Good Ideas for Replacing the Corner of Sheetrock Where a Bathtub Is

Backerboard

• Remove the drywall from the walls around the tub and replace them with backer board, a cement and fiber base sheet material that looks a bit like drywall but is somewhat thinner and more rigid. Lack of flexibility means you may have to shim behind it to counteract irregularities in a stud wall, as it will not bend to conform to shape. Shimming along the stud wall may also be necessary to make it meet flush with the surrounding drywall in the rest of the room. Backer board cannot be painted in the same way as drywall, so finish it with ceramic or vinyl tiles.

Tub Surround

• If the sheetrock is in relatively solid condition with no mold or cracks to speak of, leave it in place and install a tub-surround on top of it. Tub-surrounds come in a variety of designs in materials ranging from lightweight PVC molded plastics to thick fiberglass, and vary in price from under $100 to well into the four digit range. Most are simple to install by the average homeowner using basic tools, so are well within the scope of a do-it-yourself project. Smooth-surfaced three to five piece designs reduce the nooks and crannies where soap scum hides, so make cleanup a breeze. When properly maintained, a good tub surround will last for many years.

Tile

• The obvious choice for most homeowners looking to replace sheetrock is tile. However, tile covers surfaces in pieces separated by spaces filled with mortar. Mortar may not always adhere perfectly and sometimes cracks. If you are considering tile, be aware that even hairline cracks may become avenues for moisture to penetrate behind the tile and result in mold and mildew accumulation. For that reason, you should remove the sheetrock and replace it with a water-resistant underlayment such as backer board or moisture-resistant plywood before installing your choice of vinyl or ceramic tiles.

Avant-guarde

• If conventional solutions bore you, do something different with waterproof materials designed for other uses. Water repellant metal or fiberglass roofing – available in a variety of sizes and colors – mounts easily over sound sheetrock, using nothing more than a few bolts to fasten it directly to the stud wall beneath. Alternatively, put up inexpensive white vinyl sheeting and then hang decorative stained glass panels in front secured top and bottom with chains attached to eye-bolts. If expense is no deterrent, you might consider painting the drywall halfway down and then putting up thin stone panels of marble or soapstone on the lower portions where moisture is more problematic. One woman even sculpted her entire shower enclosure from colored mortar. As long as the material of choice is waterproof, let imagination guide your design.