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Repair in the bathroom and toilet: plaster or plasterboard

This WordPress post explores the advantages and drawbacks of two different types of materials for repair in the bathroom and toilet: plaster and plasterboard. Plaster is a traditional, reliable material that has been used for centuries and is still occasionally used today. It is easy to use, has a good strength-to-weight ratio, and can be used to create a durable surface by protecting underlying material from moisture. Plasterboard, on the other hand, is a modern material that is lightweight, easy to use, and provides insulation. It also offers a range of advantages, including better protection against moisture, faster installation, and a smoother finish. Both materials are suitable for making repairs in the bathroom and toilet, but the choice comes down to personal preference or the type of repair needed.

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When overhauling a bathroom, the first question is raised about the method of wall decoration. Dry or wet technology – the right solution will ensure an excellent appearance and good space savings. Today we will help you determine the type of wall preparation and describe the benefits of each.

Repair in the bathroom and toilet: plaster or plasterboard

What is the main difference between dry and wet methods

Choosing between dry and wet rough wall finishes is almost always difficult. In the case of the bathroom, the practical aspects are quite serious technical limitations..

Since rough finishing pursues its main goal of leveling the plane, each of the methods can have different advantages and disadvantages, depending on the initial conditions of the object. For convenience, we will agree to classify the unevenness of walls and partitions as general violations of the geometry of the room and local depressions or bumps.

Bathroom overhaul

If the bathroom box is formed by reinforced concrete or gypsum panels, there will be a minimum of local irregularities, but strong distortions in the width or length of the room at different levels are possible. When leveling such irregularities with plaster, the layer of the latter can reach 100 mm, which will negatively affect both the laboriousness of the work and the strength characteristics.

Brickwork, with rare exceptions, does not have global geometry distortions, but slight plane curvatures may be present, which are very easy to eliminate by general plastering along the beacons.

Bathroom overhaul

Do not forget that the material of walls and partitions itself can introduce certain restrictions on the choice. For example, in a wooden, frame house, or if the walls are covered with adobe, drywall is almost the only way of finishing for the subsequent facing with tiles.

Space conservation issue

In apartment bathrooms, the issue of space preservation is especially acute. The original width of the bathroom rarely exceeds 150-170 cm, even in such conditions it is quite difficult to place everything you need in the room. Anyone who has ever tried to arrange a bathtub, washbasin, washing machine and a small closet in a cramped room knows what it is about: sometimes a few centimeters are not enough for compact placement.

Plumbing in a small bathroom

The plasterboard wall, mounted according to the CD-60 ceiling profile system, in its most protruding part “eats” at least 40 mm. And taking into account the difficulties in placing the guide profiles and the thickness of the tile with glue, this value reaches 70–80 mm. Do not forget that there is also an opposite wall, that is, as a result, the room will become 10-15 cm narrower and shorter.

Landing the gypsum board on glue also does not solve the problem – the absence of an air gap between the main wall and the cladding will lead to oversaturation with moisture, this method is simply not provided for by the general technology of working with gypsum board. In this vein, the best way of leveling is preparatory plaster with a cement-sand mixture, unless the area of ​​the bathroom does not exceed 10 m2 or you know beforehand that you can fit everything you need even in a limited space.

High humidity problem solution

Many are not attracted by plasterboard finishing due to the low resistance of gypsum board to moisture saturation. Indeed, the operating conditions of the bathroom are in many ways close to extreme, damp walls, fungus and mold are common here. Well, the likelihood of flooding by neighbors from above in the bathroom is much higher than in other rooms..

High humidity in the bathroom

Walls with cement plaster are practically insensitive to humid environments and strong wetting. Residual negative effects are eliminated by preparatory priming with the addition of an antiseptic. And yet drywall is not completely useless in this regard. If the main walls and partitions themselves do not damp, then the gypsum plasterboard trim will be used for a long time and without visual defects.

Bathroom plaster

The problem of high humidity can also be solved by repeated whitewashing of rough surfaces before patching sheets, replacing drywall with gypsum plasterboard or combined multilayer cladding with the inclusion of magnesite glass plates that are not sensitive to moisture saturation.

Remember also that the appearance of condensation on the walls during water procedures is only a visible surface phenomenon. With normally organized ventilation, excess moisture is removed as quickly as it is formed, it simply does not have time to penetrate the structure of the wall and saturate the gypsum core. The main reason for the destruction of the false wall in many cases is the careless attitude towards the appearance of mold: developing from the surface, the colony opens the way for moisture migration into the skin.

Ventilation in the bathroom

Seismic activity and seasonal fluctuations

The preservation of the appearance of the tile cladding in the period between repairs is usually put at the forefront. It is believed that plasterboard finishing in this regard provides a serious advantage..

This is partly true: if all technological rules are observed, the sheathing box inside the room does not perceive the deformation of the main walls and partitions from movements in the lithosphere. Thus, a nested “pencil case” is formed inside the bathroom with a strict geometry of the walls, which remains during the entire period of operation..

Plasterboard bathroom decoration

However, to create such a sheathing, high qualifications of the installers and strict adherence to technology are required: correct placement and selection of the method of fastening the frame, gluing damping tapes and careful adherence to the sheathing assembly scheme.

Let us clarify that in this case the main set of profiles is a 50 mm standard size, that is, the reduction in space will be even more pronounced. It is also worth noting that the concept of a suspended ceiling system in a “pencil box” finish is not very applicable, usually stretch film coatings are used.

Stretch ceiling in the bathroom

The above does not mean at all that such a solution in decoration should be applied everywhere. The phenomena of shrinkage and seismic vibrations are not acutely expressed in every building; often the problem can be solved by strengthening the plaster with a steel or polymer mesh..

Hidden laying of communications

The most pressing issue in the repair of a bathroom is the question of hiding communications. In almost every apartment, sewage and water supply risers are located openly, to which are added rather complex wiring diagrams for rough plumbing and power supply, as well as the need to install installations.

Hiding communications in the bathroom

Plasterboard allows you to beautifully “bypass” communications and the only thing that will violate the harmony of the interior will be an inspection hatch. It is possible to hide technical details from the eyes both with a solid cladding, and with a fragmentary construction of a false wall or even installation of a technological box..

Hiding communications in the bathroom

The problem of hiding communications and the “theft” of space are inextricably linked and it is extremely difficult to come to a compromise between these concepts. The situation is aggravated by the fact that laying tiles on different types of substrates is the more problematic, the more unstable the building is. There are plenty of examples when the tile cladding was torn at the joint between drywall and plaster.

Decorative finishing options

In conclusion, we note that wall decoration with ceramic tiles is not a panacea and is far from the only way. As in other rooms, different types of coatings can be combined in the bathroom..

Decorative plaster in the bathroom

In particular, installing a shower box will eliminate excess moisture in the room, therefore, wallpaper or textured plaster can be used without any damage to the appearance. Also a good alternative to tiles are PVC sandwich panels for interior decoration, on which condensation practically does not form.

Bathroom decoration with plastic panels

Ultimately, the choice between the methods of rough and decorative finishing of the bathroom is almost always determined by the ratio of cash costs and the degree of personal participation in each of the options under consideration. It can be argued that only careful planning and elaboration of the bathroom project to the smallest detail will provide it with a truly aesthetic appearance with high durability..

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Comments: 2
  1. Skylar Lewis

    What is the best material to use for repairs in the bathroom and toilet, plaster or plasterboard? I am wondering which option would be more durable and resistant to the moisture and humidity present in these areas. Has anyone had experience with both materials and can provide some insights or recommendations? Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Gavin Owens

      When it comes to repairs in the bathroom and toilet, plasterboard is generally considered the better option over plaster. Plasterboard is more durable and resistant to moisture and humidity, common in these areas. It is made of gypsum plaster sandwiched between layers of paper, offering better protection against dampness and mold. Plaster, on the other hand, can easily deteriorate when exposed to moisture. While plasterboard may be slightly more expensive, its durability and resistance to humidity make it the preferred choice for bathroom and toilet repairs.

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