Durability of T&G Ceiling in Shower Area? – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some advice on our bathroom ceiling assemblies for our new build. We’re planning to run Hemlock T&G across the ceilings in both of our bathrooms (and everywhere upstairs), including directly over the sloped shower areas. I’ve attached a couple of sketches for context.

A few key details:

– Hemlock will be stained with Benjamin Moore’s “Stays Clear” Acrylic Polyurethane

– Small bathroom sloped ceiling height ranges from 9-10′

– Large bathroom sloped ceiling height ranges from 10-13′

– We have a Zehnder Q350 ERV exhaust port in each bathroom (no dedicated bathroom fan)

– We have a 2.25″ air gap behind the T&G and then intello VB

Questions:

1) Given these details, do you see any potential long-term durability risks with using Hemlock T&G directly over a shower?

2) Is the Benjamin Moore “Stays Clear” finish robust enough for this kind of high-humidity application?

3) If not, could you recommend some alternative clear finishes? We are looking for something that provides excellent moisture protection but maintains a similar water-clear, non-yellowing, and non-plastic appearance.

Thanks in advance!