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Waterproof bathroom walls

Stick-man

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Just framed out the bath and office in my shop.

For the bath, just a toilet and sink, I want to be able to use a hose for cleaning since I highly doubt my wife would be willing to clean it. LOL
I am installing Durock cement board six feet high, then two feet of MR green board drywall. I am looking for a paneling type sheet of something to cover. I know of FRP, but at around $45/sheet I would rather find the least expensive option that will work. I am going to be moving and building my forever house and a new larger shop as soon as I find land, so I really want to spend the least amount in this shop.

Any ideas?
 
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Voi

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A car racer here in the Black Hills has a shop bathroom with a shower head but no separate shower stall. I believe his walls were cement board coated with Red Guard & nothing else.

Taking a shower in an open bathroom like that isn't the same as cleaning with a hose but that is the cheapest option I have seen.

I haven't been there in over ten years so no idea how it's holding up. This guy seemed to have plenty of money so I'm sure his worst case scenario was tiling the entire room if it wasn't holding up. I think he even said something to that effect.

From what I recall he tinted some Red Guard for his final coat so it had a cool marbled look. Not sure if the product was actually Red Guard but it was something like that.
 

cgrutt

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What about stucco?

Also recommend painting with waterproofing product such as Mapei Aquadefense if you will literally be hosing walls down. Maybe tile it?
 

mike93lx

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Don't piss on the walls. MR drywall, semingloss paint, pvc baseboard and keep the drywall off the floor
 
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jack stand

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I've never used it and this is just a crazy *** thought.... but snap together vinyl flooring???
I'm not sure how you'd fasten/glue it with vinyls expansion with temperature changes.
Would 4' high (frp) be enough for hosing it out. That would minimize the amount of it you'd need.
 

BillK

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I painted the walls in the bathroom at my business when I moved in 25 years ago ? Semigloss latex paint. I wipe them down a few times a year with Spray Nine and a wet rag. Cant imagine what you would do that would need a hose ????
 

whateg01

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That white textured stuff they use on commercial restroom walls would be a natural choice. Comes in sheets but I don't know what it's made of.
 

NUTTSGT

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I hope you have a floor drain in there if you plan on hosing it out.

Not to mention, a concrete curb, course of CMU around the perimeter of ceramic style tile to keep water out from under the walls.
 

KenC

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A car racer here in the Black Hills has a shop bathroom with a shower head but no separate shower stall. I believe his walls were cement board coated with Red Guard & nothing else.

Taking a shower in an open bathroom like that isn't the same as cleaning with a hose but that is the cheapest option I have seen.

I haven't been there in over ten years so no idea how it's holding up. This guy seemed to have plenty of money so I'm sure his worst case scenario was tiling the entire room if it wasn't holding up. I think he even said something to that effect.

From what I recall he tinted some Red Guard for his final coat so it had a cool marbled look. Not sure if the product was actually Red Guard but it was something like that.
That would work for sure, but at the price of Red Guard and the hassle properly covering everything, I'd opt for FRP.
 

Voi

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That would work for sure, but at the price of Red Guard and the hassle properly covering everything, I'd opt for FRP.

Just looked up the price. More expensive than I recall.

Not sure on coverage difference but I'd look at Dryvit or some other EIFS "stucco" before going forward.

The original Drylok would probably work & maybe some of their other products as well. Texture might not be as appealing.
 

rlitman

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...I am installing Durock cement board six feet high, then two feet of MR green board drywall....
Why not just go cement all the way to the ceiling? Remember to use the special fiberglass tape made to be embedded in thinset, and use thinset on your joints.

As for a coating, how about epoxy? I know I've seen epoxy floors coated up a curb, so it has to work on vertical surfaces. Might be difficult to apply flake evenly...
 

Voi

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Why not just go cement all the way to the ceiling? Remember to use the special fiberglass tape made to be embedded in thinset, and use thinset on your joints.

As for a coating, how about epoxy? I know I've seen epoxy floors coated up a curb, so it has to work on vertical surfaces. Might be difficult to apply flake evenly...

There are YouTube videos about pouring epoxy on rigid foam & then installing it in showers. I don't recall what they did about making the joints water/vapor proof.

Not sure what the OP plans to do in this bath so probably wouldn't be my first choice & probably more expensive than FRP.
 
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Stick-man

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May I ask what you do in a bathroom that requires the walls to be hosed down on a regular basis?
Well, not all men have good aim, if ya catch my drift........ Then there is the splash factor....... And cheap toilets don't remove all solid matter.....
It will only be done when necessary, but this is how I imagine myself cleaning a bathroom.
 
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Stick-man

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I painted the walls in the bathroom at my business when I moved in 25 years ago ? Semigloss latex paint. I wipe them down a few times a year with Spray Nine and a wet rag. Cant imagine what you would do that would need a hose ????
Ease and speed of cleaning
 
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Stick-man

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I hope you have a floor drain in there if you plan on hosing it out.

Not to mention, a concrete curb, course of CMU around the perimeter of ceramic style tile to keep water out from under the walls.
Yes, I have a floor drain. I will be using a heavy duty caulk when I install the Durock at the floor. Will kinda smush it on the bottom, then caulk again after I find the wall covering. I did see some sheets called Polywall for around $27/per. And it's a small bath so I think this might be an option.
 
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Stick-man

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Why not just go cement all the way to the ceiling? Remember to use the special fiberglass tape made to be embedded in thinset, and use thinset on your joints.

As for a coating, how about epoxy? I know I've seen epoxy floors coated up a curb, so it has to work on vertical surfaces. Might be difficult to apply flake evenly...
I don't foresee having to hose all the way up the wall. I imagine just over maybe waist high. And the walls are pretty easy, I am mainly thinking of using the hose for the toilet. I just don't want to have to worry about the walls getting wet and moldy.
 

Stuart in MN

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Think of it like a car wash stall since you'll be hosing it out, so FRP panels make the most sense. After all, it's not a big space and it is your forever home, so a few extra dollars up front will pay off in the long run.
 

NUTTSGT

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It'd be easier and cheaper to just put on a pair of nitrile gloves to clean it once every few months or as needed. Buy a container of Clorox wipes and be done with it.
 

Fav Onefour

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Many parts of the world have bathrooms without shower walls. The whole works is just one room with one drain. Tile walls are common in those applications. You could do half walls with whatever backer system you like. If you add a shower, run tile on those walls to the top.
 

nadogail

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I chose FRP for the walls of my Workshop Toilet Room, if it’s good enough for Micky Dee, it’s good enough for me.
 
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Stick-man

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Think of it like a car wash stall since you'll be hosing it out, so FRP panels make the most sense. After all, it's not a big space and it is your forever home, so a few extra dollars up front will pay off in the long run.
I said this is a temporary shop, until I build my forever home and shop. That is why I am looking for the cheapest possible solution.
 
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Stick-man

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Many parts of the world have bathrooms without shower walls. The whole works is just one room with one drain. Tile walls are common in those applications. You could do half walls with whatever backer system you like. If you add a shower, run tile on those walls to the top.
No shower in this bath
 

carlaisle

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FRPs are great but the seams/corners are difficult to get water tight. I'd just tile it. Large format tiles go up fast and have fewer grout joints. Install an outdoor light fixture and you're done. If that's not appealing, have you considered bedliner?
 
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Stick-man

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FRPs are great but the seams/corners are difficult to get water tight. I'd just tile it. Large format tiles go up fast and have fewer grout joints. Install an outdoor light fixture and you're done. If that's not appealing, have you considered bedliner?
I can just caulk those areas
 
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