DRYWALL CHALLENGES: HOW TO FINISH DRYWALL WHERE IT MEETS THE SHOWER

If you’re building out or remodelling a bath or shower enclosure, you’re probably wondering what the best way might be to finish the gap between the sheetrock and the shower or bath surround. There are three primary methods. We will take a quick look at each one and outline the steps so that you can finish this tricky spot with minimal fuss.

1. Filling the Gap

Filling the gap means cutting the sheetrock so that it runs up to the edge of the enclosure’s mounting flange, pre-filling the recess with hot mud (setting compound), and then taping and finishing with standard drywall compound to cover the joint.

This method is simple but can lead to problems with the caulk used around the edge of the bath or shower not adhering well to the wall, causing the caulk to fall off or crack. Additionally, this method is messy, sometimes leaving compound on the bath or shower enclosure. 2. Furring the Wall In this method, you add furring to the wall studs where the shower or tub is attached. The idea is to bring the entire sheetrock wall forward, not to the level of the flange but to the level of the enclosure. Once everything is furred correctly, hang your sheetrock all the way up to within ¼” or less of the enclosure and then apply caulk to fill the small border between the drywall and the shower or bath unit.

This method is simple but can lead to problems with the caulk used around the edge of the bath or shower not adhering well to the wall, causing the caulk to fall off or crack. Additionally, this method is messy, sometimes leaving compound on the bath or shower enclosure.

2. Furring the Wall

In this method, you add furring to the wall studs where the shower or tub is attached. The idea is to bring the entire sheetrock wall forward, not to the level of the flange but to the level of the enclosure. Once everything is furred correctly, hang your sheetrock all the way up to within ¼” or less of the enclosure and then apply caulk to fill the small border between the drywall and the shower or bath unit.

This method is more difficult and time-consuming than filling the gap, but done right, it produces a perfectly smooth wall without bulges or unusual, unsightly joints.

3. Shower Bead

The last possibility is to use a manufactured shower bead to finish the gap directly. Essentially, this is a premade product that allows you to split the difference between the first two methods. This plastic extrusion consists of a support leg attached to a long mud leg, allowing you to bridge it across the gap between the rock and the enclosure and then mud over the extrusion with standard compound. A masking tear-off strip keeps compound off the enclosure. This produces the smooth, edge-toedge effect of furring the wall in even less time than it would take to fill the gap – and without all the hassle!

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