T&G boards in shower

[Padraig Clarke]

Have a blank canvas bathroom and looking to do T&G boards in the bathroom. Think country/shiplap look. The boards would run length ways (not typical floor to mid-wall).

Based on the following criteria, would T&G work in the shower (instead of tile), so yes it would get a lot of water.

- Baton wall with T&G boards (ventaltion space)
- Damp proof membrane / water proof membrane
- All weather boards (outside standard)
- Sealed and painted with all weather paint (boat paint standard)

Would that work?

 

[SammyInnit]

Would it work? Most probable.
Would it look nice in 12/18 months time? Probably not.

Call me a cynic but I'd sooner spend money on wood-look tile and graft a 20 year bathroom.

 

[big-all]

i give it 6 days to 6 weeks
wrong material wrong job

 

[bernardgreen]

It might work....but there is a risk of it looking tatty a few months later.

First buy the T&G weeks before you plan to fix it in place and keep it in the warmest room to get as much moisture as possible out of it. Otherwise as it dries out it will shrink and gaps will open up.

Use a sheet of marine ply as a back plate for the T&G and if possible screw from behind the ply into the T&G ( hence no screw heas visible.

Put the tongue uppermost. ( groove upper most will catch water in the groove )

Oil the wood with danish oil, several coats before assenbly and then another coat or two after assembly.

Any cloth damp with danish oil may spontaneously catch fire hours afte being put in the rubbish bin so read the instructions about disposal of that cloth.


I have seen narrow T&G fitted vertically to make a shower cubicle and that has lasted several years and still looks good

 

[big-all]

you could probably get away with plastic t&g cladding
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Building-Materials/Cladding/c/1000182

 

[foxhole]

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Padraig Clarke]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Really good to get some pro experience on such questions. (Think I'll avoid the T&G

 

[Doggit]

The only wood that might do it, is bamboo (flooring), and about 5 coats of yacht varnish.