another kitchen tile question

[Kerry Adams]

Good Afternoon,

The neighbors are cheap cheap and want to tile over painted drywall. Will it work without putting up cement board, or similar product? Anybody done it with success? Does the surface need to be scratched first?

Thanks,
Kerry

[John Fricke]

If they are just doing a backer board over the counters, cement backer is not all that expensive and is easy to install. I can't say if it is absolutely necessary but it is pretty cheap insurance against future moisture problems and tile failure.

[Jay Jolliffe]

I've tiled over painted sheet rock using type1 adhesive. The place to ask is John Bridge ceramic tile forum.

[Prashun Patel]

It's not a problem on a backsplash. For all but the heaviest of tiles, drywall will hold fine.

You can use thinset or even (GASP) mastic.

[Tom Godley]

I have done this -- as long as the paint is sound you will be fine -- if it is high gloss I would buff it a little with some steel wool or very fine paper.

You may not even need to do that.


Normally back splashes are just installed over the drywall that the kitchen is covered in.

[Christopher Stahl]

What Shawn and Todd said. There is no problem with tiling on drywall.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

My entire kitchen counter backsplash was done that way.

I wouldn't do it where there would be a lot of water....shower...tub surround etc.