I recently purchased an 1920s house in OKC.

The shower needs to be retiled. It seems most of the contractors are pretty busy this time of year, so I want to at least demo and install the cement backer board myself, to force things along. Unfortunately this house only has 1 bathroom / shower. If I demo, hang cement baker board and redguard; will I be able to take showers until I get a tile guy in?

Thank you in advance.

I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to as long as you properly sealed the entire area with the Redguard product as it provides a waterproof membrane barrier.

I have only re-tiled a shower once. The tile/grout had deteriorated and leaked to the point you could push the tile through the wall behind it. I put in backer board and coated it with redguard. After getting all the prep work done I thought the tile installation was the easiest part of the job.

i don't know that i would want to test it that heavily with water....but....maybe it can hold up to it.

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i don't know that i would want to test it that heavily with water....but....maybe it can hold up to it.

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Yup. While you can caulk at the bottom of the backer board where it meets the tub I'd be willing to bet you'll end up with water getting behind it and on your studs.

If you don't have any other choice I'd red guard and then put up some heavy plastic (preferably without any seams) all around to keep the water from hitting the backer board and running down the walls.

Yes, you absolutely can use the RedGard as this is what waterproofs your shower, not the tile and grout. As mentioned earlier, you'll need to ensure that the RedGard is sealed to the tub or caulk it. If you caulk it, be prepared to dig that out before the tile is set, and then re-caulk after the tile.

Just be careful around it so you don't scar or puncture it. Protecting your waterproofing and visual appeal is the purpose of tile and grout.

On a side note, the last time I used RedGard seems like it said that your final covering (i.e. tile) would need to be set within 2 weeks. I don't think RedGard is supposed to be exposed for lengthy periods.

Thank you all.

I am still in the demo stage of my only bathroom. It is taking a little longer with lath/plaster and TWO layers of tile and one layer of some sort of dry wall. I will post pictures at some point.

My current concern is that there is no lip on the tub. I was expecting (hoping?) that there would be a lip that the cement board would bump up against and the tile / grout would sit on top. I guess they didn't do that in 1920.

Aren't you supposed to put a barrier behind cement board? Even with red guard?

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Aren't you supposed to put a barrier behind cement board? Even with red guard?

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Nope. Your layers go Studs -> Cement board/drywall -> Waterproofing. Doubling down on layers of waterproofing never ends well because whatever moisture might find its way in becomes trapped.

If water gets through redgard it's not trapped. The "waterproof" layer is leaking- in both directions. And if it leaks into porous cement board it will continue into walls behind it if there's no water barrier.

Guess I have some concern about the roll-out redgard. Have also seem chatter on forums about leakage but others speak highly of it. So guess I don't know. Contractors I work with seem to prefer the membranes on backer board but will do redgard roll-on if speced. But see a lot of varying opinions on line. Most common thought I see is to follow the detailed instructions carefully.

Oops, I interpreted your question about a second barrier to be a second waterproofing barrier.

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If water gets through redgard it's not trapped. The "waterproof" layer is leaking- in both directions. And if it leaks into porous cement board it will continue into walls behind it if there's no water barrier.

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What are your thoughts about putting a redguard coat or 3 down and putting a sealer on the tile and grout? That in essence is "double waterproofing".

Sorry, I meant for that question to go to Fife.

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Guess I have some concern about the roll-out redgard. Have also seem chatter on forums about leakage but others speak highly of it. So guess I don't know. Contractors I work with seem to prefer the membranes on backer board but will do redgard roll-on if speced. But see a lot of varying opinions on line. Most common thought I see is to follow the detailed instructions carefully.

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I would think that you apply the red guard directly to the backer board, so there is no place for the water to get trapped.

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If water gets through redgard it's not trapped. The "waterproof" layer is leaking- in both directions. And if it leaks into porous cement board it will continue into walls behind it if there's no water barrier.

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What are your thoughts about putting a redguard coat or 3 down and putting a sealer on the tile and grout? That in essence is "double waterproofing".

Sorry, I meant for that question to go to Fife.

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That's what's recommended, it's not actually double waterproofing since the grout isn't waterproof to begin with. From what I understand sealer makes it more water and stain resistant but it will not be waterproof.