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[bemused]

My house is 1930's with cavity walls and I'm renewing my first-floor bathroom. I’ve removed the old tiles (and most of the old plaster) from one exterior wall which is to be fully tiled and will include an area of a new shower. My options seem to be:
a) Have it re-plastered, (I can’t do that myself) but I’m told it will take ages to dry before it can be tiled.
b) Dot and dab, but I’ve never done this and this is quite a large wall for a first attempt.
c) Fix batons to wall and mount 12.5mm plaster board and Aquapanel where required.

I’ve pretty much decided that option c is the only one open to me, so I’m left with a few questions:

1. Should I start with a sheet of polythene?
2. Should I put insulation between the batons? (I’ve seen some interesting looking panels in Wickes that are 25mm thick fibre with foil each side).
3. Can I tile straight on top of the panels (plasterboard and Aquapanel) when done?

Grateful for some guidance.

[stoneyboy]

bemused,
Cavity walls generally did not get used until after WW2 are you sure they are cavity walls? The options open to you are very dependent of this.
end

[bemused]

Thanks Stoneboy, now you've made me think.

Downstairs definitely has two skins of very solid brick and a gap of about 30mm (that's an estimate from memory). Upstairs, where I'm doing the bathroom work, when I removed the WC at the weekend and looked at the hole left by the soil pipe, I got the impression there were two rows of brick, but no gap, although at the time I thought it was just a case of mortar blocking the gap. I suppose I should have measured it but too late now as I've filled the hole.

So now I'm wondering, would you expect a solid 9in wall upstairs?

[stoneyboy]

bemused,
I'd expect all the external walls to be solid 9". If you are going to be successful I think your only option will be to have the walls replastered. I would suggest a coat of lightweight browning plaster with a finish coat.
You could go down the boarding route but damp will form behind the boards causing you all sorts of problems.
end

[swidders]

I agree with stoneyboy here. I'd give the plaster a good week or so to dry out.

It will be worth your while to tank behind the wet areas of the wall (shower?) with a Bal shower system or equivalent.

[TheDoctor5]

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