You definitely need to do something about these problems areas to reduce the chance of moisture getting behind the tile. The 5 Signs of a Bad Toilet: How Long Do They Last? In conclusion..it would really be best if you installed your niche in an interior wall instead. 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? With so many different types of shower heads available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. 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)? This is an assumption made far too often when shower niches are framed into the shower wall. Another BIG one among shower niche install mistakes, is the construction of a custom horizontal tiled niche that compromises the structural integrity of the shower wall. This is what the shower shelf will look like with ceramic tile installed on the back wall and . Causes of poor installation can include using substandard materials, insufficient preparation of the shower wall, and failure to follow proper waterproofing membrane installation procedures. This will reduce the amount of water vapor entering the wall to the bare minimum. You can also check out my Shower Niche Guide if youd like to see an example of a tiled niche and the tile edge trim that your contractor was likely referring to. Acrylic is a type of plastic material that is known for its resistance to water, mold, and mildew, making it an ideal choice for use in wet environments such as bathrooms. 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. 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. It is the area one would usually step into to wash themselves, away from the water stream. The bids that we have are from companies that specialize in grout repair. Types of materials: When it comes to choosing materials for your shower niche, there are several options to consider. I am hoping that there is at least a framed box in the stud cavity behind the wall so theres a solid surface to apply this tile. Getting back to your question Yes, installing a Schluter foam niche will be better than installing the diy niche you described. 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! Besides this problem, the angle is terrible and things often slide off the shelf. You can absolutely do this as the writer mentions if done correctly. When tiling a shower niche, you will have a ninety-degree outside corner where your shower wall meets the niche. First time dealing with contractors, we really need . 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. If Im understanding your situation correctly, there are a few problems with this installation, needless to say. If this happens, it could eventually cause mold growth or tile delamination even if water doesnt get into the wall cavity. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Pros and Cons of Frameless Shower Doors: Worth It? As for the niche itself it sounds like your contractor is planning to install a retrofit niche. I would have to agree with you. Super solid, super rigid, and super safe, because the original wall structure remains completely intact. Because this niche is designed to be installed after tiling, the silicon bead become the only thing keeping moisture out of the stud wall. I cant find anything online about it being necessary but the man at the tile store that sold me the niche suggested it. It is an exterior wall to a garage that is insulated. 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). 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. If everything looks good behind the niche (no moisture or mold), then I would leave the niche alone until you do a full shower remodel. 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? And if we wanted to block it up, what materials ways should this been done to ensure the integrity is restored? 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. The work doesnt seem to compromise the structural integrity of the wall (the work all remained on our side of the shared wall), and it seems appropriately fireproofed and waterproofed. These environmental factors result in slight movement of the shower niche tile, primarily due to expansion and contraction. Upvotes: 1,655. 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. Windows go in exterior walls so you treat your niche framing as you would a window going in. Leakage/Water damage There are a few things that can cause leakage and water damage in shower niches. A bead of silicon around its perimeter completes the installation. Will Your Toilet Eventually Unclog Itself? A Complete Guide on Rain Shower Head Pros and Cons. A mild soap and water solution is typically all that is needed for cleaning, although more specialized cleaners may be necessary for removing tough stains or buildup. 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? something you can easily avoid. 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. With the right cleaning supplies and a simple 7-step, Are you tired of your outdated bathroom and ready for a bathroom remodel? 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. Installing a ventilation fan or opening a window during and after showers can help to reduce humidity levels and prevent mold growth. Id love if there are pictures to see the different options. Your best bet it to remove some tile around the niche, open the wall, remove the niche, install some new bracing between the studs, insert insulation to re-fill the niche cavity, then patch the hole with a new piece of backer board (attached to the new bracing). Good luck with your shower project! Please leave a comment below if youd like to ask any specific questions about shower niche installation. Will it work?! Maybe this isnt such a good idea? It doesnt take a waterproofing expert to see that this tiny silicon bead is the only defence against water running into the wall cavity. You would have to check with your local building authority about this. They say it is not a problem but I disagree. 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). This post is for information purposes only and should NOT be interpreted as professional advice. Can I get away with installing a shluter niche? I have installed this niche a few times and it seems like a solid product. wedi. 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. These alternatives may be a good choice for renters or for those who do not want to modify the structure of their shower. This can cause mold to grow here which is not disastrous but it doesnt look very nice. Provided you placed and cut everything correctly the inside edges of your niche should be about 1/8 outside your grout lines. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Thanks Steve for taking the time to reply ! 4. 1/2 thick) acrylic solid surfacing materials? A standard 8 wood header would do the job as long as its assembled and installed properly. We use hydro ban and laticrete sealant and water proofing. Ive attached photos. The general rule is to install the horizontal finished surfaces in the shower before the vertical. Hello again. Should I be concerned of this as well? Some contractors do not even install the minimal surrounding structure required, which profoundly compromises the walls structural rigidity. Yes, you can put a shower niche under the shower head. Hi Steve! They had framed one out but not structurally so after reading this and showing this to my contractor we are re-doing a small niche within existing framing to be safe. Built-in shower niches are a stylish and stable way to handle bathroom storage issues and create a relaxing environment all at once! We will be using a prefab EZ-niche, thank you for the suggestion above of coating it with red guard for substrate adhesion, we wouldnt have thought about using that since the niche is water proof by design. However, these features can also experience various problems that can detract from the overall look and functionality of the shower whether it is a walk-in shower or traditional. I would guess that using Kerdi Board in this situation compromises the firewall. Thank you for so many informative articles, your website is very helpful! Concerns? Preventive measures: To prevent warping in your shower niche, it is important to use high-quality materials and take steps to reduce exposure to moisture and water. The outcropping will be cantilevered from the studs so I will take extra care supporting it. If there is a membrane, you will likely destroy it and this would be worse than leaving as is. Also, being a full 5.5 away from the shower head, it is basically the driest part of your shower. 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. It will also be difficult to get these tiles off without breaking them so you need some spares that you can use as replacements. Theres nothing like the satisfaction of doing a job correctly! 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? In addition to moisture buildup, improper ventilation, poor ventilation and drainage, and using non-waterproof materials can also contribute to the growth of mold and mildew in shower niches. I would suggest that you get rid of the niche if its already causing problems. 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. This niche is made from sheet stainless steel with a brushed finish so it does not require tiling. Good luck with your niche install, and let me know if you need anymore info! For this reason, the wall opposite the shower head is the most popular place for shower niches. 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). This size is often sufficient for most bottles. An outside facing shower wall no matter how its constructed, needs to be insulated adequately. I looked at the niche in the link you provided. Tile Ready brand products by Tile Redi: shower pans and shower bases, recessed niches, shower benches, shaving ledges, and decorative shelf kits. This is Steve from SKG Renovations with another RedblockRead More How to Build a Custom Shower Niche Step by Step. Can you shower when the power is out? Acrylic tiles are lightweight and easy to install, making them a popular choice for many homeowners. 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. I did a bit more research and I have seen some people do it this way (I guess the old fashion way??) 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. The niche is placed into this hole, and the outer flange on the niche is pressed against the tile. This includes ensuring proper ventilation in the bathroom, using waterproof materials, and cleaning the shower niche tile regularly. Some alternatives to a shower niche include shower caddies, shower shelves, and shower baskets. You should also make sure the shelf is sloped slightly outwards. Either way, cutting a horizontal swath out the structural members of this wall to make room for a niche is a problem. 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. Instead, I recommend going for a shower niche that is almost invisible to the eye. They claim 56 height is industry standard. In addition, the quality of the material and its ability to resist wear and tear over time should also be taken into account. 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. We cut into the firewall, which were nervous that the HOA will make us tear out and redo, but every unit has a cheap soapdish insert that penetrates their firewalls anyways. 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. Have a really great DIY project or tutorial that you want to share with others? If I understand you correctly, you have furred out the wall to create a ledge upon which you will affix a marble shelf. For most shower niches, a regular cleaning every 1-2 months is recommended, with more frequent cleaning as needed. If there is no moisture issues behind the niche, you could consider applying new tile over the old tile at the back of the niche. I dont see any problem with this other than the fact that you must construct your own custom niche box to acheive the unique height and depth (rather than using a preformed niche). That means that between the brick wall and the tiled shower wall, there needs to be an adequate amount of space filled with insulation, to prevent moisture from condensing in the wall. Hi, The shower niche may be a bit off-center, but it's purpose is simply to hold shampoo, soap or other bath needs. my contractor just bought a shower niche (link below) and wanted to leave it as is. If the only barrier to water getting behind the tiles is a strip of caulking, then eventually, you could have problems. This movement frequently leads to grout line cracking in the shower niche. One solution is to frame the niche. 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). The beginning of your comment is a bit cryptic but I think I understand what you are asking. The cracks often start as fine lines at the corners, which may not be immediately noticeable. 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. 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