How to tile over Villaboard?

pash81

Hi, I am planning to tile a small bathroom and have someone install villaboard sheets yesterday. The sheeting guys used blue coloured adhesive and then used screws to fasten the billboard sheets to the studs. 

Question 1: Is it a big issue that they used glue? Someone just told me that adhesive should not be used if tiling? I'm stressing out as it s q big job to rip off all the sheet and install again.

Question 2: How to prepare the villaboard sheets for waterproofing and tiling, specially the joints? Do the joints need base coat and tape applied before waterproofing or can the tiles go staraight onto the villaboard lining?

JacobZ

Hi @pash81,

Thank you for your question about tiling over Villaboard.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the Villaboard Lining Installation Guide explicitly states that "Where Villaboard Lining is to be finished with tiles, the sheets must be fixed with fasteners only".

Due to the moisture present in a tiled area, the adhesive can over time flex and crack, which can in turn cause the nails to "pop". Nails popping can damage the waterproofing membrane which would mean everything needs to be removed to replace the membrane. For further information, I'd suggest contacting James Hardies technical support team on 13 11 03 in Australia and 0800 808 868 in New Zealand.

Ultimately, the only way to fix this problem is to remove the Villaboard and reattach it following the installation guide closely. I'd suggest contacting the installers and informing them of their error and asking them to come back and rectify their work. If the issue isn't resolved now, the cost to rectify it after the membrane, tiles and fixtures are installed will far outweigh the cost to do it now.

Yes, the joints need to be plastered and taped. All the information can be found in section 6 of the Villaboard Lining Installation Guide.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob