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mstabe21 · Mar 10, 2012, 05:23 PM

Should I put caulk over the screws holding up the drywall over my shower? Or does the mud keep the moisture out? Thanks.

massplumber2008 · Mar 10, 2012, 07:17 PM

Hi Mstabe21

No need to caulk over the screws... as you said, the thinset (mud) should do the job here!

Mark

smoothy · Mar 10, 2012, 07:33 PM

You have drywall IN the shower... or ABOVE the shower, above the tile or fiberglass or arcrylic enclosure?

Just wanting to be clear on this... yes I have actually seen tub/showers without anything put painted sheetrock above the tub level.. and no its NOT right and begging for trouble VERY soon.

ballengerb1 · Mar 10, 2012, 07:43 PM

Smoothy is right, no drywall in a shower area that gets wet. Folks used to use greenboard or blueboard, that's out too. Please try to answer Smoothy's question about exactly where the material is mounted. You never caulk drywall screws BTW. You mention mud so we start thinking thinset but please tell us in more detail what you mean, some folks call joint compound mud.

massplumber2008 · Mar 11, 2012, 09:56 AM

I thought we were talking about sheetrock, "over the shower" unit... blueboard or mold-resistant greenboard would be fine there... although cement board would be the best job!

Maybe Mstabe will pop in and clarify!

Mark

smoothy · Mar 11, 2012, 10:59 AM

If I had not personally seen what I described several times myself... I wouldn't have even asked... but better to clarify it up front then find out 30 posts into a thread that's what they had.

ballengerb1 · Mar 11, 2012, 06:30 PM

Well if mstab doesn't come back we won't know what way being done.

mstabe21 · Mar 12, 2012, 02:21 PM

I put up mold-resistant greenboard. And yes it was aboove the stand up shower no bath tub..
It's on the ceiling above the shower and 3 walls around the top of the shower. I ran the greenboard down over the showers surround flange at the top and caulked where they met. Thanks again everyone.

smoothy · Mar 12, 2012, 04:48 PM

Mud over the screws... the corners should have been taped and muded too... after primer and top coat paint on the ceiling you would be good.

I like blending a mildewcide into the paint in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom or garage... any place that sees above average humidity. Extra security...

jlisenbe · Mar 13, 2012, 05:56 AM

Years ago I had a bathroom which would get mold on the ceiling every year or two. Got tired of having to deal with it, so I used an exterior paint on the ceiling. Looked fine, and no more mold problems. You might want to try it.

It's the paint you use that will retard moisture, not the material you use over the screw heads, but since it's up high or on the ceiling, I wouldn't think you would have a problem. I did the same thing about ten years ago in our bathroom, and it has worked fine. I did use the water resistant sheetrock.

jfrwhipple · Apr 13, 2012, 06:58 AM

Q: Should I put caulk over the screws holding up the drywall over my shower? Or does the mud keep the moisture out?

A: Drywall should not be used in any shower renovation below 6' and a good quality mudding job and priming job can go a long way to improving the bathrooms performance.

Drywall should be mudded out not covered with chaulking. We recommend a quality oil based primer two coats in all bathroom renovations before final painting. Zissner Cover Coast with the yellow label the best primer we have found to work with.

If your bathroom is cold and you get a lot of condensation on the ceiling you should consider an oil based paint or tiling the entire ceiling of the shower area.

Remember drywall is not permitted in any shower renovation. From 6' and down.

Good Luck.

John

jlisenbe · Apr 13, 2012, 07:36 PM

JF, you posted on a month old thread. However, sounds like good information. Keep posting!