Shower Wall Repair

Tile repair around tubs and shower stalls can be intimidating, but it is the most important thing you can do for your home. Catching problems early will help reduce the costs of extensive repairs. You can do the job yourself, which will also save you a great deal of money in labor. It is a good idea to replace or repair loose or broken tiles as soon as possible to avoid water damage to the backing behind them, but if you find soggy drywall behind your tiles don’t panic. You can still solve the problem and prevent further damage.

Remove all loose or damaged tile. You can pull off very loose tiles, but use a chisel to get to the one still semi-stuck to the wall. Once you have all of the loose or damaged tiles removed, use the chisel to gently pry off at least one more row of tiles all the way around the soggy area. For really stubborn tiles, reach behind the drywall and score it with a utility knife to punch out the tile. Pull out the wet drywall with your hands, and use a handsaw to make a solid, fresh edge on the portion of the exposed wall that is still in good condition.

Scrape off grout, caulking and mastic. Never use a sander as that can release harmful asbestos that might be present. For hard mastic, place the tiles in a large pot and boil for several minutes. Remove with a pair of tongs, and then scrape off the mastic with a putty knife.

Cut the cement backerboard to match the size of the new opening in the wall. Use roofing nails to secure it to the wall studs.

Use your trowel to spread mastic evenly across the backerboard, and place tiles on top of the mastic. Allow the tiles to dry in place for at least three days.

Add latex additive to powdered grout and use your trowel to press it into the joints of the tiles. Remove all excess grout with a damp sponge. Wait about three hours and buff with a soft towel or cloth.

Seal the top of the tiles to the ceiling, or bottom to the tub if the repaired area is in that location, with silicone caulk.