Deterioted Sheetrock above Shower Stall

[TxHomeowner]

Alon the top sides of shower stall ordinary sheet was installed back in 1993 when our has was built. That Sheetrock is covered by wallpaper. Over the course of time moisture from the shower spray has caused the bottom edges of the Sheetrock is swell and bulge (looks like lip). There is now a very small gap between the shower stall and the sheet rock.

I need to know how to best seal this gap and how to deal with the deteriorating sheet rock edges.

Thank you.

 

[nealtw]

Shower stall? tile over drywall or plastic shower unit with drywall around it?

 

[TxHomeowner]

Shower stall? tile over drywall or plastic shower unit with drywall around it?

Plastic shower stall with ordinary drywall around it.

 

[nealtw]

As it will be a small area I would remove and replace it.
It is hard to get a seal between drywall and the unit, that is why we often see one row of white 6 x 6 tile around the unit, then you can caulk that joint and it keeps quit well.

 

[TxHomeowner]

As it will be a small area I would remove and replace it.
It is hard to get a seal between drywall and the unit, that is why we often see one row of white 6 x 6 tile around the unit, then you can caulk that joint and it keeps quit well.

I would have to put a backer board to glue the tile to. Is the any other type of water proof trim or board that can be caulked while still looking okay?

 

[nealtw]

Drywall up there is fine it is just protecting the edge that is tricky. Depending on how bad it is, you might just add tile over it now.
You do have a bathroom fan?

 

[Sparky617]

It could be bulging because there is a lip on the shower unit that pushes the drywall out. Is the drywall spongy?

 

[TxHomeowner]

It could be bulging because there is a lip on the shower unit that pushes the drywall out. Is the drywall spongy?

I can confirm that it is the drywall that bulged due to moisture. Not anything to do with the shower stall walls. Areas of the wallpaper along bulged drywall mildewed. The mildew has been eradicated but the bulging drywall is flaky and created a gap between it and the top of the shower walls.

 

[nealtw]

I can confirm that it is the drywall that bulged due to moisture. Not anything to do with the shower stall walls. Areas of the wallpaper along bulged drywall mildewed. The mildew has been eradicated but the bulging drywall is flaky and created a gap between it and the top of the shower walls.

How high above the shower unit does the bulging go?

 

[TxHomeowner]

How high above the shower unit does the bulging go?

The bottom two inches of the drywall sorta developed a lip. That drywall crumbles when touched. I figure about five to six inches would need to be straight line cut and replaced with nice looking PVC board or a thin back board and the tile you suggested. All material would be glued with water proof adhesive the exposed joint lines chalked with water proof chalk.

 

[nealtw]

The bottom two inches of the drywall sorta developed a lip. That drywall crumbles when touched. I figure about five to six inches would need to be straight line cut and replaced with nice looking PVC board or a thin back board and the tile you suggested. All material would be glued with water proof adhesive the exposed joint lines chalked with water proof chalk.

I wouldn't re invent the wheel with products that are not the normal as there may be a reason they are not used.

They way it was done was doomed from the beginning but you can see how long that lasted.
Do a straight cut as low as you can, replace that with 2 layers of 1/4" backer, that will allow you to have the second one cover the flange,
Find a tile that you like big enough to cover the cut line by 1" or two tiles if needed, keep the tile 1/8 above the shower unit.

You can buy a small tub of mastic and premixed grout
Do not grout the gap at the bottom and the corners, after the grout is dry, silicone the corners and the gab to the shower unit.