Hi we're Denise and Tony! But even the smallest cracks will allow moisture to penetrate, moving easily through the backer board seams, to the framing beneath. I am currently working with a contractor on my shower remodel. In conclusion..it would really be best if you installed your niche in an interior wall instead. 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. These environmental factors result in slight movement of the shower niche tile, primarily due to expansion and contraction. With so many different types of shower heads available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. Also a number of the hinge screws were not flush but angled and they claimed it was to give it strength. The rest you can imagine; moisture in the walls, which leads to mold, dry rot, etc.. Our contractor installed a shower niche and tiled the wall and niche however my husband doesnt like the finished product as there is. 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. Concerns? 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? Either way, cutting a horizontal swath out the structural members of this wall to make room for a niche is a problem. Hello again. We are new homeowners and the bathroom is our favorite room. Therefore they hold water. You may be thinking that a leak like this seems unlikely if the niche is properly tiled & grouted after construction, and you would be right for awhile. Good luck with your new shower remodel project, AND enjoy your new shower niche! Thank you for the article. The contractor brought up some of the issues with this in various projects. I was even thining if it was perhaps we could use small steel beams to support the weight. It becomes a much bigger problem when the wall studs are 24. It is possible to find a trim with no anchoring leg but that would mean that the tile would have to be cut away at the corner to make room for this trim piece. wedi Shower Niche 16 in. 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. When tiling a shower niche, you will have a ninety-degree outside corner where your shower wall meets the niche. If you said no, you would be correct. Can I get away with installing a shluter niche? I know that this is probably not what you wanted to hear (sorry about that), but I wanted you to know what youre getting into when you mess with an old shower wall. As such its very convenient to install the niche in this area because its in easy reach. The constant water exposure and regular temperature changes makes the shower environment quite unforgiving. I was wondering two things: Its mounting flange would then be flush with the backer board surface with a slight gap around which would be sealed and waterproofing membrane installed. Wow! Also, in the other bathroom, there was no caulk placed between the tub and the tile wall it was only grouted. Its always great to hear from a fellow contractor. Chances are that you will damage the waterproofing membrane (if there is one) or damage the backer board (might even be gypsum wallboard). Although they are less durable than some other materials such as ceramic or stone, they can provide a long-lasting and attractive option for your shower niche if properly maintained and cared for. One of the biggest decisions youll face is choosing between a tub or shower. My wife had an idea of keeping the longer side wall niche-free for aesthetics. Find My Store. Will it work?! Here is a primer that allows you to do this: https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/media/59976485/mbp_ss129_114.pdf. 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. I would be more concerned with the use of Kerdi Board to replace the 5/8 drywall of your shower wall. Understanding the most common problems, such as warping, poor installation, and mold and mildew buildup, is the first step in avoiding them. 1) You mention that its NOT recommended to install it on an outside wall. There are some great corner shelves available. 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. I cant seem to find any information about removing and replacing tiles in a shower niche though, so Im just not sure how to go about this. See my waterproofing membrane post for more info. Recently my bathroom was remodeled with a niche installed. Id love if there are pictures to see the different options. This will reduce the amount of water vapor entering the wall to the bare minimum. He is now suggesting to just put tiles in the open space if I dont like the box I linked below.Is there anything to keep in mind? 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. 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. Installing a ventilation fan or opening a window during and after showers can help to reduce humidity levels and prevent mold growth. Modern construction at its best. Maintenance schedule: The frequency of cleaning and maintenance required for your shower niche will depend on several factors, including the size and location of the niche, the type of materials used in the shower, and the level of use of the shower itself. Wipe away the excess grout with a clean, wet sponge. Another alternative is the glass shelf. The general rule is to install the horizontal finished surfaces in the shower before the vertical. Cleaning Difficulties Deep and dark surface recesses can make it difficult to see when cleaning. I would suggest that you apply a VERY GOOD sheet waterproofing membrane, not a liquid membrane. It will scratch and get foggy over time, and I would guess that harsh cleaners like bleach would accelerated this process. For this reason, the wall opposite the shower head is the most popular place for shower niches. You can read more about this in my waterproofing post. You can get a piece of galvanized steel cut at any sheet steel supplier or fabricator in your area. Hence 42-60 inches (elbow to the eye) is the preferred shower niche height for homeowners. More info on shower waterproofing: Shower Membrane Waterproofing The Definitive Guide. A good grout sealer will help reduce this problem (Sealers Choice Gold by Custom Building Products). . Some of the most popular and highly recommended materials for shower niches include ceramic tile, porcelain tile, acrylic, and stone. And if left for any length of time it might get moldy. Theres nothing like the satisfaction of doing a job correctly! Residential and Commercial; Professional Sewage and Drain Cleaning You say that youre hesitant to do this, but it is the most common place to install a standard shower niche (other than horizontal). For more shower niche ideas, click here. The most important part of this project will be your undertile waterproofing. I find it looks really cheap and asked him if we can find another solution. Let grout cure according to manufacturer's directions. One possibility is that the grout or caulking around the niche isn't properly sealed. Shower niches are an essential component of any modern bathroom design, offering a convenient and functional storage solution. Thanks for your article. In other words, its very difficult to say for certain if it will work out well in the end, but there are ways to dramatically reduce the risk if you really want to build this niche. If the only barrier to water getting behind the tiles is a strip of caulking, then eventually, you could have problems. Because of the poor workmanship that you have noticed with the tiling and niche installation, there is a pretty good chance that your shower niche has been compromised and moisture has already been leaking into the stud wall. Thanks Steve for taking the time to reply ! This would allow you to add a bit more insulation behind the niche, but either way you should use spray foam because it has a greater R-value per inch of thickness. Do you have any suggestions? not a great look. This size is often sufficient for most bottles. When you compare this price with the other alternative of this tool . The inside of the niche measurements are 12" x 20" (305 mm x 508 mm) and 12" x 28" (305 mm x 711 mm). In wall directly under the shower head. Shower head and three niches. One solution is to frame the niche. This is the issue. If there is no membrane, it could already be a problem. But I would be grateful if you could let me know what would be the best way to do this? The only safe way to do this is to build a new wall adjacent to the brick wall. Only a small temperature differential can cause the moisture in this shower wall to condense on the inside of the wall. Your email address will not be published. Cut and glue/caulk the Palisade/Dumawall tile to cover the sides of the shower niche. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Wish we would have known some of this 5 years ago when we had our bathrooms professionally remodeled. 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. It would also be important for you to remove the vapor retarder plastic sheet in this wall. When it comes to tiling substrates, it is always better to take this approach because you do not want this assembly to flex or your grout lines will eventually crack. The bathroom wall is 5 long, and once you get past that, you are in an unfinished space next door. One of the vertical 24 studs was cut and framed into a horizontal rectangle to the two adjacent studs, and it did not seem to be load bearing wall, and the framing was properly reinforced. The Top 4 Shower Niche Problems to Watch Out For. 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. This may be problematic with porcelain but is rarely an issue with stone. I think it would be reasonable for you to ask them to replace the frameless glass panel and door if it bothers you. Thank you for commenting! Hi Steve! Will Your Toilet Eventually Unclog Itself? Make sure the new membrane overlaps the old one by at least 2 inches. I would suggest that you get rid of the niche if its already causing problems. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Model # US3000007. You didnt mention how much of your 64 wall will be occupied by the proposed horizontal niche, but as long as there is room for a narrow stud bay on each side of the header (around 6- 10 each side), you should be OK. Although it is a growing trend, there, Read More The Top 4 Shower Niche Problems to Watch Out ForContinue, Are you renovating your bathroom and wondering whether to install a shower curtain or a shower door? something you can easily avoid. I aim for a 18-in. With 26 exterior wall framing, theres always a bit of room for some insulation behind a typical shower niche install. Required fields are marked *. Install shower niche. I usually discourage the layering of waterproofing products but in this case you need to do all you can to limit moisture transmission. See more info on shower waterproofing: Shower Membrane Waterproofing The Definitive Guide. Now I have to sort of find a box that can be inserted inside and have a bit if a lip all round or do as mentioned before, cover in ceramic. With this moisture penetration problem in mind you can probably see why its risky to install your shower niche into an outside wall. Causes of poor installation: Poor installation of a custom shower niche is a common problem that can lead to a range of issues, including leakage, water damage, and warping. Any advice would be appreciated. This new wall allows you to build / install your custom shower niche with only minimal support above the new niche opening because the entire wall is anchored to the stud wall behind it. You should also check your local tile store. Most electrical & plumbing codes accept 16 gauge steel (1/16) for protection plates, so thats what I would suggest. It seems like youre being quite forgiving of the mistake that they made (I agree with your evaluation, btw). This may not be considered a BIG shower niche install mistake but as a shower remodel contractor I hear a lot of people express regret about choosing the wrong shelf option for their tiled niche. In other words, you should definitely ask a trusted local contractor before you decide to build a shower niche into an outside wall to avoid this potential shower niche install mistake. 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. Carefully! Maybe this isnt such a good idea? x 22 in., Includes Adjustable Shelf. 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. I am assuming that at least one of your shower walls is a brick wall, and this is the wall where your want your shower niche to be installed. This is Steve from SKG Renovations with a few tips you must know to avoid the 5 BIG shower niche install mistakes during your next shower remodel. Im not sure I understand your situation exactly, but what matters most is the distance between the back of the niche and the outside wall sheeting. nothing. Using construction adhesive in the joints around the header and installing blocking between the remaining stud bays, will also significantly increase the walls rigidity. Installing a shower niche can be a deceptively complicated and risky endeavour, but it is possible to avoid the 5 big shower niche install mistakes. We have a bathroom that is 64 wide, do you think that is too large to do a Horizontal Niche in the current wall? The membrane bonding flange mounts on the backer board surface with screws, and the waterproofing membrane is attached to the top surface of this flange (as seen in the above image).