How to Build a Shower Niche

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Thank you to everyone who helps make this channel a fun place to help people. If you want to help us to grow please hit the share button so that we can help even more. cheers!

[@amilcargiovanni]

U forget to seal sheet rock joints whit mesh membrane and tinset mortar

[@vondellmcrath9982]

Jason Newman will

[@coffeegrinds685]

I wanna subscribe cause i like you but your gonna have to explain why you would use green board on the wet walls when, as far as i know, cement board is the right way to go. Cement in the shower green board outside the shower.?

[@jessejacobsen9948]

I

[@BobRoberts-yd3wm]

Hey Jeff I have a question for you, why do you use drywall in the bathroom instead of durock? I just recently had my bathroom done and the workers put durock instead of Drywall. Why the difference? Looking forward to your response. Thank you.

[@arenkata8029]

I am always doing some type of project around the house. I can hold my own, but this guy is just all around the greatest resource. He’s extremely down to earth, his explanations are easy to follow and his camera doesn’t shake like a quake!

[@Reese_Asher]

Jeff, Thank you so much for everything you do and all your effort you give to make these videos to help others. I am 16 and I just got finished renovating my bathroom by myself. I tore it all the way down to the studs and started from scratch. Without you I would've never even come close to being able to even think about attempting anything like this but because of you everything went perfectly and it looks awesome!!! Thank you so much Jeff!!!!!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Thanks Reese, glad to be of some help. Cheers for gettin er done!

[@10secviolation]

did everything go perfectly, how did you convince your parents to let you do such a task? who else or what other materials did you consult along the way? how did you ensure you rented the tools for the job and how did you train yourself to use them safetly?

[@peteski5201]

@@10secviolation wow I bet you are the life of the party ......

[@zegersfpv2684]

Too many questions lad

[@hoxha34]

very interesting stuff. so what you are saying is that you can just use green board instead of durock or hardie backer and just apply a couple of coats of aqua defense and you shouldn't worry of any water penetration ( if applied correctly).

[@oldtimermike1414]

Awesome Video!!! The only thing missing is perhaps truing up the old walls. Inevitably, older studs can belly over the years and its a good practice to check the studs to see how much you might need to add/shave off to get the walls as close to dead flat as possible. An electric plane could be used along with your laser. Put the green board up with a few screws and use a big level to see how much "rock" there would be with a large 24" X 12" tile. You don't want highs and lows that show up as shadows or raised edges. Just a thought.

[@shaukeki]

6:30 The problem I see is the slope in the 2by is going to make the board wider than the depth. You're going to be left with part of the board sticking out, as well as not having a flat surface for the backer board. If nothing else, you should have used shims. That 2by is going to want to settle down those screws.

[@SuperVPro]

Great step by step video! THANK YOU! And yeah - walls are never straight! I do tile and granite installations and have to deal with crooked surfaces all the time.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

just another part of life in the fast lane!

[@leifprice8836]

It only appears to be straight. And sometimes a nightmare to deal with. But the video is great and will be added for references.

[@alanotoole2130]

Thanks Jeff, you're a wealth of knowledge and I now know how to put the angle on the shelf for the shower. Your channel is compulsive viewing for the amateur DIY enthusiast.

[@philbaker29]

What did you use to seal the joints of the niche (caulk/mud)? Should you tape the joints as well?

[@playeroflife]

Great video Ty. 1st I am trying to remodel my en-suite bathroom. Was very nervous but your channel has helped me through every step. 😊😊 Ty from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@skeewee13]

Thank you so very 😁😁😁. We just bought a new house and l hate the tile in both the bathtub and standing shower. Now l feel pretty confident changing it without my husband saying it costs too much or tearing the walls off!

[@madonnahagedorn5649]

This is extremely helpful! My contractor wants me to figure out my niche, I think this is it!

[@geraldholmes5689]

1st let me start by saying thank you for your videos. You really do a great job explaining, Step by step. I have one burning question. What is that white paste you placed on the niche?

[@dawnpiche9120]

I love watching your videos. I just had someone renovate my bathroom and now that it is complete and after watching this video it is even more clear that they didn't know what they were doing. So, unfortunately, it will have to all be redone. Like the post below from someone who is 16 and did one themselves, I think I will try to tackle it myself. These videos show me that I can do it myself! I wish I had seen them sooner because it would have saved me a lot of money and frustration!

[@ABlueDahlia]

Thank you for your video! Total beginner question here, but why green drywall instead of cement backboard? Would it be ok to use that instead?

[@lagg-alot8308]

This guy is a home improvement encyclopedia of knowledge. Priceless.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Love sharing what I have learned. Cheers!

[@tracy8591]

This is great, I’m going to be installing a shower nook in the next couple of days for a shower I’m putting in my basement. Great work, keep it up!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

glad to help. Cheers!

[@GeeSpicy]

Thanks a bunch jeff, you really clear everything up when it comes to this stuff, I recently started my own handyman service (mostly flooring and tiling) when i am having trouble figuring something out you are my go to videos.

[@shawnvandenabeele8307]

Mr jeff.why not use cement board such as hardy geeen board is water mold resistant as cement board fiba taped and red guarded is a more effective way to make sure it's never gonna leak or grow mildew as green board will mold and leak after time...i personally like shluter is the real way to go over green board.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

sure if you want to buy more tools and get a shower that lasts 50 years instead of 45. Cheers!

[@woodlandburl6648]

Great job! The only problem is that you are giving me all kinds of ideas 💡. Which means more work 🙀. But that is a good thing for this retired guy. Thanks

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

LOVING IT!

[@DoubleRRestorations]

Jeff, I love the channel. Getting ready to tackle my bath. Here is my question. My bathroom will have tile from the tub to the ceiling and the rest of the walls will be tile half way up the wall around the room. I'm a little confused about going around the tub to the floor and rest of the wall. My guess is that I would still start at the base of the tub, getting it level, then when I get to the rest of the wall, maybe use a ledger board to go around the room? I could then know my distance from the ledger board to the floor and cut the last wall tile where it meets the floor. I also want to use a tile baseboard that would go on top of the wall tile. Whats the correct way to do it? This will be my first tile job and your vids are a great help. Thanks, Russ

[@RealGame101]

great video. I would have never thought of sloping the bottom framing. gotta love professionals. I'm so smart, I've would've built the niche before selecting the tile lol

[@jonnymiskatonic]

Thumbs up for pronouncing niche correctly! And if I could give another thumbs up for just your all together very helpful videos I would.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Thanks Jonny, you could always give us a thumbs up tonight at 9 EST On our new video. LOL.Cheers!

[@tonyd1230]

Hello Jeff, awesome and informative video!!! I am wondering what do we do about the joints of those drywall? Do we use drywall compound with joint paper firat then seal with Aqua Defense? Or what is the proper way to do it?

[@hughseagraves7036]

Another video on this topic showed him using fabric tape instead of paper tape for the drywall seams (plus mud of course).

[@StarrTile]

I do my niches exactly how you do them, I produced a video about 3 years ago showing how to build a niche and after cutting out that middle stud you would not believe all of the negative comments about structural support being compromised....on a wall at least 30 feet long...amazing how the Chicken Little story dies so hard 😂

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Cheers, funny how most don't!

[@AntonioGomez-pp5fc]

Yees that was my question too , so it’s fine to cut the structure support to put a nitch in between?

[@rdbendixen]

Antonio Gomez If it’s not a bearing wall, I don’t see the problem. If you’re worried you could also do a sort of Jack/king stud paring like for a doorway. But I think that’s way overkill.

[@whatevah]

What a timely video as I just finished demo for a shower! Replacing a 1980s redo of a 1970s shower... down to studs, time to rebuild.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Loving it! Have fun gettin er done. Cheers!

[@WhiTiger]

So thankful for your videos. They have been extremely helpful with the planning of our bathroom remodel. I have a question. We are installing hand rails in a tiled shower. What can we use to seal where the screws go into the tile?

[@Sam-td4yi]

ChocolateRx drill your hole and put silicone in then push wall plugs in and screw in

[@kcpeterson6094]

I enjoy the energy and clarity that you move through your videos. Some of the videos out there move at a snail's pace and lose me before the important details! Question, though. I get the cement board v. green/blue board debate, not too concerned about it for my build. However, I'm having trouble finding any green (or blue) board that doesn't specifically say "Do not use in showers." Which one do you use?

[@TPlug_Journeys]

Would love to see a reno where the shower drain needs to be moved due to different size pan. I am looking to go from a corner unit to a larger (48”) pan and may need to relocate both the shower drain location and shower system to another wall to accommodate this reno! Keep the content coming. Very useful tips!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

that one is coming later in the year. Cheers!

[@jonnyfish76]

Great video. I do have a question, do you use a particular type of screws for the green board in a shower, or just regular drywall screws, and then waterproof over them? Thanks.

[@lucasloud]

Is that white silicone that gets put on at 10:56 in this video holding those little drywall edges together or is that drywall mud? Thanks!!

[@davidmorgan6282]

My first video of yours I’ve watched. Shockingly easy to follow and understand compared to other remodel content. Great work! Thanks you

[@ayearetee3342]

Only builder I watch and trust on youtube ONLY!

[@ecospider5]

What are structural screws? I would love to see a video on when to use different screws plus where and how to buy them. A lot of times I hear you say structural screws but they just look like long drywall screws. I would love to understand the difference. Thanks again for the great content.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

pretty much what is says!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

no I mean screws that can hold up structural type support. Cheers!

[@rickn.1103]

I always like to float showers and tubs... If I have to I will use hardiback... But never green board.

[@jag376]

Love ya man!! You a crack me up while learning how to do things around the house man. But I miss the shiner!!! Bring back the shiner!!!

[@jawnjw]

I love this dude!saved me a lot of money and time I've never did any plumbing shower pan water proofing concrete board tiles shark bite lol so in my head I thought I had it all worked out I mean I'm a machinist by trade,but there's a lot of little things I never thought of that he shows you like the niche slope basically I just want to say thanks for all your videos of knowledge..,.

[@alexill]

Gary you make the nichest niche I have ever seen.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

LOL, thank you you make me blush! Cheers!

[@pnoseworthy2959]

Hi Jeff great videos better than Holmes because you show details. I'm doing exact same thing now.. 2 questions.. 1) do i need to tape/mud exposed gyproc edges before sealer? 2) i didnt see how you got your slope did you use a shim under the 2x4?

[@maxrm08]

Jeff is my hero

[@ryanluby3044]

Great video, two quick questions. I am installing a niche but the studs are 2x3's unfortunately which I've read can still work, but I'm curious your thoughts on if its worth it or not? Second, is the back of that niche in the video the back of sheetrock from another room? I have a similar layout if so and I'm second guessing if I should be using the sheetrock from the other room as the backer to my niche... I'm just imagining someone hanging a picture or something and smashing a nail right brought the tile or something lol.. if possible

[@derrick1125]

Hey Jeff, I know you're busy, with everything, but I was wondering what you added around the niche? Was it drywall mud or something else? I'm in the process of remodeling my bathroom. If you get back, I would be gratefully appreciative. Thank you

[@Cameroner1]

I'm loving it! It was all so complicated in my head, but you make it so straight forward. I didn't know you didn't have to use cement board in the shower, I just saw diyers doing that. It makes sense though since the waterproofing system will keep the water off of it. Working with this mold/water resistant drywall will be much easier

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

glad to help clear the cobwebs!

[@maoserr]

@@HomeRenoVisionDIY! .

[@hurph]

Enjoyed the analysis and logic in determining the size of the niche.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

glad you enjoyed it!

[@fett327]

Nice instruction. I would still recommend a premade shower niche if you can find one in the size you want. However the framing info would still be useful. I have about 5 minutes of experience in remodeling bathrooms. :)

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

the premade niche is crazy money.

[@fett327]

@@HomeRenoVisionDIY that's def true. But completely waterproof seams and edges. It does give some peace of mind.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

I don't need peace of mind. the stuff works just fine by itself. Cheers!

[@dasanudas80]

Hi Jeff Thanks for all your hardwork and detailed diy videos. You have done a lot for the worldwide diy community. Saving heaps of money, May God bless with good health and ture happiness Lastly could you please let me know name of the tool which you used to cut the dry wall. I am in Australia Thank you once again for everything Good luck and please take care

[@dannygonzalez2755]

When you built the niche. What did you fill the holes on the other rooms drywall when you ripped out the 2x4? Just before you waterproofed it.

[@ducrogers302]

Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge. You seem like a genuinely nice person! You deserve all things amazing to happen to you!

[@TitoTito-ju1te]

You lost me adding those #'s for crying out loud. Move to Canada 30 years ago from metric system and still can't read a frigging tape measure. Love to watch the stuff you do mate. Cheers from Pitt Meadows BC!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

sorry tito, the same ideas apply with mm's just be sure to account for everything you are adding in. Cheers to B.C.

[@mjeannobyon]

Thank you for your videos. What did you apply to the sheet rock around the niche that is white at 10:57 in the video?

[@bgzwlz5119]

I'm not an expert by any means, however most people don't seem to prescribe using a green board as a shower/tub substrate? Most seem to recommend other products like Hardibacker, durarock, wonder board, or some of the new foam products like Wedi, GoBoard, etc?

[@msgala7340]

I have 1/4” Hardie Backer board and 12 x 12, 1/2” prefab Kerdi niche. Do I need a 1/2” board or 1/4” niche? Do they have to be the same thickness?

[@BraxtlyTools]

Almost 50K views and only 2K likes. That has to be wrong. This is DYNAMITE! I would love to see what you guys could do with our tools. Are in you interested in sponsorship? Partnering? Let me know. Emmy Braxtly

[@TW-il4vy]

It's because the video doesn't show the full niche building process including the finished tile. It's akin to watching a cooking show without seeing the finished food or tasting.

[@krehbein]

I 2nd the use of the mapei product over redgard. Nothing against redgard, it’s just mapei is an international company with an excellent reputation and great line of products.

[@Bonejone213]

Can I add a niche I my bathroom after it’s already built? Great video!!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

yes, from the back side. but tricky!

[@Bonejone213]

Home RenoVision DIY video please! If you ever come across this

[@NoL0NGERhumAn]

You could also cut in a cultured marble or similar pre made niche if you find one that goes with the shower tile.

[@TheSinmonstix]

This is gold and has saved me from a slivered mess!

[@chadwickwicky67]

Thanks for this! Does cutting the stud compromise the framework strength at that point of the house in the long run?

[@anthonysilva5015]

I have wondered the same thing... I am debating framing it out like a window or door to keep the integrity of the wall just in case it is a load bearing wall, I am not an engineer just an avid DIY'r.

[@jacobgholson1813]

Hey Jeff great video, may l ask you why drywall and not backer board? Ive been doing renovations for a couple years now and ive always just used backer board. Thanks keep up the good work.

[@leeboy4130]

Jeff, when to use this water proof drywall over cement board? I am about to do this exact thing and have already bought Hardie backer. I am sure that's fine but the drywall looks much easier!

[@stevej3611]

Awesome work, awesome presentation as always

[@kldeich]

I'm remodeling the master bath from the floor up and was just going to jam in a four-piece shower insert until I found your videos! Can't tell you how much I appreciate feeling like I can tackle tiling the shower myself - thanks Jeff.

[@jknucklezz1007]

This guy knows his stuff Awesome bro💯

[@jsw19]

Thanks for the great video. In one of your videos, you put the thinset mortar on all backerboard joints and corners, and then applied the waterproofing membrane on top of that. I just wonder if you don't need to do the same on the joints and corners in the niche.

[@dannyburriss383]

Green board is ‘moisture resistant’ not ‘water resistant’. Concrete board or Hardibacker is recommended.

[@darrenr1194]

Doesn't matter because its being waterproofed... Could even use regular drywall and still be fine lol.

[@troyfall6573]

Concrete board is porous and absorbs water. If you have a leak it will eventually saturate the concrete board and will exit in the wall. The entire key to a great job is the roll on membrane. StarrTile does a video showing the comparison between concrete and greenboard coated in a membrane.

[@laidspipe]

It all depends on the type of foundation your home was built on.

[@mattjns]

Concrete board or AC board as we call it in Australia is not waterproof.

[@Rob636100]

Hi Jeff, I’m a huge fan of your videos; you’ve helped us do a ton of stuff around the house! I have a question around shower niches: we plan to add a custom niche to our bathroom remodel and want to add it in the dividing wall of our home (we live in a semi-detached). The wall itself is your standing framing, but with a concrete block fire wall dividing the properties. How can I do this? Do I simply add adhesive behind my concrete board once the niche framing is in place? Do I even bother with concrete board and just put the waterproof membrane directly on the concrete block diving wall? Many thanks from Montreal!

[@jbaillie01]

Great video do you have the next video to this was hopeinf I could find you tiling the neiche.

[@thehutchttu]

Can you go into more detail on why you believe the Mapei product is better than RedGuard? Thanks, I enjoy watching your videos!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

It might just be me , but i find it has a thicker application. and 2 coats of a thicker cover is more waterpoof. Cheers!

[@williamcabiling5938]

Thank you for your video,I learn how to install niche.

[@m.campbell2776]

Fantastic . Just an amazing instructor !

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Thank YOu!

[@tbuchner21]

Great videos, Jeff. Can you tell me what the trim piece is around the niche? If it's in a different video, let me know. Thanks

[@rocknral]

Great video as usual. But I gotta say, it's a great promotion for the metric system lol.

[@yvonnel7027]

Going to be redoing my bathroom this summer and adding a niche. Thanks so much for all of the information!!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

Glad to help Yvonne! Cheers!

[@-myatlanticblue-3636]

Thanks for another informative and useful video. Great work! Wonder if you have done or would consider doing a video on setting up your laser level? Cheers

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

i WILL SHOW THA REALLY SOON. GREAT IDEA. cHEERS!

[@edculhane1100]

Hi Jeff! I am a huge fan of your videos and watch just about every day. Quick questions for you. In another video I watched about a roll on water proofing, you used mesh tape, before rolling on the membrane, however in this video you did not. Should I always be using tape and compound at the joints before roll on membrane?

[@Mabbus4]

Cant wait to see the finished project, When is it coming out? Thanks!

[@deew4586]

Once you screwed the dry wall pieces back into the niche, what's the white material you put around it to seal it? How do you deal the Crack that will be there?

[@ReneCruzATX]

Do you have a job coming up where you have to build the shower pan instead of installing a tub? I'm almost ready to build one for my shower. Thank you so much for the content!

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

not until the end of the year. Cheers!

[@ReneCruzATX]

@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Well, you're going to have to come to Texas and make a video fixing my mistakes then. 😃

[@escapism2to1]

Man, your videos are just so so good.👍🏽

[@bobashley1600]

Hi Jeff great video on Niches...I have a wall the is perpendicular to the shower dead in the middle of the shower. The corner stud is there instead of drywall. You said not to put a membrane on wood and i would like not to add cement board to the back of the niche...is there any other options to doing this?

[@adnana8515]

Hi Great video. At the end of this video you mentioned to click the link at the end to see how this bathroom turned out but the link takes me to a completely different project and nothing to do with this video. Could you send me the correct link please? Thank you

[@davidkepke1435]

When using 1/2” Hardibacker Ive seen videos that say don’t use black felt paper or other vapor barrier behind hardibacker. They say its been tested under water and is water proof. Ive maybe seen this in one of your vids too. So should I or shouldn’t I put something behind HB?

[@Lust4Singletrack]

Is there a reason you place the top drywall piece first? How does this help with the installation? Thanks.

[@rdouglas5742]

Hi Jeff, I just put one in on my bathroom wall following your video (thank you!) I put a small shim on top of my board instead of backing the back screw out a bit. Looking at my level I’m still good side to side and have that incline that will let water run out the front. Thoughts?

[@omidamini1382]

I am always following your great videos and thank you. I don't have much knowledge in construction so forgive my ignorance, so my question is why shelf's frame does not have jack stud?

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

it is not structural. Cheers!

[@teh60]

Nice job Jeff.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

thanks TEH60, Cheers!

[@patrickmeek1671]

I don't know if you have a video on this or not, but if one was using Kerdi Board is it still came process? What i mean is using the red guard or the product you are using here.

[@hockeyman1]

Hey Jeff. I'm a big fan of yours Quick question for you. Is it regular mud you out around the niche and caulk in the corners ? Thank you

[@sheilamontoya5546]

I was wondering the same ?

[@PlaynKoi]

Wish I saw this last week. Great work.

[@phillakens8338]

Would like to see how it turned out

[@orliszpon3220]

What do you assume for the tile and grout thickness and the thickness of the cement board? Thank you for the video.

[@anthonysilva5015]

Subscribed! Perfect explanation of what to do, even if it was clear as mud... LOL.

[@mainj54]

If you wanted to do this with a lath and plaster wall how would you deal with that back wall without having to add additional drywall and reduce the width of the shelf?

[@gregbrooks510]

When cutting the 2x4's to make the niche, why do you only allow 1/2" for the thickness of the drywall and tile combined? The drywall alone would be 1/2", so wouldn't 7/8" would be a more accurate measurement?

[@mcarson5184]

Yes and no. In reality you can just measure 1.5 inches for the 2x4 and then the thickness of whatever backer material you are using (1/2 for drywall or 1/4 or 1/2 for cement board) with in this case 16 inches between the finished backer (plus an eighth for wiggle room). The thickness of the tile inside the niche on the bottom, top, and sides do not matter since you end up laying these "over a small portion of the tile" that would be in the back of the niche. The best way I can describe it is you want your backer material to be at the height of the top of your last row of tile not the top of the finished niche ledge. Imagine you tile without a niche, all you are doing is cutting that out (16") on the grout lines and then adding your backer and 2x4 in the wall behind the other rows. You could and should do the same thing for the width of the niche so that you don't end up with small tiles as well. If you are really struggling with this cut out some cardboard pieces to dimension and lay things out that way or even just the tiles themselves on the floor. You will see if you also add depth for your tile and mortar on the inside of the niche (i.e. finished dimension of 16") the tile inside on the back of the niche would fit "perfect" but you would be laying the niche base, top and sides first; all good until you realize that now your outside tiles no longer line up. In reality you lay the back tiles first and then cover a small amount of them with the bottom, top, and side tiles completing the niche so the inside dimension of your niche will be 16" minus the thickness of mortar and top/bottom tile thickness (say 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch).

[@davidcubillos351]

Question: When you measure the tiles why don’t you account fir the 1/8’s of each row of tile? If there are 4 rows its a1/2 of an inch. Thanks a lot for the exceptional videos!!

[@cameronknoechel9767]

He does, they are not exactly 4in. Tiles

[@noelleonnoelleon]

hi jeff, i’m not a pro.... isn’t there a membrane type of band / strips of fabric that goes on the joints, corners and screw holes?

[@t_thor]

Yes, if you want to get the project certified you will need a waterproofing certificate for wet areas.

[@HomeRenoVisionDIY]

only if you want the shower to last longer than your grandchildren.

[@jesucristomisalvador1282]

Hi Jeff. Can I use the RotoZip tool on HardieBacker Cement board. If so, what kind of Pilot bit should I use? Thanks in advance.

[@falconeranatolia]

What is the white stuff you have used on the niche/recess before you start to roll on the blue waterproofing membrane? ie 11:00. Is it glue or have you used some sort of filler for the gaps? And is it true that you dont use glue to fix the drywall onto the studs in a bathroom?

[@kelliefahle8025]

If your product is 4x16 and you are measuring at least 4 1/8 inch grout lines for 4 tiles how do you get a total of 16 inches? Am I missing something.

[@dianafertig2188]

Subscribed this morning. Thank you for showing me the things I have done in the past are correct. Thank you for showing me that new ideas are possible. Question, does putting a metal corner on the Drywall Niche wrap cause a problem when tiling over it late