Well yes the shower shelves should be slightly sloped to let soapy water drain away. 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. This post is for information purposes only and should NOT be interpreted as professional advice. 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). Do Shower Filters Work? Wipe away the excess grout with a clean, wet sponge. To patch the drywall is pretty easy if you look it up online. 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. And if we wanted to block it up, what materials ways should this been done to ensure the integrity is restored? This sheet will only provide a condensation surface for moisture. There are gaps in the corner that would clearly lead to water leaking into the walls or at the least have moisture exposure. Regardless of the results, I would install another stud wall adjacent to your existing wall and insulate this wall. 1) You mention that its NOT recommended to install it on an outside wall. I have chosen to avoid the uncoated plastic niches in my installations simply because of the mortar bonding problems they seem to have. 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. What do you suggest? This is an assumption made far too often when shower niches are framed into the shower wall. Sorry I couldnt come up with an easier solution. Can I get away with installing a shluter niche? Thanks Steve for taking the time to reply ! Residential and Commercial; Professional Sewage and Drain Cleaning Is it okay (or preferable) to install the shelf itself last, or should we install the shelf prior to tiling the surrounding walls? So the water they catch is from the back spray from shower use. When you know the issues with shower niches, you can make sure to avoid them when installing your shower. 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. If you have a steam shower that you love to spend time in then having a shower niche is a wonderful addition, for example. 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? Just to be clear its the type of niche that you have chosen to install thats likely the problem, not your contractors installation strategy. One thing to keep in mind, however is that it will be right in the splash zone from the shower head. Find My Store. Vinegar is a natural, tile shower niche friendly cleaner that removes grime, dirt, and soap scum from tiles. Thanks for your article. This can allow water to seep in behind the tiles and cause damage. To be frank, it sounds like this guy doesnt know what hes doing. The shower will be 4 6 x 6, with the 6 wall being the exterior wall. I just got a quote back for 2cm quartz pieces for a custom niche, and it was over $1,200! 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 . 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. It is difficult to install a waterproof membrane after the fact. Am I right? If there is no exposed framing that you can see to attach the niche on 3 sides, it will be impossible to install this niche correctly at this stage. It will be a single 30 square niche. Leakage/Water damage There are a few things that can cause leakage and water damage in shower niches. We were wanting the most storage possible for our items we use for our son as well as for our guests to put their items in there as well. 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? Let grout cure according to manufacturer's directions. Can I add a shower niche after my shower has been installed? This of course assumes that you will be adequately fortifying the structure in this wall. I have a niche install on an outside wall and now is bad condensation, I have the builders coming back to rectify. Grouting this margin seems like a better idea to the average homeowner (and the novice pro) but this is always a bad idea because the tub and the shower wall assembly expand and contract at different rates so the grout will always crack and break away over time. As for the tile/ tub margin the best way is always to silicon this margin. If youre considering building / installing a niche in your new shower remodel project, you have likely seen many examples of this type of niche. Durability and resistance to water: When choosing materials for your shower niche, it is important to consider their durability and resistance to water. No Doors, No Problem: The Doorless Shower Pros and Cons, Shower Curtain vs Door Showdown: A Complete Guide. No matter how tight the joints may look in a newly constructed niche, they will not keep water from penetrating and running into the stud cavity if it is not properly waterproofed. If your wife is absolutely against the idea of a shower niche on one of the inside walls, have you considered installing surface mounted shower shelves instead? To be sure, you really should consult a local contractor familiar with the insulation and vapour control requirements in your area. Using construction adhesive in the joints around the header and installing blocking between the remaining stud bays, will also significantly increase the walls rigidity. All these foam and plastic niches can distort if not fully supported. Here is a primer that allows you to do this: https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/media/59976485/mbp_ss129_114.pdf. For this reason, the wall opposite the shower head is the most popular place for shower niches. Wedi has a niche with the inside measurement of 13 X . Concerns? If this gap is any smaller, you should surround the niche body with spray foam. Sorry for all my rambling but this is important stuff. The overall cost would depend on the location you are living in, the time of purchase, and the seller you have picked to purchase from. Check out our Privacy Policy for more info. Thank you for your comment! I usually discourage the layering of waterproofing products but in this case you need to do all you can to limit moisture transmission. All of our cavities we use 3 inches of foamular rigid foam board giving an r value of r15 before tiling. The membrane would cover the niche mounting flange so no screws were visible. We are currently in a remodel and was thinking of this horizontal niche with a light in the top corner. We recently bought our first home and most of the tiling appears to have not been done well. The tile is then applied on the shower wall as usual, but the hole is left exposed so the retrofit shower niche can later be inserted into it. The back of the niche tile is what we would like to remove, the sides and border tiles are fine. 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. Just a thought. Do you have any suggestions? The safest way to get a good deal on scraps is to buy them as is, and get your tile installer to cut it. The tile company that did the work used Kerdi-board backing and appropriately waterproofed everything prior to tile-setting. Only a small temperature differential can cause the moisture in this shower wall to condense on the inside of the wall. 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. It depends a lot on how cold it gets in the garage but even if it doesnt reach freezing temperature, moisture could still easily condense in the stud cavity. In this post, Ill provide step by step instructions onRead More How to Install a Corner Shelf in an Already Tiled Shower, If youre looking to improve your shower storage and you only want a small scale shower remodel, you should consider installing a corner shower shelf.Read More 7 Best Corner Shower Shelf Options for New AND Existing Showers, If youre interested in building your own custom tiled shower niche, look no further! Wipe off any excess sealant. Required fields are marked *. Thank you for your comment and Congrats on your new home! A properly installed niche will be less prone to water damage, warping, and other problems, and will provide a long-lasting and functional addition to your bathroom. wedi. If youre interested in this shower niche shelf or all kinds of other shower shelves, you can check out my shower niche shelf post. Its really not worth the risk. Thank you for the article. Fill the entire wall if possible (or at least the stud cavity) and place the niche into the wet foam). 2) for the niche, he will set up later after he start installing the tile from the bottom, so he can know where the niche goes and make it looks better with the tile. It doesnt take a waterproofing expert to see that this tiny silicon bead is the only defence against water running into the wall cavity. These options offer similar storage and organizational benefits to a shower niche but do not require cutting into the shower wall. Talk to your contractor about it, because its extremely important that you avoid this huge shower niche install mistake. If installing a shower niche on in interior wall, what do you suggest putting behind it to prevent someone from puncturing it from the other side? This may be problematic with porcelain but is rarely an issue with stone. 4. Use a grout removal tool to help with this and to remove any loose bits of grout. Regardless, its difficult to predict what will happen if its installed over the membrane before the wall is tiled. A bead of silicon around its perimeter completes the installation. 2) Our contractor told us he plans to prep the hole for the niche, install the ceramic tiles, then as a last step, apply the niche on top and finish with a bead of silicon to waterproof it. 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. The outcropping will be cantilevered from the studs so I will take extra care supporting it. Received 672 Upvotes on 595 Posts. Yes, it is possible to add a shower niche to an existing shower. Corner shelves are easier to tile. You should keep in mind that the factors that create moisture and mold growth in the shower wall are water vapor, a temperature differential between the outside and inside walls, the amount of insulation, AND a condensation surface (like a plastic vapor barrier, or foil wrap). Without these options, youre probably better off installing a regular tiled niche using something like Schluter Kerdi SN. I am not too concerned about cutting out 1 wall stud to accommodate your shower niche, as long as the appropriate structure was installed to reinforce the wall and support the niche. 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. The fact that you live in Florida does make the outside wall problem a little less of a problem than if you were living in an area that experiences more extreme temperature fluctuations seasonally. Hello again. I like the Redblock corner shelf design; especially the fact that it doesnt interfere with the waterproofing membrane and its a bit more transitional design than the Schluter option. The bathroom wall is 5 long, and once you get past that, you are in an unfinished space next door. Not the other way around. And if left for any length of time it might get moldy. 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. If you said no, you would be correct. This extra flexibility can be limited by installing a structural header over top of the niche opening. As far as I am aware, the Redblock niche and the Easy Drain niche are the only stainless steel niches designed to bond with the shower wall waterproofing membrane. The wall behind is subway tile, and another accent tile to the left. If foam is best what kind of foam? I just did a 52 linear niche in an exterior 24 stud wall cavity. 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. Thirdly, I would insulate with spray foam if possible. These horizontal niches are the epitome of opulence, sometimes spanning the entire shower wall and offering a huge area for storage. Cut and glue/caulk the Palisade/Dumawall tile to cover the sides of the shower niche. Hi, I am not surprised about the $1,200 quote. The bids that we have are from companies that specialize in grout repair. Just make sure there are no voids at all. Theres nothing like the satisfaction of doing a job correctly! The general rule is to install the horizontal finished surfaces in the shower before the vertical. Have I got this right? Will that look ugly? The more accurately the new header, jack, king and cripple studs are cut and attached, the less flexible this wall will be. You should always consult a licensed local contractor before undertaking any remodelling work in your home. 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. See my waterproofing membrane post for more info. Yes, it is possible to add a shower niche to an existing shower. An outside facing shower wall no matter how its constructed, needs to be insulated adequately. As for the niche itself it sounds like your contractor is planning to install a retrofit niche. 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. I think its great that you use rigid foam to insulate behind the niche because of its high R value. 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). With the right cleaning supplies and a simple 7-step, Are you tired of your outdated bathroom and ready for a bathroom remodel? 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. If the mortar contains enough polymer adhesive, I guess it could stick reliably to the plastic surface, but as an installer I would never take this risk. If you need help with shower niche placement and design feel free to check out my Shower Niche Planning, and 9 Great New Shower Shelf Options posts. 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. Tenants will usually be hanging a picture or coat hanger; probably nothing below 4 feet in other words. 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 addition, the quality of the material and its ability to resist wear and tear over time should also be taken into account. It isnt going to be quite as stain and scratch-resistant as quartz, but I think it would be safe, waterproof, durable, and easy to clean (potentially even bleach-cleanable). Shower Ledges vs Niches: Which Option is Right for You? Even in a relatively mild climate, the colder months can result in a vast difference in temperature from inside to outside. for pricing and availability. It seems like youre being quite forgiving of the mistake that they made (I agree with your evaluation, btw). wedi Shower Niche 16 in. ANSWERED: What Is a High-Pressure Shower Head? 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. something you can easily avoid. Stucco exterior. This bathroom serves a bunk room that sleeps 8, hence wanting more storage. 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 have never seen any fire rating on any foam backer board. Just kind of soak of residue water and let it dry. We live in the Seattle area and so now Im thinking this is not our best option. Really good article. Your email address will not be published. One possibility is that the grout or caulking around the niche isn't properly sealed. Chances are that you will destroy the niche in the process. The niches were not built with the proper tilt to drain forward. I asked the clothes if they mind, they dont care). That may be your best evidence for your HOA in case they have any questions. The trim is called Quadec by Schluter Systems. This is usually done by cutting a recessed area into the existing shower wall and installing a niche insert or lining. Assuming this is correct, I would suggest that you install the shelf before the tile. Just a thought. Firstly As you can see by the screw holes around its perimeter, this niche is designed to be screwed into framing members that your contractor should have installed prior to installing the tile backer board (the board that the tiles are attached to). Super helpful post! Acrylic is also super soft. This is often a the most regrettable shelf option because its difficult to clean (especially the corners), and the grout lines stain and get moldy. At least with this type of install, you can waterproof the wall recess properly. I would only try this if you DO NOT have a waterproofing membrane beneath your tile. The Guide To Your Bidet Shower, Reviewed: 6 Best Electric Portable Bidets For Travel, The Best 5 Bidet Sprayers aka Bum Guns For Your Butt, Top 4 Toilet Bidet Combos for a Spa-Like Bathroom Oasis, What to Do When Toilet Flushes but Poop Stays. The only thing you can do to fix it is to try to gently pry off the base tiles and re-attach them with a proper slope. You should also take into account the overall style and design of your bathroom when choosing the size and style of your shower niche. Their angled screws into marble caused the front edge of the hinge to pull away (walk back from the tile face). With a shower niche taking up most of the space in a 3 1/2 stud cavity, moisture condensation in the wall cavity is virtually guaranteed if the temperature drops a few degrees outside compared to inside. Lastly, I also have to warn you about the risks of installing a long horizontal niche. Step 2. Just make sure you seal the grout well so you can more easily clean off any mold and soap scum that may collect. 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. Unfortunately, attempting to remove tiles in the niche or anywhere on the shower wall is a difficult and risky procedure. 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. Thank you for your comment. With 26 exterior wall framing, theres always a bit of room for some insulation behind a typical shower niche install. Sounds like it was a fun project. If we leave 1/4 spacing (1/8 around) to thinset around the niche cavity to install over the waterproofing membrane, do you feel that will be sufficient? Either way, cutting a horizontal swath out the structural members of this wall to make room for a niche is a problem. Follow the directions to make sure it dries thoroughly. They say it is not a problem but I disagree. Depending on the degree of moisture, I may not insulate the existing wall so air can circulate between the shower wall and foundation wall.
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