How to Detail a Shower Niche

Posted on: November 30th, 2011 | 4 Comments



Shower niches are a great way to slip in some extra storage for shampoo bottles and bath products without taking up the precious little space inside the shower stall. Built into the depth of the wall, they require some skilled attention to detail in order to make them look sharp and well finished.


The real trick is to create a neat tile edge all around the outside corners of the niche. To make things easier on the tile setter, a good idea is to create a durable frame, either in stainless steel or maybe a solid surface counter product like quartz, and line the edges of the niche with this material. If this edge is extended about half an inch past the face of the tiled wall, then the tile setter will have a nice easy joint to butt the wall tile up against. This will prevent the tile installation at the niche corners from looking sloppy and crooked.


Today’s Slides:

  • Mikefilcor

    Hi J & M;
    your first image of the shower niche looks like it is on an exterior wall, is it?
    if not how would you deal/frame for a niche on an exterior wall?
    thnx
    Mike

  • Steve in Van

    I’d love to see more views of the bathroom in the first slide.  The combination of white tile, what appears to be back-painted glass countertop and wall tiles, the glass shower enclosure, and (I’d imagine) stainless accents really make for a clean, minimalist look.  Can you describe it a little more?

    Thanks again for these detail segments!

  • Matthew North

    Hi Mike – good question – if it’s on an exterior wall – you need to add an additional layer of 2X4 framing to create the niche – you can’t disrupt the insulation on an exterior wall.

  • Matthew North

    …..I didn’t answer your first question – the niche in the first slide is located on an interior wall – the walk in closet is behind that wall.