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. Repair options: If your shower niche has already become warped, there are several repair options available. 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. The bathroom wall is 5 long, and once you get past that, you are in an unfinished space next door. I speak english and french so translating it directly I believe he said an L-angle edging trim ? Each of these materials has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks, including durability, resistance to water, ease of maintenance, and cost. 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. 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. Hi Steve Tile Ready brand products by Tile Redi: shower pans and shower bases, recessed niches, shower benches, shaving ledges, and decorative shelf kits. In conclusion..it would really be best if you installed your niche in an interior wall instead. When tiling a shower niche, you will have a ninety-degree outside corner where your shower wall meets the niche. For assistance with a shower wall panels installation or factory-direct DIY shower wall panel supply contact Innovate Building Solutions at 877-668-5888. I would suggest that you get rid of the niche if its already causing problems. If you said no, you would be correct. I usually discourage the layering of waterproofing products but in this case you need to do all you can to limit moisture transmission. Im doing a shower at the moment. Regardless, its difficult to predict what will happen if its installed over the membrane before the wall is tiled. If you cant do spray foam, a 2 thick insulating foam sheet can be placed behind it. In addition, the quality of the material and its ability to resist wear and tear over time should also be taken into account. shower niche moisture problem | DIY Home Improvement Forum wedi Shower Niche 16 in. They used hardie to build it out, but the corners arent aligned, and one part of the niche doesnt have hardie on it. A modern, practical, versatile, and easy-to-install recessed shower storage shelf or niche for your bathroom or wetroom. Sorry I couldnt come up with an easier solution. The standard depth of a shower niche is 3.5 inches, the width of a wood stud. The 5 BIG Mistakes: Don't Skip the Waterproofing Don't Install a Retrofit Niche Make Sure It Integrates with the Waterproofing Membrane Don't Compromise the Wall Structure Don't Install in an Outside Wall Bonus Tip: Installing the Wrong Shower Niche Shelf Don't Skip the Waterproofing I just got a quote back for 2cm quartz pieces for a custom niche, and it was over $1,200! 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. This would be relatively safe but not ideal. 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 ). Im considering building a 24 x 24 niche, 6 deep (by pushing into the closet. Concerns? Just rememberFRAME it like a window and waterproof! It could certainly cause a problem in the long run even if you have a waterproofing membrane beneath the tile. In addition, the use of low-quality materials or insufficient ventilation can also contribute to warping in tile shower niche. . If this happens, it could eventually cause mold growth or tile delamination even if water doesnt get into the wall cavity. 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. This will help us get appropriate repairs. How To Increase Your Toilet Flush Performance And Power. Prevention tips: To prevent mold growth in your shower niche, it is important to take a proactive approach. Im super happy that I could provide you with some helpful advice! These environmental stresses cause all parts of the shower assembly to move slightly, mostly through expansion and contraction. I trim around it Is it too late to add some type of trim now ? Thanks for your article. There are some great corner shelves available. Also, being a full 5.5 away from the shower head, it is basically the driest part of your shower. 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. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. With the high volume of users in this particular shower, practicality should really be your highest priority in my opinion. How can we tell if there is a problem behind this niche? 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. Tenants will usually be hanging a picture or coat hanger; probably nothing below 4 feet in other words. This is what the shower shelf will look like with ceramic tile installed on the back wall and . Either way, cutting a horizontal swath out the structural members of this wall to make room for a niche is a problem. I just did a 52 linear niche in an exterior 24 stud wall cavity. Its great to hear that you were not deterred by the sometimes intimidating prospect of tackling your own bathroom remodel project. Yes, I agree that the structure required for a horizontal shower niche is the same as whats required for a window in an exterior wall. Slow Flushing Toilet? You would have to check with your local building authority about this. At least with this type of install, you can waterproof the wall recess properly. Does this design sound OK? Durability and resistance to water: When choosing materials for your shower niche, it is important to consider their durability and resistance to water. To patch the drywall is pretty easy if you look it up online. Most decent contractors will say that applying the correct structural framing around the niche will adequately fortify the structure. 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. During a complete shower wall reconstruction, the retrofit niche hole is cut out of the the tile backer board after its attached to the shower wall framing. Wipe away the excess grout with a clean, wet sponge. This movement frequently leads to grout line cracking in the shower niche. Marble can discolor quite easily if not sealed, but you should always keep it clean because sealers are not perfect (nor permanent). 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. No thinset on Durock cement board for shower wall? Super helpful post! Shower Niche Ideas | Sebring Design Build 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. Unfortunately, attempting to remove tiles in the niche or anywhere on the shower wall is a difficult and risky procedure. If Im misunderstanding you, please provide some more info so I can make a better assessment. Pros and Cons of Frameless Shower Doors: Worth It? The back of the niche tile is what we would like to remove, the sides and border tiles are fine. 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. Do Shower Filters Work? Is it absolutely necessary to put a cross beam (blocking) where a pre-fab niche would go? This is the shower niche that we used in this bathroom. I would have to agree with you. An expansion/ contraction joint is required here and silicon serves this purpose well. I cant find anything online about it being necessary but the man at the tile store that sold me the niche suggested it. You should also make sure the shelf is sloped slightly outwards. Our contractor installed a shower niche and tiled the wall and niche however my husband doesnt like the finished product as there is. Thank you! Its accomplished with framing protocols to comply with your local codes. Call Us: (205) 640-2848 About; Services. The trim is called Quadec by Schluter Systems. 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. A steel beam would be great, but its not really necessary. They left it open meaning I can see through from the outside/inside of the shower and when getting down and looking at the quartz/tile junction. 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. 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? One possibility is that the grout or caulking around the niche isn't properly sealed. See my waterproofing membrane post for more info. Im assuming that the edges of the tile are exposed around the perimeter of the shower niche. There is a way to install these shower niches correctly and safely, but unfortunately many contractors fail to accomplish this. A good grout sealer will help reduce this problem (Sealers Choice Gold by Custom Building Products). The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. For example, ensuring that the niche is properly waterproofed with a high-quality waterproofing membrane, and that the niche backer board is compatible with the materials used in the shower. I think you know what Im going to say.. You should not be installing your niche on a 3-1/2 outside stud wall not even in northern California. But even if you are planning to go the much safer route and install a pre-manufactured tiling niche or finished niche, you still must adhere to a few rules and procedures. 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. Its great to hear that people like yourself are getting some useful info from my posts. The outcropping will be cantilevered from the studs so I will take extra care supporting it. Contractor screw up - off center shower niche question about shower niche and placement of handshower/corner shelves Thank you for so many informative articles, your website is very helpful! To test this, you can let the shower dry out for a few days and test that back of the niche with a good quality moisture meter. 6 Tile Shower Niche Questions Answered by Experts - Tile Club I spent 3 months doing the project, three different kinds of marble two fans (to exhaust better as she like it hot and uses lots of product). Both walk-in shower vs tub have their unique benefits and drawbacks, but which one is right for you? Cleaning and remediation options: If mold and mildew have already begun to grow in your shower niche, there are several cleaning and remediation options available. If the only barrier to water getting behind the tiles is a strip of caulking, then eventually, you could have problems. If Im understanding you correctly, it is a very typical alcove style shower with a 6 back wall (outside wall) and two 46 side walls, one of which is the valve wall. If the shower wall is brick, it is likely an outside wall. 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. Then, the sealant can be applied using a caulking gun or another appropriate application tool. However, many people complain that glass shelves are hard to keep clean and soap slips off too easily. 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. To be frank, it sounds like this guy doesnt know what hes doing. This process should be performed by a professional contractor or plumber.Be aware that there are potential problems that can come up when you retrofit a shower niche. Instead, I would check to see if there is any signs of water infiltration by cutting a hole in the drywall on the other side of the wall that the niche is mounted into. Hence 42-60 inches (elbow to the eye) is the preferred shower niche height for homeowners. The contractor brought up some of the issues with this in various projects. Even if the wall cavity that contains the niche is completely waterproofed, water may still get behind it with a single retrofit flange. Behind the niche you waterproof the exterior wall board with red gard, then a thin later of insulation. The bottom tiles of the niche slope back towards the wall resulting in a lot of water building up to almost 3mm in depth against the back of the niche. Shower Niche Problems | Home Guides | SF Gate 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. It would work better to reduce moisture behind the niche. Now some of that grout has broken. 246 Posts . Sorry for all my rambling but this is important stuff. Most ceramic and porcelain tiles have glazing that gives the face of the tile a different sheen and sometimes a different color than the rest of the tile. Thirdly, I would insulate with spray foam if possible. Is attempting to pull the tile and replace it the best idea? Hi, Steve! Leakage/Water damage There are a few things that can cause leakage and water damage in shower niches. Super solid, super rigid, and super safe, because the original wall structure remains completely intact. You can get a piece of galvanized steel cut at any sheet steel supplier or fabricator in your area. Sometimes this is a bearing wall that the structural integrity of your home depends on, and sometimes its not. A standard 8 wood header would do the job as long as its assembled and installed properly. The constant water exposure and regular temperature changes makes the shower environment quite unforgiving. It seems like youre being quite forgiving of the mistake that they made (I agree with your evaluation, btw). Have a really great DIY project or tutorial that you want to share with others? Shower niches are a great addition to any bathroom, offering a convenient place to store body wash and organize your shower essentials freeing up the floor space. Hi we're Denise and Tony! What do you suggest? This process should be performed by a professional contractor or plumber. I live in Northern California (near Sacramento) where temps are 40-102 degrees. The niche that my contractor purchased is a retrofit model. This extra flexibility can be limited by installing a structural header over top of the niche opening. Your email address will not be published. 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 think its great that you use rigid foam to insulate behind the niche because of its high R value. Modern construction at its best. Why not just mount them directly adjacent to where you were planning to mount them (vertical mounting on the back wall, a few inches from the corner)? One piece, leak proof, tileable, easy-to-install. This post is for information purposes only and should NOT be interpreted as professional advice. 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.