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Hi @Danne,
Transitioning from plasterboard (like Aquachek) to cement-based sheeting (Villaboard) is always tricky, as they’re manufactured and installed to different standards. There aren’t any formal guidelines on joining the two, so doing a clean, structurally sound transition can be difficult. If your goal is to switch the shower walls to Villaboard, you might need to consider replacing all the wall linings in the bathroom for consistency and to avoid compatibility issues. Or, at least have the Villaboard extend out of the shower enclosure where the join to the plasterboard does not need to be waterproofed. As you’ve noted, Villaboard comes in 6mm or 9mm sheets, while Aquachek is 10mm thick. If you were to use 9mm Villaboard and the join to the 10mm plasterboard was out of the shower area, this transition could likely be dealt with when tiling, without the need for packing the sheets. The thickness of the tile adhesive can be varied to suit.
Can I ask why you want to remove the Aquachek? When installed correctly and water-proofed to code, Aquachek is perfectly fine for a shower recess and meets the relevant standards. It’s generally more straightforward to keep it in place rather than trying to transition to cement sheeting.
To install Villaboard in the shower, you’d normally lay the sheets horizontally directly onto the studs. Trying to pack them out to match the Aquachek thickness isn’t permitted under the installation guidelines, so you’d need to adjust the studs or the wall framing to suit the Villaboard depth if you proceed.
If you do end up having joins within the shower enclosure itself, then yes – the waterproofing must extend fully over any transition between the two products. This ensures the shower remains watertight and avoids potential leaks.
Changing to cement sheeting mid-wall is complicated and not typically recommended. It might be worth considering keeping the Aquachek and tiling over it, or fully re-lining the walls with Villaboard for a proper, code-compliant installation.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Hello @Danne
The choice is up to you; Mitchell has given you a very good explanation of what you need to be aware of in regards to using Villaboard and Aquacheck. Both materials are suitable for wet areas, the difference of course is that Villaboard is made from a durable fibre cement product. If you use Villaboard just keep in mind all of Mitchell's recommendations in regards to installation, waterproofing and how it can become quite complicated. To reduce the complication, I suggest fully re-lining the walls for a proper, code-compliant installation.
Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hi @Danne
Just to reinforce @MitchellMc comments that Aquachek is perfectly adequate for a full bathroom cladding, after all thats what it's designed for. Remembering as he also mentioned that there is yet to be several layers of waterproofing, tile adhesive and the tiles themselves. Plus eliminate the issue of trying to make the difference up between blueboard and Aquachek. That can work which I have done before, but that was a full wall of each meeting at a corner, and not midway.
If it helps, please see below photos from a bathroom reno I did last year, which was all Aquachek.
Nailbag
Hi Jacob
The shower base is a composite material solid surface that is Sikaflexed to the floor, Wet Area Solutions make them. I've attached a photo of part of the rot and the tile area I'm now ripping up.
Danny
