Corian or other solid surface makes an excellent shower ceiling. No grout and no mold and mildew ever.

Scribe the ceiling piece to fit with a 1/8" perimeter gap and put it up before tile. Tape or hot melt some 2x4s on edge to the finished side. Place quarter-sized dabs of 100% silicone every 12", then jam 2x4's between the floor and the finished side 2x4s. Pull 'em the next day and the ceiling is flat and stuck permanently. No mechanical fasteners.

Trebruchet:

Thank you for the instructions. I think I need clarification...every 12 inches all over the finished side of the ceiling where the framing studs are? Would you put the Cprian panel up before the Schluter shower is built? Do you think cracking of grout or tile will be an issue because the surface materials are different?

Babka:

We had a fan...not on a timer so who knows if the teenagers ran it every time they showered. We installed a larger unit recently when the heating/ventilation co. was here for the upstairs remodel; the fan is in the main bathroom area instead of the shower.

Our concern is the low height of the shower ceiling...it is less than 7 feet. I prefer an open shower design the way an alcove bath is placed with a curtain because of the moisture issue; DH wants to recreate the basic design of the old fiberglass shower but make it longer and use a partial wall and glass to enclose the long side with a narrow opening so no shower door I fear that his design will simply recreate what we had...moisture tended to stay trapped in the shower area. Even with a more powerful fan, I am afraid if his design prevails...we will have moisture issues on the ceiling again. The tile setter suggested tiling the lower ceiling to eliminate the potential issue.

Of course, the tile setter/shower installer loves my husband's idea...more tile work. I concur that the half-tiled wall and glass combo would look great (it should since it will be more expensive), but I am remodeling to fix a problem and enhance resale possibilities.

Trebruchet:

Do you have any idea how the cost of the thinner Corian compares to under $5 a square foot tile? Can I assume that installation costs might be less than tile installation since it would take less time?

Is there any way you could put a fan with a light right in the shower ceiling? The reason I ask is that your situation isn't that unusual. Our guest bath (house built in the mid-60's) has a soffit over the bath alcove, so the ceiling in the shower is less than 7'. Many homes were built that way. (Cozy). It is rated to be mounted where it could get splashed. The fan is silent, the light is wonderful and the timer runs it for 60 min. The grandkids kids love the light because it makes them feel "on stage", so they always use it. that ceiling has only paint on it and has never had a problem.

-Babka

Swanstone makes solid surface panels. You should be able to find online pricing for those, since you can't find the Corian ones.

Babka:

There is solid runs of air ducting in 1/2 of the space then the ducting narrows so there is a 4.5 inch gap of space between two ducts for the rest of the ceiling.

The electrician said he could not get a recessed light into the available space between the ducts. I am actually going to buy the housing for the smallest sized recessed light I can find to see if there will be room for some kind of lighting. A fan unit that is recessed will not work...at least the ones I have seen. Is your fan a surface mounted unit...that might work but again lowers the height of available vertical space.

weedyacres:

Thank you! I had originally nixed Swanstone because I wanted the screws anchoring the sheet hidden and was told it could not be done with Swanstone. With Trebruchet's recommended method of attaching, that would not be an issue...completely forgot about the Swanstone.

Corian would start at around $40 a square, installed, up to about $85 installed. That's usually the only way it's sold, as DuPont controls who has access and certification. I'd do the whole surround, walls and floor. Skip doing the tile. It's going to stand out to use a different material on the ceiling. And not in a good way.

Nuts. Now I understand your limitations. My fan/lights are recessed.

-Babka