Told by tiler to remove plasterboard

Hi all -

I've got a wetroom that I've started myself due to no-shows from trades people. The room is to be completely tiled and a sliding-door shower to be used on one side of the room (no tray, just tiles). I've followed advice from various posts on this forum and plasterboarded the walls as they were rough (plasterboard adhesive then mechanical fixings wherever needed), and bought a tanking kit that I'm about to apply.

I had a tiler around for quote and he refused to do the job, saying that I should have used hardiebacker cement boards and that if i use plasterboard, even though it will be tanked, the bathroom wont last beyond 2 years. He also said i should not have brought the plasterboard to the floor, even though that is required for a tanking kit as far as i can tell to be able to actually apply the tape.

He has told me I need to rip off all the plasterboard and he can add the cement board. Is this accurate or is he most likely after some extra work? Have found heaps of info online that standard plasterboard is fine for tanking kits - in fact the tanking kit's instructional video shows it being used on plasterboard!

Picture attached

Many thanks

The last few bathrooms ive refurbed had tiles over normal plasterboard which had lasted 10+ years. No tanking or any kind of water resistant coating, just reliance on the tiles and grout.

They had not fallen apart and were replaced because they were dated, not because the tiles were all falling off the walls.

I'm not suggesting that you do the same because technology and knowledge changes over time, but tanked plasterboard is going to be way better than plain plasterboard. I think your tiler is just being over cautious.

Lower said:

The last few bathrooms ive refurbed had tiles over normal plasterboard which had lasted 10+ years. No tanking or any kind of water resistant coating, just reliance on the tiles and grout.

They had not fallen apart and were replaced because they were dated, not because the tiles were all falling off the walls.

I'm not suggesting that you do the same because technology and knowledge changes over time, but tanked plasterboard is going to be way better than plain plasterboard. I think your tiler is just being over cautious.

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Thanks. I've got no issue tanking it, I've got the kit and was planning it. But he's actually advising that even tanked plasterboard wouldn't be good enough and I have to tank cement board instead.

I'm inclined to agree with your tiler - cement board is a much better job. Yes you might get away with normal plasterboard, but there are lots of advantages to using the correct kit

Sounds like you've asked a professional tiler to quote for the job.

Lower said:

The last few bathrooms ive refurbed had tiles over normal plasterboard which had lasted 10+ years. No tanking or any kind of water resistant coating, just reliance on the tiles and grout.

They had not fallen apart and were replaced because they were dated, not because the tiles were all falling off the walls.

I'm not suggesting that you do the same because technology and knowledge changes over time, but tanked plasterboard is going to be way better than plain plasterboard. I think your tiler is just being over cautious.

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It's a wetroom...nobody in their right mind should advocate plasterboard anywhere near it.

Nozzle said:

It's a wetroom...nobody in their right mind should advocate plasterboard anywhere near it.

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A wet room where the plasterboard is going to be fully tanked.

Granted, you wouldn’t advise someone to do it from scratch. But as the plasterboard is already up and will be tanked, the likelihood is that it will be fine.

I'd have to disagree ... if it properly tanked and made fully waterproof then it doesn't matter what the material is as far as I'm concerned. It could be plaster, plywood, plasterboard, hardie, etc ... as long as it's properly waterproof, then it could be made out of anything that will take the weight of the tile.

I appreciate that the tiler may specify hardie/cement board as it's his chosen material but all he needs to do it caveat the job and put it in writing that he cannot guarantee the wall integrity, if he doesn't like plasterboard or don't take the job. I must say I find it a bit pretentious for any trades person to say, rip that down and use this stuff, just cause he prefers it. He can of course suggest things.

IMHO though a good tiler should be able to tile onto any surface and make it waterproof using the correct adhesives and grout IMO (as long as the wall doesn't move of course). I have 2 experienced tilers that I always recommend and they are happy to tile onto any surface and make an excellent job of it with no issues years along.

I'm doing similar using dot and dabbed MR plasterboard on one wall, screwed to battens on the other, fully tanked with Impey Waterguard membrane. I've fixed the plasterboard with it stood on 3mm plastic packers between the bottom edge of the plasterboard and the concrete floor. The corner tape will easily 'bridge' that gap and it's more than enough to ensure that even if the concrete gets wet/damp (and if it does, I've still got big problems) it can't wick its way up into the plasterboard from the bottom.