looks can be deceiving, however...

If the use of too many backer board screws is the cause of global warming, your crew could very well be responsible for the next ice age.

I may be mistaken but I believe the flanges on those niches are supposed to be installed on top of the cement board or flush with it. I see a waterproofing nightmare that was just created. Who is the manufacturer of the niche?

MongoCT-

You're so poetic . I guess the idea is: the fewer penetrations, the fewer leaks, right?

@ Katrina All joking aside the niches appear to be E-Z niche brand and yes the flange belongs on the outside. If your installer can't get a basic detail such as this correct DO NOT trust him/her to provide you with a properly waterproofed shower. Please consider this warning.

Creative Tile Eastern CT They are EZ brand. I will let the GC know today. The walls are still open while we wait for the plumbing inspection. But even if they were closed, I'd have it fixed. Thanks for noticing! We are using a Tile Redi brand for the sink niche and he incorrectly presumed they were installed the same way.

This is what it looks like now, before being ripped out and redone.

He is having it fixed today. Thanks! Creative Tile Eastern CT

Tundra Finish Works LLC I'm glad that I posted the photos. I wasn't sure why some boards were purple and others gray. Now I see it was the beginning of a waterproofing nightmare.

Tundra Finish Works LLC I absolutely appreciate the information. I had no idea what I was looking at or that it was done improperly. We are putting thousands of dollars worth of tile on walls that are not properly waterproofed and that concerns me. I like my GC but am not certain that I have the A crew. He has other jobs going on, that he admitted, so I may have the Z crew. This is why we visit every day, to make sure we get photos of every detail. Please feel free to point out anything that seems out of place or incorrectly installed.

Tundra Finish Works LLC No, not really. He's been agreeable thus far and just said he will handle the waterproofing issue. I asked him to come to the site since I'd hate to see everything ripped out a second time if it's not done correctly by the crew on site today.

Tundra Finish Works LLC Thanks! I checked with my GC from work (my 9 - 5 is commercial development) and he had similar concerns about the purple moisture resistant drywall instead of permabase at the top of the shower. It's not a deal killer (not junk) since it's so high but he said he'd probably use permabase. He also asked about the shower base and membrane since the permabase is generally not so low to the floor and the membrane should be placed behind the permabase. I need to find out what kind of site cast shower base are they planning to use since that will determine the placement of the permabase and if the membrane should be installed behind the permabase. There are so many new products that come out regularly, so I need to confirm what they are using to determine if the permabase will need to be ripped out. I've already had a water issue from the neighbors above me (1958 pipe leaked) and I don't want to be the cause of a water issue for the neighbors below.

I revised the contract to include TCNA ANSI and MFG install and sent that over to the GC.

Sorry to see Tundra's excellent advice deleted. He used his valuable time through out the day to guide you away from the disaster that we see coming. Your GC does not possess even the basic knowledge and your GC at work is giving you the wrong advise. The current stage of this shower is all wrong. Seek a professional tile setter. Best of luck

Creative Tile Eastern CT Not sure why the advice was deleted, especially since it was used. I've expressed nothing but sincere appreciation. The shower niches are being ripped out and redone, as noted above. The way they were installed is per Tile Redi niches (sink niche we are using) but these are EZ niches. The contract was revised to include TCNA, ANSI and MFG as noted above. Nothing I can do about hurt feelings after accepting and using the advice. And yes, I did use the wrong term. It's moisture resistant drywall (purple), not waterproof. My GC from work has been doing this for 30 years, so yes, I do trust his advice. I used the wrong term, that was my error.

Personally, I've used this forum since 2006 when it was gardenweb (prior ground up project). I have never deleted anything because someone might find it useful years later. In fact, I try to update when I get new information even if it's not an idea I'm using. Not everyone feels the same, and I understand that.

Creative Tile Eastern CT Oddly enough, that is a big part of my job, getting things fixed that were done incorrectly by a past GC. I have a $95K project being approved this week to fix work from 2012.

Excellent - First. What waterproofing system will be used so that the proper substrate can be addressed. Use the tech support number for the system is the best way. If that's taping compound instead of thinset on those cement board joints they can get rid of those also. Screws & studs at proper spacing. Correct screws as dry wall screws will rust from alkali in the thinset. Tape in the corners & seams must be alkali resistant fiberglass. NOT drywall tape. So for the most part everything that was done is wrong. Unless I'm not viewing your photo's correctly. The test of your patience has begun:)

Creative Tile Eastern CT That is on my list of questions from the GC I use at work. I am not sure, yet, but expect to know those details shortly. I am also asking what kind of adhesive will be used for the tile.

Adhesive will depend on the system selected. It all starts from there.

GC will be on site tomorrow morning to go over all of my issues.

The detail is on the plans, it's just not being followed.

GC agreed, the shower was not done properly. It's being ripped out. The architect is also coming over to inspect. Drywall tape and taping compound was used instead of thinset on the cement board joints in the shower. The screws and studs are not at proper spacing.

The shower niches were to be installed with the flange on the exterior of the cement board, per manufacturer. There is moisture resistant drywall in the shower, instead of cement board. My preference is no drywall in the shower. Some people do use drywall above the showerhead but that is pennywise and pound foolish.

Is the same guy who did this all wrong going to attempt to do this the correct way now?

Thanks to all who pointed out the issues. Bathroom rip out started today. We have 7 men on site working on various things, 3 for building renovation work (redoing work that caused damage to our apartment) and 4 for our project.

millworkman I don't know who did the work. The GC agreed it was done wrong. I've seen at least 10 different men on site (electricians, plumbers, carpenters).

ETA: I pulled the licenses and photos from my file and it appears that the electrician installed the purple drywall in the bathroom. He is the one who took it down today as well. I have no idea why the electrician was doing that work.

My neighbor got free upgraded pipes from 1.5" to 2". I'm pretty sure the rusted pipe they pulled out was original to the building, over 50 years old.