Retiling my Kitchen Backsplash question.

[cjchaps]

I am remodeling my kitchen, and as part of the remodeling I am replacing the backsplash on the walls. I have removed all of the old ceramic tiles, and am wondering if I can put new tiles directly on the drywall as is? Or do I need to install new drywall or backer board?

 

[0]

You may want to replace with the 'green' drywall intended for wet areas. Some even use durock instead of drywall.

 

[shiner]

You don't need to install backer board, but you do need to put some primer on the drywall. Kilz or Zinssner should do the job. In fact Zinsser makes a primer specifically for painting drywall/concrete/wood in advance of laying tile.

First make sure and remove any traces of the old tile, then smooth the wall with joint compound or spackle, sand it smooth, then paint with the primer, allow to dry, then lay your tile.

Good luck.

 

[cjchaps]

Wow, thanks for the advice. I didn't know there was primer for drywall. I will definitely look into that stuff.

-casey

Originally posted by: shinerburke
You don't need to install backer board, but you do need to put some primer on the drywall. Kilz or Zinssner should do the job. In fact Zinsser makes a primer specifically for painting drywall/concrete/wood in advance of laying tile.

First make sure and remove any traces of the old tile, then smooth the wall with joint compound or spackle, sand it smooth, then paint with the primer, allow to dry, then lay your tile.

Good luck.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: cjchaps
Wow, thanks for the advice. I didn't know there was primer for drywall. I will definitely look into that stuff.

-casey

Originally posted by: shinerburke
You don't need to install backer board, but you do need to put some primer on the drywall. Kilz or Zinssner should do the job. In fact Zinsser makes a primer specifically for painting drywall/concrete/wood in advance of laying tile.

First make sure and remove any traces of the old tile, then smooth the wall with joint compound or spackle, sand it smooth, then paint with the primer, allow to dry, then lay your tile.

Good luck.

You're welcome......just did the backsplash in our kitchen a few months ago....getting ready to put new tile in our game room over the weekend....gonna be a lot of work....that room is 500sq feet. My knees are going to be killing me.

On the primer. Hope you have better luck finding the Zinsser primer for tile prep than I did. Had a tile guy tell me about it. Never could find the stuff around here. Finally had to call the tile guy up and get a bucket from him.

Good luck!!!

 

[allisolm]

There are many articles out there on this (Lowe's, DIY, etc). I did mine several years ago. Removed the wallpaper, made sure the drywall was smooth and whole and away I went. Didn't prime anything and the tile is still all up there. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Husband and I did the kitchen floor recently in ceramic tile and it didn't bother our knees as much as putting down the wood flooring in dining and living rooms. That nearly killed us.