We live in the Seattle area and so now Im thinking this is not our best option. If you have a steam shower that you love to spend time in then having a shower niche is a wonderful addition, for example. It doesnt take a waterproofing expert to see that this tiny silicon bead is the only defence against water running into the wall cavity. I would guess that using Kerdi Board in this situation compromises the firewall. Maybe you should read over my Shower waterproofing post to find out more about waterproofing a shower niche. Stucco exterior. Steps for cleaning: Regular cleaning is an important part of maintaining the appearance and functionality of your shower niche. Your bar soap will probably slip off the shelf, but you dont want water pooling at the base of the wall tiles regardless of how well youve sealed this margin. All brick wall. Do you see any problem doing this? 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. The Durock Shower Niche is the only plastic niche that I would ever recommend because it has a coating applied to its surface to facilitate mortar bonding. They say it is not a problem but I disagree. The only thing I would suggest is that you keep them out of the splash zone just because its more convenient to access when you are showering. Dont leave any air spaces around the niche or in that particular stud cavity (to eliminate air circulation). Depth of a Shower Niche. The cracks often start as fine lines at the corners, which may not be immediately noticeable. First time dealing with contractors, we really need . I just got a quote back for 2cm quartz pieces for a custom niche, and it was over $1,200! To avoid this BIG shower niche install mistake, you must choose a shower niche with an integrated waterproofing membrane bonding flange as seen in the two examples above. You say that youre hesitant to do this, but it is the most common place to install a standard shower niche (other than horizontal). If there is no membrane, it could already be a problem. The shower niche inserts generally come 16" wide so they fit directly between your wall studs, which are spaced out 16 on center. The other niche shown is a tilable foam shower niche that has a 1/2 thick foam perimeter flange that also serves as a mounting flange and a membrane bonding flange similar to the stainless steel niche. Seal the grout (and the voids) thoroughly with a grout sealer like Sealers Choice Gold. question about shower niche and placement of handshower/corner shelves This would be relatively safe but not ideal. Causes of warping: Warping in shower niches can be caused by a variety of factors, including improper shower niche installation, backer board exposure to moisture and water, and fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels. A Shower Niche Is an Absolute Must-Have in Your New Bathroom Just make sure there are no voids at all. 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. These alternatives may be a good choice for renters or for those who do not want to modify the structure of their shower. If foam is best what kind of foam? I would recommend that the entire perimeter mounting flange of the niche be supported by backing, and that the niche be attached to the backing on all 4 sides. 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). In general its always the best idea to mount / build your tiled or finished shower niche in a wall that is not an outside facing wall. last year. Unfortunately, Im not really qualified to say what your HOA may do in this situation. A properly sealed niche will prevent water from penetrating the walls and causing damage to the bathroom structure, as well as reduce the risk of mold, rot, and other forms of damage. If this gap is any smaller, you should surround the niche body with spray foam. Do you tile directly on these? If there are hairline cracks here (there often are after the grout has broken away beneath) moisture can infiltrate and pool over the silicon bead. A steel beam would be great, but its not really necessary. Modern construction at its best. I might also suggest that you get another contractor in for a second opinion about the work. I think it would be a good idea to get some kind of written assurance from your tiling contractor that your shower was rebuilt by qualified installers following the industry best practices. For more shower niche ideas, click here. We made this blog to help others like ourselves get all the useful information needed to build a better bathroom all in one place! Following this advice could save you the nightmare and expense of moisture and mold growth in your walls, and tearing out your dream shower to do the job correctly a second time. The SN-2412 rectangular shower niche available in polished stainless steel brushed stainless steel and matte black stainless steel is made from premium 304-grade stainless steel, the ultimate material for enduring rust, stains, scratches, and corrosion. I am not a big fan of most PVC (plastic) tilable shower niches. I would suggest that you pack loose insulation around the niche and behind it. We are having a shower head with diverted valve for a separate shower wand installed which is limiting the location of the niche on the wall with the shower head and I am not a fan of placing the niche along the back wall in direct line of the shower spray. Can you tile right on the concrete wall, use the waterproofing membrane all around and have good results? Will Your Toilet Eventually Unclog Itself? In addition to cleaning, it is important to inspect the shower niche regularly for any signs of damage or other issues, and address them promptly to maintain the functionality and appearance of the niche over time. However, to get the most out of the steam shower experience, its important to select the, Are you tired of dealing with a dirty and dingy walk-in shower? 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. Then tile and grout! These flanges are critically important to maintain the integrity of the shower wall waterproofing membrane. Just to be clear its the type of niche that you have chosen to install thats likely the problem, not your contractors installation strategy. This is what I am assuming. When you already have a shower niche and want to avoid problems, you need to follow a plan to keep it in great shape. You could still use the wall tile or an accent tile for the back wall of the niche. 7 Common Shower Problems (And How to Fix Them) - Home Repair Ninja My question is about the installation of that shelf. The safest way to get a good deal on scraps is to buy them as is, and get your tile installer to cut it. In my opinion, a typical structural header and jack stud assembly can still be acceptable in some circumstances if the wall is non-structural, but this assembly must be built flawlessly. Installing porcelain tile on the shower wall instead of ceramic with a sealed grout like Mapei Flexcolor CQ, will also greatly reduce vapor transmission into the wall. I did a bit more research and I have seen some people do it this way (I guess the old fashion way??) Shower-niche-shelf | Wayfair The only difference is that if you install a thinner panel like the acrylic type, the perimeter flange will protrude a little from the finished acrylic wall surface. Provided you placed and cut everything correctly the inside edges of your niche should be about 1/8 outside your grout lines. Regardless, its difficult to predict what will happen if its installed over the membrane before the wall is tiled. We wish we would have gone with an Onyx shower surround. Instead, I recommend going for a shower niche that is almost invisible to the eye. The constant buildup of mildew and mold can not only be unsightly but also pose a health hazard. The size and style of your shower niche should be based on the size and design of your shower, as well as your storage needs. You can place them beside each other horizontally or vertically on the back wall. I would use the 5/8 or 3/4 thickness for extra structural stability, cut to size and glued together with a polyurethane sealant like Dap polyurethane sealant. Marble can discolor quite easily if not sealed, but you should always keep it clean because sealers are not perfect (nor permanent). Congrats! Follow the directions to make sure it dries thoroughly. Good luck with your new shower remodel project, AND enjoy your new shower niche! wedi Shower Niche 16 in. In regards to the insulation question we dont have the option of building a secondary wall so were thinking of lining the area where the niche will go with the thin foil bubble wrap type insulation (Reflectix). My builders have just installed a Schluter prefabricated niche but have forgotten to slope the tile so water is pooling. Assuming this is correct, I would suggest that you install the shelf before the tile. Shower Niche Ideas | Sebring Design Build Hi, Steve! One solution is to frame the niche. If you plan to install a custom shower niche into your shower wall, and you want to avoid making one of the biggest shower niche install mistakes, you must make sure that you or your contractor doesnt forget the waterproofing step. If so, youre likely considering a steam shower. Not the other way around. Shower Not Working: 4 Common Reasons and How to Fix Them - Plumb One By following the tips and guidelines outlined in this guide, you can enjoy a beautiful and worry-free shower niche for years to come. I would be more concerned with the use of Kerdi Board to replace the 5/8 drywall of your shower wall. Shower head and three niches. Hello again. Thank you! Corner shelves are easier to tile. It usually starts out as very fine cracks at the corners that cant easily be seen. I ended up putting in additional studs in all the walls because the walls in this closet turned shower had the most impractical stud spacing, nothing below 18 on center, some as high as 26. . It's hard to look away, for better or for worse. What do you suggest? Built with the exact same tile as the rest of the shower surround, so it almost disappears when empty. The amount of moisture in this wall will determine your best move so you should really get a local expert to advise you. 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)? We live in Missouri so we have hot summers and fairly cold winters. Because this niche is designed to be installed after tiling, the silicon bead become the only thing keeping moisture out of the stud wall. ANSWERED: What Is a High-Pressure Shower Head? You still must allow enough wall thickness to be able to insulate behind the shower niche as well, especially if its a tiled shower niche. Up Your Shower Game: 7 High-Pressure Shower Head Benefits, What Is a Rain Shower Head? A bit more expensive for the material but its usually the go to shelf alternative for most tiled shower niches. Its a non-load bearing wall but there is a floor above, I found your article great as it talked about considering other issues, not just weight from above. Shower Niche Problems | Home Guides | SF Gate For a shower remodeling project in Northeast Ohio call Cleveland Design and Remodeling at 216-658-1270 or The Bath Doctor in Columbus at 614-252-3242. There are gaps in the corner that would clearly lead to water leaking into the walls or at the least have moisture exposure. Looking for opinions on whether y'all think this is a shower pan problem or possibly slow drip from the niche, which is what I'm thinking as it seems to be . Thanks for your comment! Nothing is safer that the parallel wall design I mentioned above. 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. This is usually done by cutting a recessed area into the existing shower wall and installing a niche insert or lining. Its accomplished with framing protocols to comply with your local codes. Im not really sure what to say about this one. You want to install the shower niche before you install your backer board for your shower if possible. slope over 3 in. Installing a Kerdi-board niche The shower will be 4 6 x 6, with the 6 wall being the exterior wall. We are currently in a remodel and was thinking of this horizontal niche with a light in the top corner. Some materials, such as stone and metal, are naturally more resistant to water than others. Ive attached photos. I would suggest that you apply a VERY GOOD sheet waterproofing membrane, not a liquid membrane. I think we will eventually be replacing all the tile because of this, but right now my biggest concern is the tile niche in our guest bathroom. And please let me know if you need more help, and good luck with your project! Received 672 Upvotes on 595 Posts. In addition, the quality of the material and its ability to resist wear and tear over time should also be taken into account. 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. Im a tile contractor. Thank you for your comment, and Im sorry to hear about your troubles with your niche install. For shower design advice and wholesale direct wall panel or shower base pricing call 877-668-5888. 6 Shower Niche Problems And Solutions - bestplumbersclub.com The SN-1212 square shower niche available in polished stainless steel brushed stainless steel and matte black stainless steel is made from premium 304-grade stainless steel, the ultimate material for enduring rust, stains, scratches, and corrosion.