Retiling a shower - please help end an argument! :-)?

Question

Ok so in one of our bathrooms we have a shower stall that is tiled in. I watch home improvement shows out the ying yang and I really want to retile our shower, so I'm going to a tiling class but my husband still doesn't think I'll be able to do it because he says I'll have to reframe the shower once I demo the tile, however i think after I knock out the existing tile I will be able to leave the wood frame in and then just put up new cement backer board and then tile over than... am I completely wrong, and if so I can live with that, I just need to know!

Answer 1

You should be good to go with the backer board and new tile. You may need to tweak the fixtures for the new tile and backerboard, depending on what is currently behind the tile and what your new combination of backer baord and tile ends up being.

Answer 2

You will want to make sure that your walls are straight. You will need to level then and may need to replace or level the walls. Other than that you should be good to go. It will be a lot of work if you plan to do the walls and the floor. Good luck on it.

Answer 3

You are correct IF the framing is not rotted out from leakage.

Answer 4

If you are retiling the walls only there should be no problem whatsoever. Just install new backerboard and tile.

If you want to retile the floor though, you may cause damage to the mud bed beneath by removing the old tile. You can either resurface the bed or tile over the old.

If you have any detailed installation questions, feel free to email.

Answer 5

Well, reframing will depend on two things.....is there any water damage, and how much damage you'll do in tearing out the old tile, hehehe.

The hard part is going to be removing the old tile.... IF you need to replace the framing, so what?  Thats not difficult, hehehe.  Its very likely some of the framing will get damaged in hammering and prying off the old tile.  Again, its not really hard to replace, if it is needed.  Plan for the worst, hope for the best, hehehe.

Have Fun

Answer 6

Nope, you'll be good to go. New backer board is all you'll need. Good Luck.

Answer 7

You'd better make a good bet with him because you are correct! New backer board is all you'll need as long as the existing studs are in good condition.

Answer 8

Actually unless there is water damage behind the tile you should be fine.Love to see before and after pic's.

Good Luck

Answer 9

You win!

You are correct that the wooden 2x4 frame will still be there and you'll be able to put up new backer board and tile over that.  One thing to try and pre-plan for is where the edges of the shower frame are.  If you can delicately remove the backing and tile along the edge of the frame and and put up new backer that's flush with it (and seal it well) then you won't have to reframe the shower.

Good luck!