Tile adhesives, cement, backing boards, and any built-in waterproof membrane do not waterproof shower walls. Sooner or later, water or moisture will seep through the tile joints. Therefore, preventable mold growth and strut rot USG literature will probably tell you that it is resistant to water damage or something like that. Expose Durock to sufficient moisture and moisture will pass through it.
But Durock himself will not be harmed. Think of it as having the structure of a sponge. The sponges undergo repeated cycles of wetting and drying and are virtually undamaged by water. But water can pass directly through a sponge.
The same goes for the cement board. However, the disadvantage of concrete plaster is that it soaked moisture through the grout lines. Once inside the wall, the wooden frames absorbed moisture from the damp concrete and, due to lack of fresh air, began to deteriorate the studs, also known as studs rot. The problem is that the tiles and grout themselves are not waterproof.
The floor must be installed together with a waterproofing system, or whatever is behind them will get wet. Waterproofing can serve as a moisture barrier, but a moisture barrier does not necessarily qualify as a waterproofing barrier. So will a waterproofing solution (such as UFIXX No Leak) work permanently, or will I have to reinstall the tiles with the waterproofing again? Custom Building Products requires two coats of its Redgard liquid waterproofing on all waterproof surfaces.
