What did builders use before Durarock or Hardibacker as a ceramic tile backer?

Question

The reason I'm asking this question is because the the people that build my apartpart used sheetrock as a tile backer back in the mid-seventies which is a true sign of poor workwanship and I need to tell my maintenance man what they should have used because I know they did't have Durarock or Hardibacker back then.
Thanks,
Brian

Answer 1

Back in the day, tile setters used a wet bed of mortar. Basically, they applied a waterproof barrier (tar paper), then nailed lath over it (chicken wire) and applied a couple of coats of motar mix.

Kind of like stucco, but very flat and level. The tiles could be applied directly into the top coat, using mortar buttered to the backs of the tiles.

It's a long-lost skill that takes a ton of time.

Answer 2

At one time they used a mixture of horse hair and mortar, then set the tile in a topcoat bed of mortar then grouted. Greenboard has been around for awhile, which basically is waterproof drywall, they also used masonite which to some point has some water repellenty to it but once got wet swelled up and went soft, not a good idea. Question? Why does your maintenance man need to know what they used 40 years ago when we have such better products now.

Answer 3

being in the plumbing service industry ...i see a great deal of tub surrounds

in houses built before 1953 (in my area) i find metal mesh ( thicker than chicken wire)
coated with thick plaster ....some of these walls have been 4 inches of plaster

after 1953 but before 1960 i see 2 foot x 4 foot sheets of drywall coated with about 1/2 to 1 inch of plaster

after 1960 to about 1980 i see green board

from about 1980 to present i see concrete board which is what i believe is recommended

i don't fix the surround on tubs i just fix the plumbing or the faucets
so i really don't know what is the code

i do know that in the 1940s and before they would build up the floors with concrete ....even on the second or third floor of a house to install ceramic or marble tile and all the pipes are buried in concrete ....that makes it real fun to get to a leak lol

Answer 4

Basically, it was a form of cement board (I don't know the name), but either way, it's lasted quite a while in a rental, so you will have to fix it an live with any mistake (it's been too long to hold anyone responsible).