It’s quite frightening to think of the number of shower niche install mistakes that could occur in the course of a typical shower remodel, particularly in the event that your contractor is building your own shower niche.
However, even if you’re opting to take the safer route of installing an already-made tiling niche or even a completed niche but you still need to follow certain rules and guidelines.
This advice can save you from the hassle and cost of mold and moisture growth on your walls and even tearing up that dream shower to complete the task right the second time.
Here’s Steve of SKG Renovations with a few suggestions to avoid making the 5 biggest shower niche installation mistakes that you will make when you are planning any shower remodeling.
If you’re still not decided to get an shower niche, check out my Complete Shower Niche Guide.
Don’t Skip the Waterproofing
If you are planning to put in an individual shower niche in your shower wall and wish to avoid one of the most costly shower niche installation errors it is essential to ensure that your contractor does not overlook the step of waterproofing.
If you build a custom niche is constructed properly it appears robust, solid, and waterproof. This is a misconception that is made frequently in the event that shower niches are built to your shower wall.
However tight the joints look inside the newly-constructed niche however, they cannot prevent water from entering and entering the cavity of the stud if it’s not waterproofed correctly.
You might be thinking that a leak of this kind is unlikely, in the event that you consider that the niche is correctly tiled and grouted following construction it is correct… in a while.
The constant exposure to water and the regular fluctuations in temperature make the shower environment very unforgiving. The environmental stress causes every part that make up the shower assembly to shift slightly generally through the expansion or contraction.
If there isn’t a waterproofing membrane this kind of movement can cause cracks in the grout line in the shower niche. It typically begins as small cracks around the corners, which can’t be noticed. However, even the tiniest cracks can let moisture get in the backer board seams, allowing it to flow effortlessly throughout through the backing board seams and eventually to the framing underneath.
You can also imagine that is moisture in walls, which can cause dry rot, mold, etc. ……….. Something you can avoid.
If the contractor or you is using sheets or liquid sheet membrane for waterproofing, it will not matter as long as you do not skip this crucial step in the next shower remodeling!
More information about shower waterproofing Shower Membrane Waterproofing The Complete Guide
Don’t Install a Retrofit Shower Niche
If you choose to install a pre-built or constructed shower niche in lieu of building one yourself You can avoid another shower niche installation blunder by making sure you don’t install retrofit shower niche.
The retrofit niche is a kind of item that is put in place during the course of a new shower remodeling project following it has been installed and grouted. shower walls have been laid and grouted.
When you are doing a total shower wall renovation that retrofit niche hole is cut through backer board of the tile when it is connected to shower frame. After that, the tile can be put to the shower wall in the same way as it is normally however it is then left unfinished to allow it can be used as a retrofit shower niche can later be installed into it.
The niche is then inserted into the hole, and the outside flange of the niche is then pressed into the tiles. A bead of silicon along the perimeter of the niche completes the installation.
It doesn’t require an expert in waterproofing to realize the tiny silicone beads is the only defense against water flowing through the cavity of the wall. Does this sound reasonable to you? If you answered that no, then you are right.
It could appear to be an easier method to install the shower niche, but it’s far from being as easy as the membrane-bonded shower niche products out on the market, and is in violation of the guidelines of the industry “best practices”. It’s definitely unnecessary to risk it.
Check to see if it is integrated to the Waterproofing Membrane
To avoid this major shower niche install mistake, it is essential to select the shower niche with an integrated waterproofing membrane bonding device flange like shown in the two instances above.
The first niche depicted is a finished shower niche. The niche is made of sheet stainless steel that has an unbrushed surface, which means it is not required to tile.
This flange for bonding membranes sits onto the backer board’s surface using screws. Then, the membrane that waterproofs is attached to the top of the flange (as as seen in the above photo).
The second niche depicted is a tilable shower niche with the thickness of a 1/2 inch foam perimeter flange that can be used for a screw-on flange, and an flange for bonding membranes like those in the stainless-steel niche.
The only difference is that this niche has to be fixed onto the framing rather than the backer board’s surface so that its half-inch flange will be aligned with the thickness of 1/2” tile backer board which is surrounded by it.
They are vital to ensure the quality in the shower wall membrane that is waterproof.
