First of all, is my terminology correct? These are brands of synthetic wood alternatives:
- #Wedi
- #Qboard
- #Schlüter #kerdiboard
etc.
Is “construction board” the generic name for this stuff? I think some people call them “building panels”. I ask because my search for Invidious (Youtube) vids came up short. I would rather not have a brand-dependent search query because I have to try many queries as it is to try to get this answer.
Qboard offers a factory made corner piece (called Qorner; attached to this post). I was trying to work out how I could do that myself. I’ve never worked with #constructionBoard, nor have I used a router, but I suspect they use a router to cut a “V” in the board without competely bottoming out (but nearly), so the outer skin does not get cut. Has anyone done this?
If you’re gonna buy and use power tools, just use regular construction materials. MDF is pressed wood fibers, cheap, reliable. It’s what all the Ikea stuff is made of.
If it’s just mockups, you could use something like “rigid pink foam” from a vendor like Owens Corning. If you can detail what you’re trying to do I might be able to be more helpful.
I’m building a small box in the shower which I will tile over. The box will cover a valve and must be semi-accessible. The valve will actually be controlled from the other side of the wall, so the box need not be opened routinely – only if the fitting leaks or goes bad will access be needed.
I have an unlimited free supply of Ikea pressboard because neighbors throw it away daily. But I would not use it in a shower. Ikea pressboard is like a sponge with water. It’s also too thick. I have rigid space constraints. No limit on the box height, but the walls of the box must be thin (e.g. 10—15mm thick is what I have in mind). The construction board seems well suited for wet areas.
This is the old box, which was previously a solid block of concrete:
https://fedia.io/m/plumbing/t/58279/Advice-needed-exposed-water-valve-in-shower
My building style is to make everything accessible and servicable. So in that pic you see a floor tile around the box. That tile is actually removable. I went to great lengths to give a solid mating subfloor but without gluing it down. So if needed I can just remove the caulking around that tile and get under the showerpan. This is why the box walls must be thin. If the box is big enough to overlap the floor tile, then it would ruin the accessibility of the floor tile. Unless I somehow figure out how to make the entire box easily removable… then it wouldn’t matter if it rested on the floor tile.
If it’s going to be in the shower, I can’t recommend MDF or even plywood. Probably better to go with solid wood if you can, or even better if you can access a 3D printer, use that.
I don’t have a lot of experience working in the wet part or a bathroom. I believe I saw a friend frame out a shower and then cover it with cement board once and then tile over it, so that may be an option, but take that advice with a grain of salt.