When the tub surround is installed, there’ll be a gap that remains between the top of the ceiling and the surround, which necessitates covering sheetrock. Simply use water resistant drywall or”green-board,” with this application. A typical problem that drywall installers encounter is”slanting.” Slanting happens when the drywall doesn’t sit flush into the studs or framing around the top of the bathtub surround. The surround has a thin lip that is used to attach the surround to the framing with screws. The screws do not countersink into the surround lip, so when you install the drywall, the bottom of the drywall piece is held out from the eyebrow thickness as well as the heads of the screws, sometimes as far as 1/2-inch, compared to its position at the top adjoining to the ceiling.
Furr-Out the Framing
Assess the gap, in the top of the bathtub surround lip up into the ceiling at each stud. Write that measurement on every stud using a pencil’s face.
Cut furring strips, using a power saw, for each measurement that is stud. Mark every cut strip to spot where it goes. Cut and measure furring strips for both side edges of the tub surround, extending from the ground to the ceiling. That whole wall must be furred out too, to fit, When the sidewalls, to which the bathtub surround is attached, extend outward to another corner.
Install each strip into its stud or framing member with nails. Use only enough finishing nails to hold every strip in place until you are able to install the drywall. Do not allow the strips to expand over the bathtub surround lip.
Install the Drywall
Measure the dimensions of every needed siding piece using a tape measure. Always measure upon the bottom of each opening at the top of the surround, and measure across at the top close to the ceiling. Measure each opening at each end.
Transfer your dimensions to a sheet of plain water resistant drywall’s face, and cut it with a razor blade. When it’s installed cut each piece of drywall so that the drywall’s mill edge stays across the top of the bathtub surround.
Install every piece of drywall with drywall screws. Install every piece tight into the ceiling, and above the lip of the bathtub surround. Insert the drywall screws through the drywall, through the strips, and into the framing members using a screw gun or drill. Do not allow the screws to crack through the drywall’s outside paper.
Apply a bead of mildew resistant caulk into the gap created in the intersection of the mill edge of every drywall piece along with the bathtub surround. The drywall is ready for finishing.