integral tile flange on tub + double thick drywall

[qzrrbz]

we have ripped out an old shower stall bathroom back to the studs and have a tub to put in instead. negotiating the movement of the drain via a real plumber, as that's over my depth. :-)

question about tub placement and use of the integral tile flange, which is just a little shy of 0.50" wide. we didn't strip all the drywall, so the walls which lead to the tub were a double layer (1960 house), inner layer 3/8", outer 1/2" drywall. tub sales guy said to just screw it to the studs and use 1/2" drywall down to the flange and then tile to the top of the tub, less a bit, and caulk the joint.

seeking the net wisdom here. what do you recommend so that i may match the mating wall, which is expected to have 16x16 tile halfway up, all around the entire bathroom?

tub also has no skirt, well, a mini-skirt, I guess -- 3", in the front.

need to build a tiled front wall. should that skirt edge sit on a horizontal tile bit, or would a vertical tile get adhered to the skirt. with tub flex, will that idea even work?

need some net wisdom on this topic, too!

plan to wrap everything in kerdi, so pls include that layer in any description or plan that you might impart to me!

thanks in advance!

[Houston Remodeler]

Randy,

1- Got pics of the tile flange? Normally they don't extend far enough to be 100% effective.

2- Stop listening to the guy at the tub store.

3- The front of the tub skirt does not support the tub. Build a wall set back a smidge to accomodate the tile. Drywall and kerdi that surface then caulk the perimeter.