tiling a shower wall

[jussi]

When I layed out the tiles on the ground to see how they would look I found out I didn't place enough hardi-backer on the wall. It's short in height by about 6 inches. The height of the hardi-backer as it is currently placed is already above the shower and lays flush with the drywall. Is it ok to tile the remaining 6 inches on drywall (since that part is already above the shower line) or will I need to replace that strip of drywall with hardi-backer as well.

[tfischer]

That's the way I've always done it ("always" in this case meaning the 3 showers I've tiled). Not sure it was 6", but it was about 3... How else do you cleanly transition to the drywall if not by hiding the seam behind the top tile (which shouldn't get significantly wet anyway)?

-Tim

[Salty]

I would think that as long as the 2 backing surfaces are stable and will not flex in any way, it will make no difference.
Besides, it would be difficult to replace that narrow of a piece of hardybacker.
One caution I would throw out is that if the transition area has voids as between studs, it may be a good idea to put in blocking to prevent the area from flexing if someone were to bump against it.

[chopnhack]

Shouldn't be an issue, you may want to prime the area though with some kilz and give it a coat of paint, to seal the area if you want to be extra cautious. I've done that before with no issues (5+ years), it prevents the thinset from binding with the paper of the drywall (binds to the layer of latex instead).

[JimD]

I've done it in at least 4 bathrooms so far for different reasons. In one bathroom, it was the reason already mentioned. It's an easy way to transition between the concrete board, in my case, and the drywall. I put mesh tape over the joint before tiling to help tie things together. In another bathroom, my 6'4" son was getting water on the drywall above the one piece tub/shower. It wasn't his fault, the water pressure is high and it just splashed up there. I put a row of 6 inch tiles, a thin row of colored tiles and then a bullnose, all on the drywall. It is still sound. I did something similar in our one piece shower stall except I tiled all the way to the crown moulding. In the basement bathroom, I used water resistant drywall above the one piece shower and tiled to the ceiling (which is lowered due to a heat duct).

The shower that gets used the most at this point is ours and it is very solid. Tile on drywall is a bad idea if it gets wet regularly but if it is only a little splash occasionally, my experience is it works fine.

Jim

[jussi]

Thanks guys. That's good to know. I've only tiled 1 shower before and that went all the way to the ceiling so I didn't have that dilemma.