How to Build a Shower Stall

If you plan to build a shower stall, you need to choose between installing a pre-fabricated or to construct a tiled shower stall. The two primary types of bathroom stalls are the pre-fabricated shower stall unit, made of fiberglass or acrylic, and the custom-built shower of tile or stone, built from scratch on the premises. A good deal of research, time and thought should go into this decision, as it will be a lasting one that will take up some of your finances and most of your energy.

The tiled one has to be constructed from scratch by carpenters and tilers. A carpenter will construct the basic frame and secure it with a cement-based board. Now the tiler steps in and does the tilling. If you are doing a relatively minor renovation, like re-tiling the stall, you can do it yourself.

Pre-fabricated units are already built and only need to be installed in your home. Modern shower stalls are no longer boring or dowdy, and now come in a variety of textures, colors, and shapes. They come in a kit and if you are good at reading and following instructions from a manual, you can install it yourself. If your pre-fab shower unit is old and giving you trouble, you could either do a spot repair job with fiberglass compound or replace the shower pan liner, instead of replacing the entire unit with a new one.

Build a Shower Stall on Your Own

With the right tools and clear instructions to follow, building a shower stall in your home need no longer be a dreaded task. Like with any project that you take up, maintaining order and giving yourself sufficient time are key to not encountering any problems while building.

Materials and Tools Required:

• Pre-fabricated shower or synthetic shower surround
• Shower fixtures (shower head and control)
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Adhesive
• Plumb level
• Hole saw
• Blue tape
• Silicone caulk
• Plumber's tape
• Electric drill
• Screws

Steps:

1. Needless to say, your first step is selecting a stall that will suit your requirements. You should try to select a stall that will optimize the space you have. For example, If you have limited space, a one piece corner unit might work best for you. However, ample space can be made use of with a stall for two. Before buying one, measure the location well, right from height and width as well as length of the shower stall proportionately to the height of the wall and ceilings and the width of space.
2. While some brave souls may try their hand at plumbing, most people will agree that a licensed reputable plumber is the way to go. While this may cost, you need a plumber to do the plumbing or water connections and drainage before installing the shower stall. Hiring a licensed plumber always proves advantageous in the long run, with no hassles of leaks underneath the walls and floors.
3. Another obvious observation is that one has to prepare the area prior to building a shower stall. It is best to finish jobs such as installing new flooring material, before you begin the work.
4. Carefully read and understand installation instructions that come with your synthetic or pre-fabricated kit. Equip yourself with all the tools and supplies you will need during installation. It is not overtly cautionary to ensure that all the parts are included in the shipment.
5. The first step in installation is to put in the shower pan. It needs to be glued with a shower adhesive over the drain in the concrete or subfloor.
6. Begin installation with the first panel. Dot the sides, corners and center of the back panel (non-shiny side) with shower adhesive and press it firmly against the wall. Hold it in place for a couple of minutes or use blue tape to hold it up against the wall.
7. Measure the center of the mixing valve, which you will need to keep in mind while drilling holes for your shower fixture. Drill holes on the panel which you will use to cover that wall area, keeping these measurements in mind. Use a hole saw to cut the holes carefully to avoid cracking or splitting the panel.
8. Glue on the shower panel that will go over the wall with the plumbing fixtures. Install any additional panels in the same way. Once the panels are installed, stick on the corner trims and apply caulk at each seam when the adhesives dry up.
9. Now that you are done with the panels, you can put in the base plate for the glass shower enclosure. Temporarily secure the base plate on the shower pan's perimeter with the blue tape. Use your pencil to make indicators for where you will drill holes. Hold the base plate in place and drill the holes. When the base plate is level and straight, screw it in place using galvanized screws. It is now the turn of the side plates. Hold them in place using caulk first and then blue tape. Repeat the drilling and screwing, and apply more caulk at the seams.
10. You may need some assistance with putting the glass panel enclosures in place. While one person holds the glass, the other can screw it carefully in place. Add rubber piping to keep the enclosure water tight.
11. This leaves the top plates that need to go on now. Add silicone caulking to the glass seams to keep them watertight. The very last item to be attached are the shower fixtures, which should go on once the adhesives and caulking have dried up. Add some plumber's tape around the shower head to prevent leakage. With everything done, run the shower and check for any leakage.

I hope these instructions have given you a fair idea about constructing a shower stall. Building your own shower stall will not only save you a significant amount of money, but will also give leave you with a great sense of accomplishment.