How to patch drywall hole before tiling?

Hi, got a tradie to install ceramic towel ends (replaced cracked ones) but they started to wobble soon afterwards. Grout started to crumble off.

Decided to remove and replace myself. After removing worst of the two ends, realised:

- tradie filled hollow towel ends with grout (to make them more solid?) and they are quite heavy

- he used some sort of flexible silicon like adhesive which is why they could wobble

- drywall was cracked perhaps before install bc as I took the end off, top layer came off and a hole has developed in drywall

How can I fix the hole before reinstalling ceramic end? Can I use foam fill (see pic)? What kind of adhesive should I use to fasten these heavy ceramic ends (they need to bear weight of at least one heavy wet towel)? I had bought Dunlop ready to go tile and grout (see pic) but I'm thinking this won't be strong enough to fasten the ceramic ends to the wall.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

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MitchellMc

Hi @Shorty,

The whole backing of the fibreboard appears to be compromised. The two top pieces have broken away and are falling inside the wall, and the lower right section under the large glob of silicone is also broken. There is no structural integrity left in the board there. I'd recommend breaking the remaining pieces off and removing them. Next, take a section of timber that is slightly shorter than the tile's height and about 10cm longer than its width. Place a screw in the middle to act as a handle. Apply Selley's liquid nails to either end of the timber, slide it into the hole, and pull it towards you so the glue engages with the rear side of the sheet. Once the glue has set, remove the screw and apply more liquid nails over the timber. Install your rail and then push the end holder back into position. Once the glue dries, use your grout product to fill any remaining gaps around the holder.

I like your thinking with the expanding foam, but it's relatively soft, and the tile adhesive won't bind to it adequately.

When removing the fibreboard, please remember your PPE, including a face mask and gloves, and dispose of it appropriately. If this is a pre-1980's building, there's always the chance of asbestos.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

All comments

MitchellMc

Hi @Shorty,

I like your thinking with the expanding foam, but it's relatively soft, and the tile adhesive won't bind to it adequately.

When removing the fibreboard, please remember your PPE, including a face mask and gloves, and dispose of it appropriately. If this is a pre-1980's building, there's always the chance of asbestos.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Shorty

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for the reply. I followed as you directed and it went great. Tip to others though:

- screw the nail / handle off-cebtred otherwise U can't slide the wooden plank in

- I liquid nail glued a thin piece of MDF to the plank so the new surface was flush to the existing drywall, so that when I reattached the towel rail end it would be level with the other end. See pictures

It turned out great and wasn't hard to do at all.

Thanks again Mitchell

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MitchellMc

Textbook repair right there @Shorty! Love your work! Next time this issue arises for a member, I'll direct them here to check out your fine work.

Well done.

Mitchell

Noyade

Liquid Nails seems to be a weak link. As is silicone I suspect. Did you have words with the installer @Shorty?

This was my experience.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Bathroom-and-Laundry/Bathroom-towel-rail-advice-required/td-p/90714

MitchellMc

Hi @Noyade

I'd agree that silicone would be a weak link, as can be seen in this discussion. I was just checking out your discussion to see how Liquid Nails failed or would be a weak link. It appears that the old Liquid Nails repair held so well that the ceramic end holder snapped completely in half before the Liquid Nails let go. It then appears that you still could not get the liquid nails to release the remainder of the ceramic holder by hitting it with a hammer and had to resort to a flat cold chisel and hammer to remove it. It sounds like out of the whole affair, the Liquid Nails was the strongest link, not the weakest. However, I might be interpreting your comment incorrectly, and it was the "weakest link" due to how much difficulty it gave you to remove the ceramic holder and how well it held.

Mitchell

Noyade

Hi Mitchell. @MitchellMc

Poorly worded post by me.

I was trying to say, my experience with tiles glued to gyprock or fibro with just Liquid Fails, tend to fail. Soon after we purchased our house all the tiles in the bathroom fell off and showed someone had used just liquid nails - a dab on each corner. To me - it looked like just the 'peaks' of the glue touched the back of the tile.

I added my thread just because it was another bath towel end situation. 🤔

I meant no disrespect to your skills or DIY advice.

MitchellMc

You just had me concerned for a second that I had recommended the wrong product @Noyade! 😂 I would have liked to just go with a tile adhesive, but I don't think it would have adhered well to the MDF timber repair of the area.

Funny, the difference you saw between the repair on the towel rail that held extremely well and the tiles on the wall. Liquid nails has a tendency to dry out over time and become quite brittle. I suspect with your tiles that, as you say, the glue was only just contacting them, and they parted ways with the movement of the house and time. Never seen someone just add dabs of glue to the corners of a tile and that's certainly not something I'd recommend.

Have a great day!

Mitchell

Noyade

@MitchellMc

"You just had me concerned for a second that I had recommended the wrong product"

Never crossed my mind sir! 😁

"Liquid nails has a tendency to dry out over time and become quite brittle"

Exactly. That's my experience (and what I was trying to say).

And you have a good day too!

Shorty

Hi @Noyade

To be honest I didn't even bother getting back in touch with the tradie - if this is his level of work, I didn't want him attempting the repair.

So far the liquid nail feels quite solid. This bathroom probably doesn't have too many more years left in it before a full gut and Reno I think, so I'm happy if it lasts another 5 years.

All the best

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