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A shower niche is an open storage space, like a cubbyhole, that is installed within the wall of your shower or tub area and is used to keep all your bathroom items nicely organized. Niches aren’t just for showers – they can also be installed in bathtub surrounds.
Should I put a niche in my shower?
A shower niche is a much better solution, for relatively little expense. It’s an extremely useful feature that provides you with a proper place to keep your shower accessories, without adding bulky organizers that take up much-needed space.
What is a shower wall niche?
A shower niche is a fairly common term used to describe a storage space in the wall of your shower or bath to store soap, shampoo bottles, etc.
Are shower niches hard to clean?
A square or rectangular niche design has corners and crevices that can make it difficult to remove grime. Overzealous cleaning and harsh chemicals can also remove waterproofing and damage grout. To clean these areas, use a surface-approved, spray-and-rinse cleaner that can reach every cranny.
What is a bathroom niche?
A shower niche is a built-in shelf that’s recessed into the wall of the shower to provide storage space for bathroom products. It allows you to keep your shower looking clean and organized, and provides a more luxurious appearance.
How do you waterproof a shower niche?
Waterproof Shower Niche To waterproof a tiled niche, apply waterproof backerboard to the inside surfaces of the niche. Next, apply waterproof membrane, bedding it in unmodified thinset. With the waterproofing complete, install the tile starting with the bottom of the niche, which should have a slight pitch for drainage.
How deep should a shower niche be?
The typical depth of a shower niche is 3.5 inches, the width of a wood stud. In a high rise building, the steel studs may be 2.5 inches deep and this should be considered. This is still wide enough for most bottles. Niches should not be against outside walls if possible in cold weather climates.
Where is the best place to put a shower niche?
For this reason, the wall opposite the shower head is the most popular place for shower niches. Regarding shower niche height – if it’s a regular stand up shower, a placement height above the waist (approximately 3 feet from the shower pan/base) would be most convenient for reach.
Do I need to waterproof shower walls before tiling?
Contrary to popular belief, ceramic tile and grout, by themselves are not waterproof. Water can penetrate through cement-based grout and work its way through the substrate. To prevent water damage, you must install a waterproof membrane just below the tile bonding mortar as close to the tile as possible.
Do shower niches get moldy?
When a custom niche is built well, it can look very sturdy, solid and deceptively waterproof. This is an assumption made far too often when shower niches are framed into the shower wall. The rest you can imagine; moisture in the walls, which leads to mold, dry rot, etc.………. something you can easily avoid.
How much does it cost for a shower niche?
Prefabricated Tile Ready Shower Niche A very rough labor estimate of this service would be $250 – $350 (depending on type of tile and size of niche). Ad: The image above is an affiliate link. This is one of the most popular prefabricated / tile ready shower niche products available.
How small is too small for a shower?
In general, a shower should measures at least 36 inches square. However, if your bath space is especially petite, 30 inches square is the absolute minimum space requirement for a shower.
How high should a shaving niche be?
Realistically, most people will want a shower niche to be between 36 to 60 inches (91 to 152cm) from the floor, which makes it a comfortable height to reach for a bottle of shampoo or a bar of soap.
What is a comfortable shower size?
While you can see standard shower sizes as small as 32″ x 32″, most people would feel comfortable in a 48″ x 36″ size shower. If your home has a little more space available, a very common recommendation is to have a shower with minimum dimensions of 60” x 36”.
How small can a walk in shower be?
Homeowners can install a square walk-in shower as small as 30″ by 30″ (the smallest size permitted according to building regulations). However, most experts recommend an enclosure no smaller than 36″ x 36″. To comfortably fit one adult, a shower measuring 48″ x 36″ should offer enough space for easy movement.
What is smallest shower size?
Standard Shower dimensions – The smallest showers available are 32 x 32 inches (81 x 81 cm). This makes for stand up straight washing – if you can fit in a rectangular shower of 36 inches by 48 inches or larger you’ll be more comfortable and your elbows will thank you.
Can I tile straight onto plasterboard in a shower?
It’s fine to tile on as it is, you could use SBR as a priming coat but it’s really not necessary. Though it can depend on where the wall is ie a shower area as you may wish to tank the area, and if you are using large format tiles you may wish to check plasterboard can carry the weight. Don’t use PVA.
Does cement board in shower need waterproofing?
Most concrete backer-boards on the market today are not water-resistant, but all are waterproof. Since many people confuse the terms, it is a common misconception that this is the best material for use inside a shower or tub area.
Do you have to waterproof cement board in a shower?
Whether you’re laying down a new tile floor or installing a shower, you may use a sheathing material such as backerboard. Although most backerboards currently available won’t fall apart when exposed to moisture and are somewhat water-resistant, they aren’t waterproof.
Is a curbless shower more expensive?
A curbless shower can cost an additional $500 to $700 more. However, people who do get the curbless shower installed, think the slight cost difference is worth it in the long run.
How do you clean a shower niche?
Cleaning a metal shower niche Wipe with the grain of the brushed metal. Use a dry microfiber cloth to dry excess moisture. Apply a small amount of WD-40 to a dry cloth and wipe over the niche for a streak-free shine!.
