I am licensed tile contractor. My client is not familiar with floating shower walls. They are used to having their walls prepped with Hardi Backer, then installing tile. I prefer floating walls, I think it gives my solid walls, square, level walls, my tile work precise and clean. My opinion and experience. I thought I would reach out to you and see what your professional opinion is.
thank you
Floating shower walls may be the “hard way.” Yet it is sometimes the Best Way. Are you worried about water or mold in the shower/tub surround? There are many ways to make sure the mudfloat is as waterproof as can you get it. The first way would to be to make sure all the dry wall seams are taped with drywall mud. After that you can put on the t-bar paper over the greenboard in the shower area. (t-bar paper has tar in the middle of the two pieces of paper to stop moisture) After that you would wire the walls. The next step would be to hawk and trowel the mud on the walls using float strips. Once this is completed and rubbed down you wait over night to let the mudfloat dry. At this point you have done enough that there should be no problems in the future of mold or water permiating through the tile,thinset,mud,paper,greenboard to the studs or any wood behind the greenboard.
This is how I have been doing mudfloat walls for years as my father has before me for years. If you are still concerned about water or mold there is one more way…When you come back the next day before setting any tile or stone, you can roll red guard on the mudfloat with a paint roller and let that dry. (It should not take long.) Once that is dry you can start setting the tile or stone on the walls. After the shower is set and grouted you should also seal it to insure just a little bit more that no water will cause any problems. This process is full of prep work and can cost some money with all the time and products you will use. There is no better way to insure your investment in your home will last a lifetime then to follow this process. Yes it is more money, time, labor compared to the use of hardibacker or other products of the same nature. This is your home we are talking about, lets do it correctly the first time and not have to spend money fixing it in another 3-5-10 years.
The problem with this install is that there is a lack of skilled contractors (tile & stone) who know how to do this method of install. Most today will just try to sell you on the fact that hardibacker is cheaper and will be just enough to get the job complete. Any type of tile or stone install is a big investment in your home or building, this method will last longer than any other that is out there.
I would look into Schluter systems kerdi for your shower. This is the most up to date way to go. I don’t know what area you are in and you may have a hard time finding a trained installer.
This system has the moisture barrier on top of the shower bed unlike PVC pans that will allow water to sit on top of and cause mold to keep coming back a few days after you clean your shower.
I have added the link above if it is allowed to stay.
Use kirdi board on the walls if it can be found in your area.
The kirdi system is great as long as you have a good installer. The first 2 or 3 take a little time if you have someone who did not take the class to be trained.
Best of luck
Two big advantages, by floating the walls you are leveling the framing prior to the tile installation, secondly, there are no connecting boards like you would have with concrete boards, floating a wall creates a one, uninterrupted surface.
floating a wall is definetely old scfool but perfecly fine as older tile styles require bullnose tiles, as newer styles have metal accent strips and breaks in the pattern floating is not as preferable as backer board for there styles
Better water resistance
Floating allows you to level the framing as necessary before you install the tile.
With todays products such as Hardie Backer Board and Red Guard to straight line the wall using drywall shims prior to installation is the easiest practice. Floating a wall is time consuming and difficult if you don’t have years of experience. In actuality a cement floated wall has a higher chance of retaining water if not properly sealed-waterproofed. Case in point, exterior stucco is a form of floating with basically the same material used to float a shower wall. As water comes in contact the material which is porous, water is absorbed. This is why at the base of a stucco wall there is a weep screed to allow water to drain from the material.
If you want mold go with lazy board or schulter play school junk shower systems or any other over engineered modernized method. Floating morter in the method mentioned above is the ONLY time tested and proven tile installation method that can be called Tile Work. Everything else is a joke. Proper tile work will outlast the tile man who installed it. For sure.
