Shower niche advice please

[DwayneA]

Howdy,
First thing.... thank you, thank you, thank you....

I took on a "little" (well it looked little on paper anyway) two story garage addition project and the bathroom has been my biggest source of, "scratching my head wondering what I should do" moments. I must say, this forum has been tremendously helpful! My only regret is finding this forum so late into the project.

I'm going to be installing two niches into a corner walkin shower. All I've done thus far is to frame out the cavity that the niches will go in. My original plan was to build the niches by hand (ie. waterproof/vapor barrier it, piece in cement board, tile) but I've just noticed the one piece units that are available from Recess-it. They seem like a good idea and aren't very expensive. My walls are still open at this point so it would be easy to make any adjustsments if I was to change plans.

My question is, how easy is it to make a mistake with the niches and end up with leaks? This is my first shower stall so I'm a bit wary and really don't want to end up with a leak. Would I be way ahead of the game to just buy the Recess-it and put those in, or are the niches pretty easy to do right?

Thanx!

[bbcamp]

Niches are pretty easy to do right. Construct them like you were planning, then slather on 2 coats of a surface waterproofer like Redgard all over the interior and about 6 inches around the outside (on the wall backerboard) of the niche. Then, go worry about something else.

[JMingrone]

I looked at the Recess-it niches too, but someone pointed out the flange gives you a little edge that you have to feather out smooth. I ended up choosing Proform niches that I got at www.Noblecompany.com. I framed and installed them before the CBU and their 1/2" flanges come out flush.

They ain't cheap though.

-Jay