Fiberglass tub was installed over top of sheetrock.

I recently bought a little place and have been fixing it up. The bathroom had a gardentub, shower and..... sheets of very ugly 1980's style fake tile with rose trellis pattern made from an MDF type material. That just had to come out! Not to mention the chips and mold , etc.... It seems the bathtub was installed right over top of the sheetrock. I wish the sheetrock was not there, it has gotten wet at some point, but it is. I could cut the sheetrock out above the flange and go back with a 3 piece surround, going right over top of the flange on front, back, and side of the tub.
The problem I have is this.... that rose fake tile board was installed not only around the tub but also all the way around the bathroom so that the front flange extending down along the front side to the floor was covered also . If the tub had been installed to the studs this wouldn't be a problem. I would have sheetrock meeting the surround walls nicely. But the existing sheetrock is behind the flange.
I'm stumped....

 

You could laminate over the existing drywall with drywall although you'd want to use cement board above the tub. [is there a shower or is it just a tub] Is the door on one of the 3 walls that meet the tub? is there baseboard installed?

 

You could laminate over the existing drywall with drywall
....could you elaborate on laminate please? although you'd want to use cement board above the tub........So you mean simply attach sheets of cement board over top of the existing drywall, extending down and over top of the tub flange???? This would work with the existing wall depth on the back side, the left side (which stops just past the tub, but the right wall does extend past the tub with a very tiny window then to the corner..... [is there a shower or is it just a tub].....yes shower on the right wall..... Is the door on one of the 3 walls that meet the tub?.......no just the window is on the right wall...... is there baseboard installed?....ripped that out along with the cabinets for replacing.....

 

Laminate over the existing just means hang another layer of drywall over the drywall that is already on the wall - that should get you over the tub lip. Wet areas should have cement board [with a vapor barrier behind it] and tile. You'd have to remove the casing and then build out the window jamb the thickness of the drywall you add, then reinstall the casing.

Pics would let us see what you see and help us to make better suggestions - http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html

 

My sincere apologies for the delay in getting back to you on this, as life gets in the way.....
I attached some photos.
Attachment 26273Attachment 26274Attachment 26275Attachment 26276
All that you say makes sense. I am installing a tub surround. Least cost and time. The problem I am having is how to finish the edges of the tub front lip that extends to the floor on the left and right side.

 

I don't think the photos attached correctly. Here they are again.

 

I'd rip out all the drywall that surrounds the tub, fur the studs out 1/4" install a vapor barrier and cement board. That should allow the cement board to overlap the tub's lip and give you a good base for tile.