Decorating and Design - covering masonite tile...

So, there's this bathroom... with REALLY old masonite "tile" half-way up the walls and it's chipping off... we are not going to get to redoing the bathroom for about 6-9 months from now, so I want to cover it up, and paint doesn't quite work... here's my idea, but I need some technical help... I'd like to glue (yes, glue, with construction adhesive) some kind of black paper to the masonite (the masonite will be torn out completely when we redo the bathroom, so I can kinda do whatever to it now) and then do some kind of collage type thing (using modge-podge?) over parts of it... my questions are 1) is there a type of paper i could use that will not smear it's color when i coat the entire area with polyurethane? 2) should i even use polyurethane? Again, it doesn't have to last very long, but i would like it to be somewhat waterproof... any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated... thanks

other than using a plain wallpaper i guess a very cheap solution would be to use a plain brown wrapping paper (fix with wallpaper glue) and paint that black...

btw be sure to seal the masonite first with an oil-based primer/sealer so the oils don't leach out/the masonite doesn't warp with the moisture from the glue.

then paste your collage over that and polyurethaning the whole thing would be fine.

6 - 9 months? just live with it! i wouldn't be sealing and priming and collaging and sealing again something that would be redone so soon!

yeah, i just can't leave it alone... it totally grosses me out... it's so dirty and when i attempted to clean it, i found out the protective 'coating' must be gone because the dye came off on the paper towel... i'm not a neat freak by any stretch, but i really can't deal with a bathroom that feels dirty... plus, we all know how 6-9 months can turn into a year and a half - or, at least, that's been my experience with this one... thanks tho... i do appreciate the suggestions/ideas/advice...

i'm with Tupperino on spending a lot of time & energy on something temporary. but i have to ask.........what's Masonite???? :confused:

you know, that's what we've been calling it for the past year, but i'm not sure it's 'true' masonite - my understanding is that masonite is a type or brand of fiberboard... what we've got is some sort of pressed wood with a shiny, tile-like finish on one side... maybe someone else knows the real meaning?

so you've got individual squares of this stuff on the wall, like tile? are there grooves in between each tile, like grout lines? or is it all perfectly flat?

actually, there are 4x8 sheets of it with 'faux' tile on one side - it's one big piece, with indentions to mark the 'tiles'

The product you are trying to "cover" sounds like embossed tileboard. You should be able to use contact cement to apply the black paper and your collage pieces.Make sure all edges are completely set so that none will lift. I would then use a spray poly product and apply in several very light coats. Keep applying coats until you get the desired effect or thickness you are looking for. The reason for the very light coats is to ensure the paper does not become soaked with the poly product. This would cause problems with the final outcome. Let the poly product dry between coats. No sanding will be needed. This project will not be long lasting as it is not completely waterproof but rather moisture resistant. It should not be used in areas that will recieve direct water contact.

When you use contact cement be very careful as it is not forgiving and once its stuck..... ITS STUCK! You can use dowel rods as a barrier to keep it from sticking before your ready.

Good luck with your project and post back if you have further questions.

Contact cement should not be used in a room that has a space heater of any type as it is VERY flammable. If this is the case then extinguish the heater(including pilot light ) until completly dry. This goes for the poly product as well.