Discuss Aquapanel on top of plasterboard? in the UK Tiling Forum area at TilersForums.com.

T

TheRealRobG

I'm replacing the double-skinned plasterboard stud wall surface in my bathroom, which is also a party wall with my neighbour, hence the double-thickness plasterboard for fire regs.

As expected, once the tiles were removed, both layers of plasterboard behind the shower are damp and full of black mould, and the vapour barrier behind is covered in droplets of moisture. The front later of plasterboard was extremely soft and the tiles fell off with practically no encouragement.

The studs are at 600mm centres, so I'm adding extras to make them 300mm centres, and the plan is to fix a skin of plasterboard, then a poly vapor barrier followed by an outer skin of Aquapanel and finally tile & grout with 17kg/sqm floor/wall tiles. The idea of the poly barrier is to prevent moisture penetrating the Aquapanel from damaging the plasterboard behind.

However, my concern is that the only Aquapanel screws I can buy are 40mm, but Knauf's website recommends using longer 55mm screws for a double layer board construction which seem not to be available anywhere in the UK.

Do you think if I double the count of screws to one every 100mm rather than 200mm that this would sufficiently compensate for having only 15mm of screw penetration in the wooden studs?

Failing this, is it possible to use drywall screws with Aquapanel, or is this a non-starter? (lack of corrosion / strength / penetration ability?)
 
T

TheRealRobG

Hello and welcome...
Have you not thought about just re-doing the double skin plasterboard and then tanking to prevent any chance of moisture ingression..?
I hadn't as it happens. I'd come to the conclusion that Aquapanel would be the best possible surface to hold my relatively heavy floor/wall tiles up in the wet areas. It's tempting to just fit a single layer and be done, but I know that's the wrong thing to do.
When you say tanking - what specific kind of treatment did you have in mind for the plasterboard, and are we talking standard p/b or vapourproof?
 
T

TheRealRobG

Do you happen to know where I can get suitable self-drilling/countersinking corrosion resistant screws? The only ones that spring to mind which might be at all suitable are decking screws, but will they penetrate cement board?

I've seen the Screwfix A2 decking screws, but it sounds like they are brittle and prone to fracturing, which would be a big problem in this scenario...

Can you countersink Aquapanel with a standard C/S bit?

Thanks!
 
T

TheRealRobG

They are fine for the plasterboard way then...:thumbsup:..

The choice is yours.. :idea3:


Thanks for the advice Dave! It seems that replacing the p/b and tanking it is the way to go. There's no point in flogging a dead horse with the Aquapanel if I can't source the correct screws. It'll probably work out a lot cheaper too.

Can you recommend a good tanking agent for plasterboard that would be compatible with Bal PTB (flexible white single part adhesive)?

I don't want to use PVA. I've heard too many bad rumours...

Also, should I be using moisture resistant p/b too?

Thanks!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
T

TheRealRobG

You can either use a tanking solution kit... BAL do one or as i prefer to use , a tanking membrane... Either Schluters kerdi membrane or Durals Wp..


I already have some Bal APD which I was going to use to prime the non-Aquapanel areas.

I think I'll get some Bal WP1 to tank the wet areas and return the Aquapanel and associated gubbins to Wickes.

Thanks for all your help!

Rob.
 
T

TheRealRobG

OK, so I decided on an experiment. I cut a small square of plasterboard and a small square of Aquapanel, and I drove them both into a bare stud with a single 40mm Aquapanel screw with just 15mm penetration into the stud.

I was able to hang all my weight (80 kilos) from that piece of Aquapanel without any sign of it giving way.

So I think I'm going to trust those screws to hold up what probably amounts to about 2kg of combined board and tiles each without having nightmares...
 

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Aquapanel on top of plasterboard?
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