Can You Double Up 1/2" Hardi Backer Walls

troyamuso

I've taken a plaster wall bathroom down to the studs. I've put up a layer of 1/2" Hardi backer board right to the studs for the tiled areas. After putting up the HB I realized that the walls need to come out farther to meet the old fixtures since the old plaster walls were thicker. Can anyone tell me if it's OK to double up on the 1/2" HB board before I tile the walls with ceramic tile?

Mike Finley

Why not? Just overlap the seams and use 1/2" longer screws on the 2nd layer.

cmwacasey

It would not hurt to use some construction adhesive between the layers.You would then have one heck of a solid wall.

troyamuso

Thanks for the input, really appriciate it!

mdshunk

Not saying, just asking....

Is it sometimes normal to take an old tile shower down to the studs and not replace the fixtures at the same time?

troyamuso

The client likes the original fixtures and insists on keeping them. So I have to work with them.

cmwacasey

not in this throw away society

mdshunk

I see. Do you have them re-chromed or polished or anything in that case? Have the valve seats honed?

Mike Finley

We probably leave the old ones maybe 1 out of 20, maybe 1 out of 25 times, pretty rare. With a little 3 part shpeal starting about the benefits of anti-scald valves, resale value and finishing up with the old engine work analogy of we will already have the walls open pretty much everybody replaces it.

Teetorbilt

I've never left the old in place.

Anyway, there is usually some movement in the old although I REALLY dislike inducing stress. Lots of guys do it and get away with it.

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troyamuso

I couldn't agree more I'd rather replace them too. But some people have there own crazy ideas, These people want new sink, toilet, and tile but keep the shower fixtures I gave them the pitch but they just have it in their mind, they want to keep the old ones........ go figure. Baths are a bit new to me I do more kitchens and other interior work.