shower niche problems shower niche problems

Model # US3000007. I would guess that using Kerdi Board in this situation compromises the firewall. Their angled screws into marble caused the front edge of the hinge to pull away (walk back from the tile face). However, you should pay attention to any cracks that may have occurred within the vertical grout lines above the H tub/tile margin. I have a niche install on an outside wall and now is bad condensation, I have the builders coming back to rectify. We want to use a single-piece of marble for the shelf. 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. The box he bought is usually made to tile over (based on research I just did) afterwards. ALFI brand. Is attempting to pull the tile and replace it the best idea? 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. Maybe you should read over my Shower waterproofing post to find out more about waterproofing a shower niche. Here are some ideas on how to make sure that you get the most out of your shower niche so it doesnt become a source of frustration. 246 Posts . Preventive measures: To avoid leaking, it is important to take preventive measures during the shower niche installation process. 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. The wall behind is subway tile, and another accent tile to the left. In addition, it is important to follow proper shower niche installation procedures, including preparing the shower wall cavity, using high-quality materials, and ensuring that the niche is properly sealed and using a waterproofing membrane. 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. 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. In a normal installation, the tile backer board is installed with a hole just large enough to allow the entire niche to be screwed directly to the framing installed earlier. Im sorry to say that it would be extremely difficult to add tile edge trim around the niche perimeter after the shower wall and niche are already tiled. Not the other way around. Importance of regular cleaning: Regular cleaning helps to keep the shower niche looking its best, as well as prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and other potentially harmful substances. 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. I am remodeling my master bath down to the studs. To patch the drywall is pretty easy if you look it up online. 2023 Bathroomaholic - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. Theres nothing like the satisfaction of doing a job correctly! 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. We wish we would have gone with an Onyx shower surround. Just a thought. It would be great if you could fur out that wall to make it a bit thicker. One of the biggest decisions youll face is choosing between a tub or shower. Tile shower pan, tile shower base, tile ready shower pan. Congrats! Its great to hear that you were not deterred by the sometimes intimidating prospect of tackling your own bathroom remodel project. Also, being a full 5.5 away from the shower head, it is basically the driest part of your shower. 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. Click here for my full Personal / Professional Disclosure. Hi, Beautiful bathrooms begin here! In our case, there would be a good 6 inches distance between the shower wall and the rest of the bathroom wall that is facing outside. 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). What do you suggest? If you have a standard 3 1/2 stud framing in this outside wall, its very likely that theres a condensation/mold problem behind the niche, regardless how well they waterproofed it. Nothing is safer that the parallel wall design I mentioned above. x 22 in., Includes Adjustable Shelf. I would be more concerned with the use of Kerdi Board to replace the 5/8 drywall of your shower wall. If you decide to install a pre-manufactured, or finished shower niche instead of a custom built one, you can avoid another shower niche install mistake by making sure that you never install a retrofit shower niche. Hi Steve 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). My suggestion would simply be to install a tall vertical niche (with shelves) on the wall opposite the valve wall. These environmental factors result in slight movement of the shower niche tile, primarily due to expansion and contraction. 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. The niches were not built with the proper tilt to drain forward. 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. Yes, you can put a shower niche under the shower head. Im a tile contractor. my contractor just bought a shower niche (link below) and wanted to leave it as is. If I understood your guidelines correctly, the niche should be installed first, made 100% waterproof (using membrane) and the ceramic tiles should come after. Wipe away the excess grout with a clean, wet sponge. 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. These shelves are so popular because theyre subtle, modern looking, and considered attractive by most. As such its very convenient to install the niche in this area because its in easy reach. Behind the niche you waterproof the exterior wall board with red gard, then a thin later of insulation. If you said no, you would be correct. All of our cavities we use 3 inches of foamular rigid foam board giving an r value of r15 before tiling. Acrylic tiles are a popular material for walk-in showers due to their durability and ease of cleaning. 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. When tiling a shower niche, you will have a ninety-degree outside corner where your shower wall meets the niche. Or keep the background of the shelf super neutral. 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. Vinegar is a natural, tile shower niche friendly cleaner that removes grime, dirt, and soap scum from tiles. Repair options: If the grout line cracking is already leaking, there are several repair options available. I would suggest that you pack loose insulation around the niche and behind it. Steam showers have been praised for their many benefits, including relaxation, stress relief, improved circulation, and respiratory health. Durability and resistance to water: When choosing materials for your shower niche, it is important to consider their durability and resistance to water. 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. One solution is to frame the niche. Really appreciate the info on the structural issues with long niches. The old-school traditional hand-fabricated shower niches have high chance of leaking problems They say it is not a problem but I disagree. Shulter has two niches that are longer, both of which have an adjustable 2" dividing shelf to customize your required size. 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. Causes of leaking: Leaking shower niches or ledges are a common problem in bathroom design. All these foam and plastic niches can distort if not fully supported. You should also check your local tile store. The back of the niche tile is what we would like to remove, the sides and border tiles are fine. Consider the height and location of the niche within the shower, as well as the items you will be storing in the niche. And again, your tile installer would probably be happy to cut & polish the edges for your niche. You say that youre hesitant to do this, but it is the most common place to install a standard shower niche (other than horizontal). No tiler we asked will put in a niche into the shower. Chances are that you will destroy the niche in the process. These options offer similar storage and organizational benefits to a shower niche but do not require cutting into the shower wall. There are gaps in the corner that would clearly lead to water leaking into the walls or at the least have moisture exposure. Thanks for your comment! Thank you for your comment. You can find more details in my Shower Niche Install Mistakes post. Can these Niche shower boxs be finished with shower boards as oppose to tilling? If there is a membrane, you will likely destroy it and this would be worse than leaving as is. 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. Second, you have a shelf and a bottom of the niche. Yes, it is possible to add a shower niche to an existing shower. Yes, but also no, Shower Water Pressure Low? I have chosen to avoid the uncoated plastic niches in my installations simply because of the mortar bonding problems they seem to have.