Bathroom Remodeling in West Hills
West Hills bathroom remodels that put cement backer board and a liquid membrane behind the tile, on framing made flat and sound. Aspenwell Construction.
Behind the tile of a West Hills shower, cement board coated in a liquid membrane does the quiet work. Cement board does not soften when damp, and the membrane forms a continuous sheet over every joint and corner. Together they keep steam and splash out of the wall framing in a room that gets wet every day.
Why cement board
Gypsum board turns to paste after repeated wetting, while cement board stays solid, which makes it the usual backer in a shower or tub surround. Sheets are fastened to the studs with corrosion-resistant screws, taped at the joints and coated. Because the studs hold the board, bent or twisted studs are shimmed or replaced first, giving the tile a flat wall. Above splash height, moisture-resistant drywall can finish the wall, which keeps the heavier board only where water actually lands and makes the upper wall easy to patch and paint.
The membrane and its cure
The liquid membrane is rolled on in 2 coats, with reinforcing fabric at corners, the curb and around the drain. It cures into a rubbery film that follows small movement in the framing, which suits a house in earthquake country. Thickness is checked as it goes on, and a pinhole shows up in the flood test as a falling water level, long before tile is bonded over it. Hardware such as the valve trim and shower arm is tested for leaks at the same stage.
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Bathroom Remodeling in West Hills: questions
Where the subfloor is damaged, the bad area is removed to solid wood and rebuilt, then the joists beneath are checked and strengthened where needed. Cement board and the membrane need a flat, stiff base, so the structure is corrected first. The repair appears in the written quote as its own item once the floor has been seen.
The membrane forms the barrier: it covers the sloped base, rises up the walls and seals into the drain. Cement board behind the tile will not soften if moisture reaches it. A flood test on the finished membrane confirms it holds water before tile is bonded over it.
Yes. A sink or toilet can often be relocated if the floor framing allows the new drain path. Moves are shown on drawings for the building department, and the pipes are installed and inspected before cement board covers the walls.
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Describe the house and what it needs. We look at the structure first and send the quote in writing.