexible than regular drywall. Builders often use this as an enclosure wall if its tiled over.

If you re not sure if you have lead paint test kits are available. Sometimes builders used greenboard in bathrooms next to showers and sinks. However tiling over tile can add quite a bit of thickness so make sure your wall can handle the weight. Ceramic porcelain and rock tiles add beauty and functionality to many areas of the home and give homeowners many design options.

Thinset mortar lays a bed for placing tile. What kind of treatment is needed for the drywall so that it does not get moist you can tile right over your existing drywall.