Once the plumbing is in place, you can install a shower enclosure yourself in your new home. You can learn how to prepare the space for assembly and approach the installation of different types of shower enclosures. Whether you install a single or multi-panel box, you will learn how to do it right, avoiding problematic obstacles.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Prepare the Space
Step 1. Choose the type of shower you want to mount
Many showers are pre-made units, which will make the DIY job easier for those who already have some basic knowledge of woodworking and plumbing. The shower cabin can be of two types: single-unit or multi-panel.
- Single unit cabins: The advantage of this type of shower enclosure is that it is seamless and assembly is very easy. Basically, you just have to buy the shower enclosure, fix it to the walls and pipes, seal the joints and everything will be ready.
- Multi panel cabins: consist of a shower tray and two or more single panels which are glued in place and need to be sealed individually. The advantage of this type of cabin is that it is easier to handle one piece at a time if you mount the shower yourself.
Step 2. Make a general assessment to determine the position of the pipes
Once you have bought a shower enclosure of the right size for your bathroom, you will need to mark the points of correspondence with the pipes that you will then need to connect, regardless of the type of enclosure you are going to assemble. Take measurements from the floor and from the corners of the walls, to get accurate data.
- Make a rough draft of the wall and plumbing system and faithfully report the measurement data on the sketch. For example: from the corner of the wall to the center of the water control valve there could be 45 cm. From the floor to the center of the valve 90 cm. Repeat this for all parts that intersect with the cabin surface. Mark all measurements on the draft.
- With a marker, transfer these measurements to the back of the cabin that will be mounted next to the plumbing system.
Step 3. Gather the necessary tools and materials
Follow the instructions given, for any type of shower you are going to assemble. Screws and other fasteners should be supplied with the box, if not, you will need to get them. In principle you will need the following tools:
- Spirit level of 120-240 cm
- Sealing material for bathroom and tiles.
- 50 mm hole saw.
- Electric drill with 3 mm bit.
- Flat blade screwdriver.
- Thick cedar wood.
- The components of your shower enclosure.
Step 4. Sweep the floor and clean the walls to get rid of all the small debris and then you can mount the shower
Use a broom or vacuum cleaner before proceeding with assembly. Use a scraper or putty knife to remove residue of silicone or other adhesive material, and be sure to thoroughly dry the area before welding the shower tray to the floor.
If the floor is wet you risk that the wood will rot in the future, or another series of serious problems. You need to make sure everything is perfectly dry before you start assembling the components, whatever they are
Step 5. Waterproof the walls
Mount waterproof wall panels, which will be covered by the shower enclosure. If it's a corner shower, it will probably be the two walls that form the corner. Waterproof wall panels are usually made of fiber or concrete and come in the colors gray, blue or green. The panels can be attached to the wall posts with nails or screws. Seal the joints with silicone.
Never mount a shower on drywall, as moisture will eventually destroy it
Method 2 of 5: Assembling a Single Unit Cabin
Step 1. Drill guide holes in the cabin
In the places where you marked the passage of pipes and plumbing, at the back of the cabin, drill pilot holes with a 3mm drill bit. Do everything slowly so you don't crack the surface.
Remember to make the holes in the back of the cabin, not the front. This will make it easier to use the saw to drill the larger holes for the plumbing parts
Step 2. Make the hole for the plumbing
Once you have drilled the holes, remove the drill bit and insert the 50mm hole saw onto your electric drill. The pilot bit on the hole saw will be wider than the holes you just made, this should prevent the saw from moving too much as you drill the hole.
- Drill the hole in the inside of the shower enclosure. Put very little pressure on the surface when using the saw, letting the saw do the work. When the saw has almost completed the hole in the cabin wall, release the pressure until the hole is complete.
- It may happen that smoke or some spark is created when making the hole, due to friction. The saw will be hot enough after drilling the hole. Wait a couple of minutes and then remove the cut piece from the saw.
Step 3. Put the booth in place and secure it securely in place
Many single unit showers come with wall screws and fasteners that are purely for that model, and you will need to consult the instruction manual to attach the shower to the wall. Usually you will have three to six screws per wall.
The flanges and handles are also suitable for that particular model, and are usually models that are quick to assemble, just simply attach them. Read the methods below for more detailed instructions on mounting multi-panel components if needed
Step 4. Seal all joints with silicone
Once the cabin is secured, use bathroom silicone and tile to seal the surface area that is in contact with the walls and floor to waterproof them. Seal the flanges with a thin layer of silicone and allow to dry for 24 hours before exposing to water.
Step 5. Install the shower door
Single-unit shower doors should fit together, while models with sliding doors may be slightly more complicated to assemble. Read the methods below for more detailed instructions on mounting multi-panel components for shower doors.
Method 3 of 5: Mount the Shower Tray
Step 1. Put the shower tray in place on the floor
Line up the drain hole in the shower tray with the drain on the floor. Do not use any adhesives, just make sure that the plate fits perfectly with the space in which it is located. You also need to make sure that the pipes mate with the exhaust duct.
Step 2. Screw the drain into the shower tray
Some kits may have pieces to stick to both the bottom of the drain and the shower tray. In this case slide this piece into the drain pipe on the floor and use a gasket (included) to seal.
Step 3. Flatten the shower tray
Make sure the plate lines up with the walls and the rest of your bathroom floor. If it wasn't lined up well, your shower could leak, so it's important that you check it well. Use a carpenter's level and wooden shims to level the plate if necessary.
You shouldn't need a lot of shims, and don't raise the plate above the level of the other panels. You should only need small wedges if the floor is well leveled. Once you have leveled the shower tray, it would be a good idea to mark the part of the tray that intersects the uprights and wedges, in case you need to move something later
Step 4. Seal the shower tray with a thin silicone strip
Apply a thin line of silicone along the points where the plate intersects the floor, the width of a piece of masking tape. Use enough to cover and seal the places where the plate is attached to the uprights. Clean any excess silicone from the plate before it dries.
If you notice any residue after it has dried, you can wipe it off with your fingernail or a putty knife
Method 4 of 5: Attach the Shower Panels
Step 1. Make a mark on each panel as instructed
Each panel will need to be clearly identified and marked, to make sure you don't mount a panel in the wrong place, a very likely mistake if you work quickly. Identify each panel from the instruction booklet that you will have supplied with the shower kit, and label each panel using a piece of masking tape, writing "panel A" or "panel 1", depending on the denomination given by the instructions.
- Identify the panel that will be mounted on the shower controls and plumbing pipes, and set it aside. Use the measurements you made earlier on the wall where you mount the shower, and use them to mark and drill holes for the shower controls.
- Making the holes will be easier if you lay the panel along a couple of trestles. Support the panel with a sheet of plywood so that it doesn't bend too much, preventing it from breaking. Make the holes slowly, with the hole saw.
Step 2. Check that the panels fit together
For some shower kits the panels must be mounted in a particular order to test the seals and make the structure even more waterproof. It would be best to pre-assemble the walls to make sure everything fits together, double-checking before attaching them with stickers or screws. Read the instructions carefully to check if this procedure is recommended for your shower kit or not.
Fit the panels in the right order, making sure they fit snugly together. Some panels are manufactured to fit into spaces of specific sizes, while others are more "flexible" at various sizes. The shower kit will tell you the size your cabin needs to be assembled
Step 3. Fit the underside of the panels into the grooves of the shower tray
Shower trays are created with a grooved or slightly bent edge, in which to intersect the walls. Sometimes these are called "fine fit" or "variable fit" panels, and the mounting process varies slightly depending on which one you use.
- The precisely fitting panels are slide or snap fit. Follow the instructions in the exact order in which you find them on the manual included in the assembly kit.
- Variable-fit panels allow you to change the cover along the shower wall. These panels can have a space of several millimeters between the various parts, and are held together by a one-piece stopper or a soap dish-shaped piece that overlaps the two panels to cover the space. Once placed and sealed, it looks like a single panel.
Step 4. Prepare the panels for final assembly
Make sure they are perfectly clean and dry on the surface that is in contact with the walls. When you are ready to mount the panels, apply the adhesive and secure them. Basically you will repeat the above steps, but this time you will permanently fix them.
Some mounting kits will require only screws and nails to be applied in the previously drilled holes; other panels require the use of adhesives that preserve the plastic or fiberglass. In some cases you will need all of these things. Consult the instruction manual
Step 5. Use the adhesive to secure the panels
Carefully lay the first panel that needs to be mounted face down on a sturdy, flat surface. Apply a strip of shower and tub adhesive to all surfaces that intersect with the shower walls.
- If the panel completely touches the walls of the shower area, apply the adhesive by making an "X" on the back from corner to corner.
- Then apply another strip of glue in the shape of a "+" from top to bottom and from right to left, and a strip along the entire perimeter of the back of the panel about 50 mm from the edge of the panel, so as to prevent the excess strainer when applying the panels.
- Apply adhesive to the shower tray where it will intersect the panel. Apply a continuous strip of it to form a waterproof seal.
Step 6. Apply gentle pressure as you apply the panel to the wall, making sure the bottom of the panel fits snugly where it meets the shower tray
With a dry cloth, clean the surface thoroughly starting from the bottom and going up.
- Apply the adhesive to the other panels. Repeat the operation pressing the other panels well, according to the order adopted in the test made previously. And make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
- Remove excess adhesive before it dries using solvent or water, as directed. After a few hours (when the adhesive is dry) apply the silicone on the joints to waterproof everything.
Step 7. If necessary, use screws
Some mounting kits include nails and screws, as well as adhesive, to secure the panels. Screw holes should be drilled in advance on the outer edge of the panel. Once the adhesive is dry and you are ready to permanently apply the panels, simply screw the screws into the previously drilled holes.
Do not fully tighten the screws until all panels are in place. This way you can fix them before finally fixing them
Step 8. Attach the last pieces
Some mounting kits include items such as shelves, corners or soap dishes. Glue them with shower and bathtub adhesive, as directed.
Method 5 of 5: Mount the Shower Door
Step 1. Check all the components supplied for the shower door
There are different types of shower doors, and the final steps vary depending on what type of door you own. There are differences between combo shower and tub doors, and single unit shower doors. And there are differences between sliding doors and push doors.
- If you mount a door on a tub, you need to measure carefully and center where to place the rail to slide the door. It needs to be centered, so measure the width of the edge of the tub and mark the center point.
- For a shower enclosure, the rail must be placed on the shower tray, or fixed in place, in case you have a single unit shower. Always consult the instructions.
Step 2. Mount the bottom of the rail
Make sure all surfaces you work on are dry and clean. Apply a silicone strip to the edge of the tub or shower tray, depending on the door you are fitting. Apply it along the entire edge where the opening will be.
Place the rail firmly on the silicone strip, make sure it makes good contact with the silicone, and if not, apply a second strip along the center of the rail
Step 3. Mount the rails to the walls
Line them up with the post holes and make sure they fit snugly along the ends of the bottom rail. Place the rubber bumpers (which usually come with the kit) over the screws, and fasten the rails to the wall. These will then put the bottom rail in place. Do not fully tighten the screws yet.
If you don't find the screws in the kit, skip this step and move on
Step 4. Measure and cut the top rail if necessary
Make sure the rail fits snugly and lines up with the ones on the walls. Many kits feature corner brackets with screws to hold the track firmly.
Sometimes these rails are sold in standard sizes, and are probably wider than you need. In this case you can cut them to the size you need, using a hacksaw and leveling them before mounting them
Step 5. Attach the interior door first
If you are installing sliding doors that have towel rails, fit them with the castors and towel rails inward. Lift the door to the top rail and carefully slide the top and bottom castors into their respective rails. The door should slide easily from side to side when properly fitted. If not, try again until you get the right result. In the instruction manual you will find the steps with illustrations suitable for your type of door.
For some doors you will need to mount the wheels before placing the door. In this case, they will then go directly into place. Consult the instruction manual
Step 6. Attach the door
With the towel holder facing out, mount the outer door in the same way as the other. Align them carefully and put the wheels into the tracks. When properly fitted, the outer panel will slide easily against the inner one.
Step 7. Seal the seams
Apply a layer of silicone to the surface, where they are in contact with the door tracks, both inwards and outwards, creating a waterproof seal. Let the silicone dry for at least 24 hours before turning on the water to test your work.
