For shower walls, once you put a membrane on top, greenboard is as okay as any other drywall. For a ceiling without membraning, okay too. For a tiled ceiling, okay too. If you use it as you would regular drywall, it is okay.

If you're going to use 1/2" greenboard on the ceiling you need to reduce the ceiling framing to 12" on center. You can do that with furring strips run perpendicular and nailed to the bottom edges of your existing ceiling joists, which are probably 16" on center. That's a requirement.

Although this is strapped at 16" oc, here's example of a "furred" or "strapped" ceiling:

If I were using "heavy thick tiles" I'd personally opt for 1/2" thick cement board; Durock or Wonderboard, on the ceiling. That's optional.

If you're going to use 1/2" greenboard on the ceiling you need to reduce the ceiling framing to 12" on center.

Exactly right.

IF he was doing a steam shower should the ceiling be flat or should there be a small slope?

IF he were doing a steam shower there should be more than a "little" slope. In fact, it should be about 2" per running foot.

I would not be using any kind of drywall product in the shower's wet zone for any reason.

This material is easier to work with of course but has no place in the shower.

Check with your local inspectors at City Hall before you select your backer material. You might find they want one system over the other but most likely you will will find they give you a choice of 2-3 options.

Cement Board (or equivalent) being the preferred choice here in North Vancouver.

I installed Green EBoard in my daughters bathroom and liked that it could be scored and snapped with my diamond blade on the grinder. This cut down on the cutting and the noise. I like the fact that the dust created is not harmful to the enviroment and that this dust was cut in half as I only scored half way through my cut list. Then snap.

Bill I know you have built many steamers in your travels - I'm curious if you have seen the affects of the steam collecting on the ceiling and running down a 2" per foot grade. Does the water droplets actually make it past the various grout joints without raining down on the user?

Have you tried cheating this number to say 1/2" or 1" per foot with any success?

Do you try and leave a little more grout on the ceiling detail? Would this even make a difference?

I do not like the look of the steep pitch and my clients feel the same...

John-- I've never questioned the spec. One thing to think about-- that pitch doesn't have to all run in the same direction. it can run from a peak to two sides, or from a point to all four, thereby reducing the total amount the ceiling has to slant.

John, you alleged a few weeks ago that I don't work in the field any more-- Unfortunately, it doesn't have the date stamp, because it wasn't my camera, but a mutual friend of ours took the picture. This was taken last week:

"IF he was doing a steam shower should the ceiling be flat or should there be a small slope?"

jeannie, if it was a steam shower, in my area code requires the ceiling be sloped a minimum of 2" per foot. In addition to that answer, if it was a steam shower, greenboard would not be used on the ceiling. But since this is a regular shower, or has been represented as being nothing more than a regular shower, then greenboard and a flat ceiling are fine.

"I would not be using any kind of drywall product in the shower's wet zone for any reason."

John, the ceiling of a shower is not a wet zone or wet area, so greenboard can be used if desired. Might other products be more appropriate? Yes. But greenboard is allowed in that application.

Bill, regarding the photo and John's allegations...you have nothing to prove to anyone.

I'm curious if you have seen the affects of the steam collecting on the ceiling and running down a 2" per foot grade. Does the water droplets actually make it past the various grout joints without raining down on the user?

I have a steam shower with a sloped ceiling. If anything the slope is probably more than 2" per foot because it simply followed the line of the existing cathedral ceiling in the bathroom. The tiles are 12 inches. The water drops eventually do exactly as John has suggested; they collect in the grout and then drip. This happens after about 10 minutes or so in the shower. I love the steam shower but don't like those drips at all!

Bill I have seen pictures of you and working (my comment was not directed to you) - my message went out to the others that offer up little graphics and the graphics they do offer not their own (I'm thinking).

No one has anything to prove to me. For sure. But I would think maybe the others here and Garden Web question the men and women behind the posts.

It has been said to me before that my work would not stack up if I put it on display with theirs - bold statement. This said I disagree and will do better at posting my current and prior work. I want to see who is the best. I want to better them. It's my nature...

Bill slap that picture in my work in progress thread. I like the multi angle ceiling in the steam shower. With a code approved slope can the water run all the way to the side or is some dripping going to happen no matter?

Mongo - you are the phantom and a master. I think I like not knowing who you are now, I have given up trying to find you online. Your status here on THS site unquestioned in my books. Perhaps you work partime for the secret service or own Fine Home Building Magazine - What ever - Don't care. I can not find a hole in your armour, a home town or website and the mystery was killing me and now you are the "Master Phantom". I still haven't made my hole punches - I'll wait for my Nobel order...