What wall finish behind wall hung toilet and vanity?
hi, I’m looking for advice on what wall-board & finish to use behind a wall hung toilet and adjacent vanity. I’m concerned gypsum might compress/crush over time behind the toilet. I read that some wall-hung toilet manufacturers recommend plywood for this reason, but then I’m concerned about how to handle the seam between the plywood and surrounding drywall. Ideally, I’d also like to find a wall finish that could double as the backsplash behind the vanity. I prefer that more streamline look, especially b/c the vanity will abut the side wall, so a backsplash would need to be an L-shape.
Option 1 is to tile it. It’s just hard to know where to stop, especially with the vanity abutting the side wall. And I’d be locked into the tile color.
Option 2 is to use a material like MDO or hardiebacker, mud and tape seams, skim coat if needed, and paint it. Interestingly the Hardie website says hardiebacker is suitable as a painted surface. But would I be able to transition from that to drywall without cracking? And do you think it’d be suitable for a backsplash around a bathroom vanity? Also which material would you use & how exactly would you treat the joints & prepare the surface?
Thank you!
Ben
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Replies
Most manufacturers outright say not to use drywall or gypsum.
Essentially the bottom rear of the toilet bowl braces against your wall material. So a firm material is essential so it doesn't wear over time and have the toilet begin wiggling.
I've done plywood with a wood feature wall in the past. Tile is a good choice it's much more firm (although I hate tile for grout reasons). I can't see how painted cement board would look good. But you can apply microcement on top of it instead to give it a better look.
I wrote a forum post on Terry love on installing a caroma wall hung.
https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/installing-a-caroma-inivisi-wall-hung-with-somerton-bowl.86288/#post-778921
Jamie
the picture of the one you installed looks really nice!
The installation looks nice. I wonder how does the homeowner keep the slat wall the toilet is mounted on clean?
I've always preferred a smooth surface that can be wiped down, because over time it's more than likely that vomit, urine or feces will get in places you never imagined they could, especially if children or elderly people live in the house.
I'm with you Artisanfarms.
The beauty of wall hungs is you can run the waterproofing up the walls a bit, combined with a floor drain, you can practically use a garden hose to clean the bathroom.
This is what I have and had a small pipe burst recently, there was zero damage.
That's very European of you. (Which I enjoy the practicality)
I agree that being able to hose it down is great. At the time, given all I had going on, this was the best combination of aesthetics and utility I could also together. The wall is heavily coated with a post-cat urethane. So unless you vomit on it and leave it for days, it is still cleanable.
That being said, from my own personal experience, vomiting and peeing doesn't happen in just the toilet area. Shit can happen anywhere.
The ideal is to make the entire house hose-downable. To be honest, I don't enjoy the lack of water resistance typical floor assemblies have. My ideal house, I could have a hose burst I'm the kitchen or a sprinkler activate in the living room and everything flows to a drain and no water damage other than all the parking ticket notices I leave laying around on my desk.
I'll get there one day.
I've used 5/8 cement board with tile over it, that is wall hung rests on the tile. No issues.
You can use 5/8 drywall and mud the seam where the cement board and drywall meet.
1/2" MDO then mud and tape seems with drywall. Consistent flat wall that looks like drywall when painted, but is plywood behind toilet.
this is what I'm leaning toward. Thanks
I like your idea jberks!