I'm doing my first tile job in a tub surround. I have a few basic questions:

Is 1/2" Hardie Backer Board the way to go?

I saw on a web site that said to hang green board first, and then backer board on top of that. Since I have plastic sheeting stapled to the studs as a water barrior, it seems like overkill to have green board under the backer board, especially if it's 1/2"?

Regarding the tub flange:

How is that normally handled? Are shims on the studs typically used so that the backer board hangs straight? Someone told me to hang the backer board to the flange, but not over it. Then the tile will overlap the flange. That doesn't seem right.

Thanks!

Dave Anderson