mildew behind bath wall
#1
I had a leak between the tile and wall where the caulk was gone. My question is I don't know if what I have is mildew or black mold. I need to know how to get rid of this before I go back with the new greenboard and wall surround.
#2
Mildew
You need to treat all affected areas with 50/50 bleach/water solution to disinfect from mold/mildew. You can sponge it on or you can fill an old spray bottle with the solution and spray all affected surfaces. Don't seal up the wall until all surfaces are dry. You can run a fan to expedite the drying process. Open a window and blow out the bleach odor. Turn on the bathroom exhaust fan. I don't know how much wall you are replacing, but concrete underlayment is highly recommended beneath tile. Greenboard is drywall with a little waterproofing on it. I frequently read posts where folks are tearing out deteriorated greenboard. If you have any tile questions, ask the pros that hang out on the forums at http://www.johnbridge.com.