If your new horizontal niche will span more than a couple of wall studs, the safest way to build your shower niche into this wall is to construct a new wall adjacent to it, to contain the niche. If the only barrier to water getting behind the tiles is a strip of caulking, then eventually, you could have problems. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aa73259bdde6e6e1cf75feb3586d0df2" );document.getElementById("dc5b5fc75d").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Join our Mailing list for blog and product updates, Click the Ad link below to leave the Redblock site and continue to Amazon.com, Schluter Kerdi Board 12"x20" Shower Niche, How to Install a Corner Shelf in an Already Tiled Shower, 7 Best Corner Shower Shelf Options for New AND Existing Showers, How to Build a Custom Shower Niche Step by Step. Here is a link to my shower waterproofing post if you would like to read more on the topic. If this happens, it could eventually cause mold growth or tile delamination even if water doesnt get into the wall cavity. Talk to your contractor about it, because its extremely important that you avoid this huge shower niche install mistake. Whether youre looking to increase accessibility, save space, or simply, Having the right shower head can make all the difference when it comes to taking a shower. In our case, there would be a good 6 inches distance between the shower wall and the rest of the bathroom wall that is facing outside. We are upgrading a bathroom on a bungalow we both. Hello Steve, Is it okay (or preferable) to install the shelf itself last, or should we install the shelf prior to tiling the surrounding walls? The best type of sealant to use will depend on the specific needs and conditions of your bathroom and shower niche, as well as the materials used in the niche itself. Although not a great solution, your only other choice might be to install a retrofit niche with and overlap flange (as long as the whole is exactly the right size, that is). It is difficult to install a waterproof membrane after the fact. Proper ventilation and climate control, such as using a dehumidifier or ensuring that the bathroom has adequate ventilation, can also help to reduce the risk of warping. Its always great to hear from a fellow contractor. However, even the smallest cracks allow moisture to seep in and penetrate through the seams of the backer board, reaching the underlying framing and damaging the entire shower wall. Niches ought to not be against exterior walls if possible in cold climates. The eye level of an adult is 44 inches from the floor level. These options offer similar storage and organizational benefits to a shower niche but do not require cutting into the shower wall.Shower caddies and baskets can be hung from the showerhead or shower rod, while shower shelves can be installed on the wall using brackets or adhesive. If your outside wall studs are 2x6 construction, I believe it may be possible, especially if the wall was sprayed with polyurethane foam insulation (best R-value per inch and awesome vapour control). Tips for proper installation: To ensure proper installation of your shower niche, it is important to choose a qualified and experienced tile installer who is familiar with the tile shower niche materials and techniques required for a successful installation. Hence 42-60 inches (elbow to the eye) is the preferred shower niche height for homeowners. Because standard wood and metal framing materials are not great to use in niche construction, might I suggest that you instead construct it out of Kerdi Board or some other brand of foam board? The niche was on the outside wall but I built a second wall against it to give me the depth of the niche without disturbing the existing outer wall insulation, except for where I added another 24 for the rear wall of the niche for added support. Run a 28 or 210 header, king stud jack stud, ledger and cripples. It is an exterior wall to a garage that is insulated. Acrylic is also super soft. September 13, 2017 Raise your hand if your morning routine involves navigating around shampoo bottles perched precariously on the tub ledge, body wash and conditioner piled in a corner, or the sad. The temperature variation between inside and outside is large enough to cause condensation behind your niche if any moisture makes it behind your niche. Call Us: (205) 640-2848 About; Services. Lastly, I also have to warn you about the risks of installing a long horizontal niche. Specify all sides and back of your niche. Really good article. The beginning of your comment is a bit cryptic but I think I understand what you are asking. I would have to agree with you. 1-piece shower niche with recessed shelf Perfect for storing soaps, shampoos, razors, and other shower supplies Install either horizontally or vertically to best suit your shower Ready to tile: install tile directly on niche surface Customize shelf with the tile of your choice to fit the look and feel of your shower (tile not included) Thank you for your comment, and Im sorry to hear about your troubles with your niche install. Some alternatives to a shower niche include shower caddies, shower shelves, and shower baskets. Model # US3000007. Another huge benefit of this parallel wall design is that it basically gives you the green light to install your niche into an outside shower wall (see below for more details). With thinset beneath the tile inside the niche it should line up perfectly. Im not really sure what to say about this one. This sheet will only provide a condensation surface for moisture. For most shower niches, a regular cleaning every 1-2 months is recommended, with more frequent cleaning as needed. A standard 8 wood header would do the job as long as its assembled and installed properly. The amount of moisture in this wall will determine your best move so you should really get a local expert to advise you. Bathroomaholic.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. My question is about the installation of that shelf. 3) he recommend us a 1/32 grout size for a 12*24 rectified tile for easy to clean it although the manufacturer recommends 1/8. I suggest that you please re-read that section of my 5BSNIM post so you are aware of the risks, and the additional structure required for this type of installation. The problem is that most trims have a flange or anchoring leg thats designed to be placed into the mortar beneath the edge tile. Even in a mild climate like San Diego, you can get enough of a temperature differential for moisture to condense in the shower wall if you provide a surface upon which to condense. This bathroom serves a bunk room that sleeps 8, hence wanting more storage. Unfortunately, attempting to remove tiles in the niche or anywhere on the shower wall is a difficult and risky procedure. That would be a lot worse than pooling water. The EZ niche is PVC plastic so it has a relatively low permeability but the niche and rest of the wall assembly, will always transmit some moisture into the shower wall. The miscalculated using measurement for a walk in shower I believe, rather than glass on tub. The Truth About Shower Water, Our Guide to the 14 Types of Shower Heads: How To Choose, Shower Tech Showdown: Smart Showers vs Digital Showers, The 8 Surprising Shower Filter Benefits for Skin Hair & Health. Model # ABN0836-BSS. How can we tell if there is a problem behind this niche? I did a bit more research and I have seen some people do it this way (I guess the old fashion way??) Durability and resistance to water: When choosing materials for your shower niche, it is important to consider their durability and resistance to water. Ideally, extending the stud greater than 4 would have been best, but it is a really small powder room with a closet being converted to a shower and every inch counts. I speak english and french so translating it directly I believe he said an L-angle edging trim ? Now some of that grout has broken. You can find more details in my Shower Niche Install Mistakes post. This will reduce the amount of water vapor entering the wall to the bare minimum. A modern, practical, versatile, and easy-to-install recessed shower storage shelf or niche for your bathroom or wetroom. Slant the bottom of the niche just enough so that water flows out of it, but not so much that bars of soap and bottles of shampoo slide out. By following the tips and guidelines outlined in this guide, you can enjoy a beautiful and worry-free shower niche for years to come. Provided you placed and cut everything correctly the inside edges of your niche should be about 1/8 outside your grout lines. There is a way to install these shower niches correctly and safely, but unfortunately many contractors fail to accomplish this. You should keep in mind that the niche must be attached to the shower wall before the acrylic/glass/stone panel is installed so that it can overlap the mounting flange (M-block flange) and bond to it via a sealant. This size is often sufficient for most bottles. Its was a perfect job except when the frameless glass was installed, the installers drilled the glass for the towel bar and handle at a whopping 56 above the ground. Obviously, you are going to cut out where the shelf and niche go in the wall tile (unless you are using these new metal shelves from Schluter ). Many clients tell me that they like the asymmetrical look and its very convenient to access. Even in a relatively mild climate, the colder months can result in a vast difference in temperature from inside to outside. Or, can I go my original route (diy niche with permabase) and install a longer (depth) niche shelf so my wifes bigger shampoo bottles will fit BUT also have a 2 cavity behind the niche to apply foam or insulation? Steam showers have been praised for their many benefits, including relaxation, stress relief, improved circulation, and respiratory health. Chances are that you will damage the waterproofing membrane (if there is one) or damage the backer board (might even be gypsum wallboard). These options offer similar storage and organizational benefits to a shower niche but do not require cutting into the shower wall. As far as I can tell, your part of Florida experiences temps from the 40s (F) to the 90s (F) so there is enough of a temp variation to create a condensation problem behind the niche (if it was mounted in an outside wall with inadequate insulation behind it). The company that we are considering for the repairs plans to just caulk over the grout, including the space where the grout has broken out. The problem is that these measures mostly address structural stresses applied from above, but do not often address the increased flexibility (reduction in rigidity) caused by cutting out the vertical framing. Up Your Shower Game: 7 High-Pressure Shower Head Benefits, What Is a Rain Shower Head? Generally speaking, its not good to install the vertical tile (or stone) first because water that runs off the vertical tile surfaces could settle at the gap between the floor and wall tile. Just a thought. Its truly frightening how many shower niche install mistakes that can happen in a typical shower remodel, especially if your contractor is building you a custom shower niche. You should also check your local tile store. But I would be grateful if you could let me know what would be the best way to do this? Most horizontal niches are built into the back shower wall; usually the longest, and therefore, the most flexible wall in your shower surround. In my opinion, all niches should bond with the shower wall waterproofing membrane whether theyre finished stainless steel or prefab tiled. You say that youre hesitant to do this, but it is the most common place to install a standard shower niche (other than horizontal). 1/2 thick) acrylic solid surfacing materials? Steve, great article! Hi Steve, You can refer to our mounting directions to get more details if you like, or you can email me at [emailprotected]. If the sealant is compromised here, water could recede into gaps with nowhere to drain. I believe industry standard height is 44-48? There also needs to be an adequate waterproofing membrane beneath the tile layer to limit moisture transmission into this wall. Will it work?! This is the issue. This of course assumes that you will be adequately fortifying the structure in this wall. As for the niche itself it sounds like your contractor is planning to install a retrofit niche. Worth It? Will it help with moisture behind the niche? Concerns? In some cases, the problem may be as simple as replacing a damaged gasket or adding caulk around the edges of the niche. If a smaller sheet (perhaps remnant) could be purchased of 1/2 thick solid surfacing material in a color very similar to the shower wall tile, wouldnt a good tile setter be able to cut that to create the niche box (sides, bottom, top, shelf)? You can place them beside each other horizontally or vertically on the back wall. The moisture permeability of your niche will vary greatly, depending on the type of shower niche you decide to build / install, and the waterproofing strategy, of course. Tile shower pan, tile shower base, tile ready shower pan. In other wordswhen the people at UL gave you their opinion, they may have assumed that the tile substrate was fire rated drywall, not foam backer board. This can allow water to seep in behind the tiles and cause damage. The problem is that the hole is there ready for the niche but all the tiles have been put down already around it. There are gaps in the corner that would clearly lead to water leaking into the walls or at the least have moisture exposure. It is a rental property and we could just warn tenants not to hang anything there, but in our experience that usually never ends well. They didnt fully grout so there was a few missed tile that they just caulked instead of re grouted should I be concerned? Is there anything that you can tell me that might ease my concerns about the HOA wanting to inspect our unit for any potential damage to shared walls which they said they have the right to do from time to time as written in the CC&R? Depending on the cause of the leak, the repair may involve replacing the niche, applying a new coat of waterproofing sealant for a waterproof shower niche, or re-tiling the niche. In fact, this is a common shower niche placement as it is easily accessible and provides ample storage space for items like shampoo, conditioner, and shower steamers. Your email address will not be published. We will be using Laticrete Hydroban board to waterproof the shower including the niche cavity. Wipe off any excess sealant. The membrane would cover the niche mounting flange so no screws were visible. You are correct to be concerned about installing your shower niche in an outside wall unless there is at least 3 of insulation space behind the niche. I have installed this niche a few times and it seems like a solid product. Baking soda is a gentle, abrasive cleaner that can be used to remove tough stains and soap scum buildup from shower niche tile. The difference is that this niche must be mounted on the framing instead of the backer board surface, so that its 1/2 flange can be flush with the 1/2 thick tile backer board that surrounds it. Poor shower niche installation can be caused by inexperienced or unqualified installers who need to become more familiar with the proper techniques and materials needed for a successful installation. They said its too difficult to do . We live in Missouri so we have hot summers and fairly cold winters. Also, in the other bathroom, there was no caulk placed between the tub and the tile wall it was only grouted. A retrofit niche is a product that is installed in the process of a new shower remodel project after the shower wall tile has already been installed and grouted. The cracks often start as fine lines at the corners, which may not be immediately noticeable. There are some great corner shelves available. Hey there With 26 exterior wall framing, theres always a bit of room for some insulation behind a typical shower niche install. Yes, but also no, Shower Water Pressure Low? There are many commercial tile cleaners available on the market that are specifically designed to clean different types of tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone.
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