welll, ok, point one is OK.

I cannot figure out what point #2 is about, precisely.

He may have meant that your bottom row would be sized a half tile (each tile, cut once down the middle). That makes a lot of sense, and looks good. IF he meant you would install a new piece of wood, then I'll guess this means you have not yet had the shower membraned (waterproofed). Wood is not good near tiles. Not near wet grout either. There is a lot more detailed information needed before anyone says the idea was bad or good.

Thanks, davidro1,

Oh, I think he said something about it being needed behind the membrane....like where the studs are? Is there any additional support needed for larger heavier tiles? I guess I don't even know enough to ask the right questions! It made me doubt the integrity of what was already there....or not there in this case....maybe I didn't need to?

Tiling the ceiling is fine.

Adding blocking between the studs at the sole plate is an excellent idea. I highly recommend it as a matter of fact, and when I used to do CPE/CPVC membraned showers I did it all the time. Except I used 2x10 blocking.

Mongoct...what exactly is blocking? Does it go between or in front of the studs? Thanks so much!

Did a quick image search and came up with this from showerdoorexperts.com, ignore the arrow that's pointing at the door framing. The "blocking" is the pieces of wood nailed in between the studs down by the floor:

{{gwi:1391106}}

I use 2x10 because it holds the membrane up a little better. The membrane is typically run up the wall about 10", thus my preference for 2x10 over 2x6.

More importantly though, the cement board can't be screwed to the studs in the bottom 10" or so of the wall, because if you screwed in the lower 10" of the wall you'd be screwing through the membrane. You don't want to put holes in the membrane.

So even though the cement board can't be screwed into the blocking, the blocking provides additional support for the cement board, preventing any flexing or bowing between the studs. It's added insurance.

Thanks! Exactly what I needed.