I know this question had been addressed a million times, but here it is again. My new shower surround has a nailing flange, to attach it directly to the studs. I'll be drywalling over that flange to butt right up against the surround. My shower is at one end of a rectangular bathroom, so it's not an alcove. The walls continue past the shower flange all the way across the bathroom, including a door on one side, and toilet/vanity on the other side. A few question:
1. What do I do with that tiny gap between the drywall and surround? Just caulk it after priming/painting is done? Or fill with mud and then prime and paint? Or...? If I just caulk it, obviously white caulk has to be used (not clear) so the crack isn't visible, right?
2. Where do I put the last screw on that edge up against the flange? I don't really want to screw through the edge of the drywall through the flange and then into the stud - I don't want to risk cracking that surround flange at all. Do I just make sure there is some blocking right next to the flange to screw drywall into, and leave the last 1.25" of the drywall without screws over the flange?
3. What about the front corner of the flange? That is, where the front vertical flange turns a corner at the top of the shower and becomes the top flange? The drywall "bulge" takes a turn there. To make it look as good as possible, should I make sure that I'm just using a single piece of drywall there, or is that vertical a good place for a butt seam?
Let me know what you think, especially if you have installed one of these before, or done drywall around one. Thanks!
1. What do I do with that tiny gap between the drywall and surround? Just caulk it after priming/painting is done? Or fill with mud and then prime and paint? Or...? If I just caulk it, obviously white caulk has to be used (not clear) so the crack isn't visible, right?
2. Where do I put the last screw on that edge up against the flange? I don't really want to screw through the edge of the drywall through the flange and then into the stud - I don't want to risk cracking that surround flange at all. Do I just make sure there is some blocking right next to the flange to screw drywall into, and leave the last 1.25" of the drywall without screws over the flange?
3. What about the front corner of the flange? That is, where the front vertical flange turns a corner at the top of the shower and becomes the top flange? The drywall "bulge" takes a turn there. To make it look as good as possible, should I make sure that I'm just using a single piece of drywall there, or is that vertical a good place for a butt seam?
Let me know what you think, especially if you have installed one of these before, or done drywall around one. Thanks!