I am trying to install a tub/shower surround. I have thrown out the tile, used joint compound to level most of the wall, and sanded it for smoothness. I read online to prime the wall with a stainkilling primer, so I used killz 2 stainkilling primer.

Then I was told that I should'nt have primed the wall, because the adhesive may not stick the tub surround to a primed wall and that I should sand the primer off. I sanded the wall and I can't tell the difference in the wall because the primer feels just like the compound I sanded smooth before applying the primer. My question is...

Does it really matter if the wall is primed? I thought all you really needed is a flat, smooth surface to install the surround? Or Is there an adhesive out there that will stick any material together regardless of the wall being primed? Or last... Should I apply more compound, sand it down and then put up the wall surround. Please help!!

The instructions that came with this wall set by Aquaglass was very unclear. What should I do? :eek::confused::eek:

The wall is fine here get it dust free. Use 100% silicone for the adhesive( sticks to everything period and doesn't bleed into the object) for the surround. Gently prop the surround wall and duct tape the top well.

100% Silicone is a perfect adhesive for wet/moisture areas.

I think you are going to have some difficulty getting you adhesive to stick to joint compound, it will just pull the compound off if there is any movement. Flat and smooth isn't as important as a surface that can allow the adhesive something to bite into. You are kind of stuck at this point but I would use a ntoched trowel in sveral places to really rough up an area and then make sure that very spot gets a nice helping of adhesive. 100% silicone sounds good to me too but what did Aquaglass tell you to use, they can't be that vague. I think they say you use silicone adhesive caulk rather than 100% pure silicone.

I think you are going to have some difficulty getting you adhesive to stick to joint compound, it will just pull the compound off if there is any movement. Flat and smooth isn't as important as a surface that can allow the adhesive something to bite into. You are kind of stuck at this point but I would use a ntoched trowel in sveral places to really rough up an area and then make sure that very spot gets a nice helping of adhesive. 100% silicone sounds good to me too but what did Aquaglass tell you to use, they can't be that vague. I think they say you use silicone adhesive caulk rather than 100% pure silicone.

Aquaglass called for 100% silicone caulk... then when I called they said don't use 100% silicone caulk as it said in the manual -just use caulk with silicone in it. Next, they called for " a construction adhesive" safe on plastic (a lot of adhesives are safe on plastic) Just the same when I spoke with them they said only Liquid nails 915 or 715 or DAP 2000 could be used to make this surround set stick to the wall. However, they said since I had primed my wall with the stainkilling primer the adhesives they suggested would not stick, and the set should have been installed on top of the dried compound (before I primed it) so that the adhesives would stick... which brings me back to my original questions...

and the set should have been installed on top of the dried compound (before I primed it) so that the adhesives would stick...... which brings me back to my original questions..........Aquaglass called for 100% silicone caulk...

Goes back to my first post. Went through this before. JUST TEST it. Apply the pure silicone in a test spot on that dust free wall and let set 24 +hrs and see how it does.

No need to test the glass end. Believe me it Sticks to the fiberglass like no tomorrow. I replaced enough shower doors where the 100% cone is used and its extremely HARD to get off the fiberglass.

Just use the test and common sense here. I been using 100 Sil for 20 years for adhesives in this application.

Think of it this way what was done 20 years ago before the fancy engineered caulks All came out to COMPETE for sales. 100% pure silicone was the new Tech caulk adhesives used to build new fish aquariums and get rid of the old metal sides on fish tanks in the late 70s

There installation manual calls for "silicone adhesive caulk." Where are you getting the conflicting advice, their help line?