Niche Installation Video: The stainless steel shower storage niche from Redblock Industries

[@Z-Ack]

Looks good, like a hospital.. how easy are the black ones to scratch though?? I saw some that come in matte black stainless steel and just wondering if the black is anodized, powder coated, epoxy, tanned/ rubbed or just sprayed on..

[@redblockindustries7660]

We chose PVD because it seems to be the most bulletproof method of applying color to steel. But it's still quite uncommon and costly, so we have discontinued our colored niches for now. Once we start selling more volume, we will look at it again for sure. To create any dark matte finish on steel (like the anthracite finish we used), I wouldn't consider using anything other than PVD, due to the scratch resistance of the titanium used.

[@Z-Ack]

Titanium? Nice.. i like the chemical parkerizing technique thats kind of like blueing but uses phosphorus solutions and is only viable on ferrous metals. Very durable and the parts always turn out perfectly finished. If youve ever looked closely at any police issues glocks, that black coating is the parkerizing.. i appreciate your intelligent reply though, shows an expertise in product development as well as an accomplished business intuition. If product engineers biased more towards moralities and ethics rather than politics and profits, the end result would be a quality product while presenting an encouraging sense of necessity from consumers so the profits grow themselves.. but in the real world everything substantial is governed by ignorance and greed which seems the majority of todays population leans more towards the ignorant side of thought..

[@henrythorpe8869]

Can the niche be used with shower panel (eg 11mm Multiboard) rather than tile?

[@redblockindustries7660]

Hi Henry. I have never installed this system and I can't find anything online about a "Multiboard" in reference to the shower. Regardless, I believe that our SS shower niche could be installed in combination with almost any shower wall system if the right strategy was used for framing attachment and perimeter sealing. However, this strategy would vary depending on the materials and install method of each system so it's difficult to comment on the specifics. I hope that helps.

[@KcDan86]

what is the wall board material you use?

[@redblockindustries7660]

The backer board used is called Densshield by Georgia Pacific. It is a Glass-Matt tile backer board available in almost every home improvement store in the US. Here’s a link: www.buildgp.com/product/densshield-tile-backer/

[@serolog2]

Does it rust?

[@redblockindustries7660]

Our niche is constructed entirely of sheet stainless steel much like your SS kitchen sink, so it will not rust. The steel surface darkens slightly over time (like your kitchen sink) but can be easily cleaned to look like new again.

[@DukeBiggsley]

Is grout used for the tile around the niche or silicone?

[@redblockindustries7660]

Hi Duke, Thanks for your comment! We would recommend cutting the tile around the niche to allow for a grout line. We believe that this creates the best look. However if you don’t like the look of a grout line surrounding the niche, it is also perfectly ok to leave no gap at all. In this case you would need to apply a thin silicon bead to seal the transition between tile and stainless steel. This decision is really all about personal preference. Regardless of your decision, we would ask that you cover the tile trim flange with a couple of layers of masking tape to ensure that it is not scratched during grouting. Good luck! PS: If you need further assistance, please contact us at [e-mail] Steve.