- Preparing a bath area for ceramic tile

Dear Shell,

We are in the process of gutting our bathroom. We have conflicting information about the tub wall. Do we put aqua drywall from the floor to ceiling and then add the cement type wall from the tub up to the ceiling?

The tiles will go up to the ceiling. If we do that method and add the tiles then the edge of the tub wall meeting the edge of the ordinary walls is going to be over an inch thick and will not look very nice. We wonder if we can just put the drywall up to the tub and install the cement wall material from tub to the ceiling. Another suggestion was to put the tub against the studs and then the cement wall above it.

Thanks, Joan

Dear Joan,

Installing ceramic tile around a bathtub requires a cement type board i.e. Sheetrock, Durarock or James Hardie Backer Board. Install the backer board from the top of the tub to the ceiling on all three sides. You'll only need one layer and it will be just a ½” thick.

It's just that easy

Article courtesy of: Shell Busey