How To Install A Shower Niche Insert Step By Step

In the case of a shower or bathroom renovation, the most requested addition is a shower niche – sometimes known as a shampoo shelf or shave step, as well as a shower shelf or cubby.

To avoid one of the most common niche installation blunders, you must ensure that you or your contractor do not forget about the waterproofing phase.

Having a well-built custom niche might give the impression that it is impenetrable and impervious to water.

When shower niches are framed into the shower wall, this assumption is made far too often. Are you excited to know how to install a shower niche insert? Then keep reading this guide.

How To Install A Shower Niche Insert

What Are The Steps of Installing a Shower Niche Insert?

Step 1: Choose The Niche Insert

The prefabricated shower niche inserts came in handy for me. While it is certainly possible to build out the shower niche’s structure, these are meant to prevent water from sitting on the shelf.

The shelves are slightly angled at the bottom so that water does not pool and cause issues later. The inserts are typically 16″ broad, so they fit snugly between the studs in your wall.

Step 2: Install Shower Niche

You should try to install the shower niche before putting it in the shower’s backer board if you can. When you install the backer board, you can cut it to fit around the niche.

In between each stud, cut 2x4s to make a horizontal framework. The horizontal parts should be fastened to neighboring vertical studs so that the predrilled holes on the top and bottom of the shower niche insert are aligned.

Make sure you lightly sand the shower niche before attaching it to improve adhesion, if needed.

However, we’ve never done this and have never had any problems. Add a framing screw to each predrilled hole in the shower niche once it has been set in place.

Step 3: Install The Backer Board

For the shower niche, a backer board must to be installed. You want to make your cuts as near to the shower niche rim as feasible.

Step 4: Waterproof Shower Niche

Each screw head should be coated with silicone and the gap between the niche and the neighboring backer board should be filled. If you wait until the silicone is completely dry, you can then seal it even further.

Step 5: Place Tile in Shower Niche

Before pushing your tiles into position, you should apply your thinnest mortar to the shower niche and back butter them.

What’s The Best Height For Shower Niches?

The shower niche should be put at a height that is easy to reach for the bottles of shampoo, soap, etc. that will be stored in the niche. Somewhere between elbow and shoulder height is my preference.

Why Should You Use a Prefab Shower Niche?

We recommend prefabricated shower niches made of ABS, a lightweight, yet extremely durable material, for your bathroom. Without the clutter and leaks, it is essentially unbreakable.

To prevent water from collecting on the shelf, most prefabricated shower niches are constructed in such a way.

Tips For Installing Shower Niche Insert

  • Installing a pre-manufactured or finished shower niche instead of a custom-built one can save you from making another installation blunder: installing a retrofit shower niche. A retrofit niche is a component that may be added to a newly remodeled shower after the wall tile has been put and grouted.
  • When installing a shower niche, be sure to select one with an incorporated waterproofing membrane bonding flange, as shown in the two examples above, to avoid making this critical error.
  • Shower niche installation faults include constructing a bespoke horizontal tiled niche that weakens shower wall structural stability. This style of niche has been used in numerous shower remodel projects, so you’ve probably seen instances of it before. Horizontal niches are the height of luxury in the bathroom, often covering the full shower wall and providing an enormous amount of storage space.
  • Adding a new wall to the side of your shower niche is the best option if your new horizontal niche spans more than a couple of wall studs. Custom shower niches can now be built without the need for any additional supports, thanks to this wall’s anchoring to the back-stud wall.

Final Words

To prevent making a niche installation mistake, it is necessary to follow a few simple steps. If you want to make your bathroom feel more personalized, consider installing a shower niche.

You’ll be grateful for the extra space in the future for sure. A prefabricated shower niche provides a leak-proof construction that is ready for tile.

These guidelines about how to install shower niche inserts can assist you.

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by Uzzal Robiul
Uzzal Robiul is the Founder and Editor of Bathever, a website that he started to provide readers with the right guidance, solutions, and tips on bathroom fixtures. Uzzal’s expertise includes in-depth bathroom fixtures reviews and its solutions.

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