How to Do Drywall in a Shower

Measure the size of your shower area’s walls using a measuring tape to determine the size you must cut the drywall boards. Choose waterproof cement drywall boards that are 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch thick and are 3 by 5 feet in size. Create pencil marks on the drywall boards to note the sizes they need to be to fit in the shower area.

Cut the drywall boards along these pencil marks. Position the cut drywall boards along the shower walls to make sure they fit appropriately and make pencil marks in areas where you must cut holes to accommodate shower objects such as a faucet or knobs. Cut out these areas using a rotary cutout tool.

Pre-fill the flange area of the shower, which is at the top edge of the bath or shower base, using a drywall joint compound. Put a strip of mesh tape on top of the compound area along the flange, as the mesh tape is water-resistant and the presence of the compound helps prevent the drywall from moving and cracking.

Mark all the locations of the shower area studs directly above where you must position the drywall boards. Apply a plastic vapor barrier to each shower wall to prevent moisture from seeping into the wall. Place each cut drywall board on its corresponding wall. Ask an assistant to help you hold the drywall boards against the studs and make sure the ends of the drywall boards are centered over studs.

Follow the stud marks and insert a line of five galvanized screws through each drywall board and into each stud. Begin at a board’s center stud and move outward to the drywall board’s end studs. Do not use nails, as they are not stable enough to secure drywall boards.

Seal the seams of the drywall boards using a cement-based joint tape that is self-adhering. Cover the tape with a thinset mortar using a taping knife, as these materials further keep water from going behind the drywall.