Tiling a corner shower seat.

[Greg H]

What is the best way to tile a corner shower seat? It is 2x4 construction. I built it to strengthen the half wall support and be useful as a seat. I want to run the pan liner to the corner under the seat. Or should I build a face wall down from the seat and run the liner in front of that? I would prefer to run to the corner and just tile the seat. I will be removing the seat to install the backer board and then waterproofing. I will reinstall the seat after that on top of the backer boards. Do you tile the bottom just like the top? It does have the proper slope. Thanks for any advice.[ATTACH]Attachment 209602[/ATTACH]

[Carbidetooth]

What's your plan for wall waterproofing? RedGard or similar?

[Greg H]

Planning on RedGarding it all.
I tried to rotate the picture, but it still turns it sideways.

[rmckee84]

If I were you I'd leave the seat in place, install your backerboard (including covering the the seat), then mesh tape/thinset all of your seams. Follow up with your waterpoofing of choice.

[Greg H]

I was wanting to leave it in place but wasn't sure if I could. I will have a glass above it and just wanted to add strength to the short wall. Do you tile the under side just the same as the top?

[Carbidetooth]

You need to shrink the photo first. Somehow the photo software wants to rotate to landscape when resizing.


Just to be sure, you're not intending to RedGard floor, correct?


If you want to stay with wood frame, I'd not make it detachable, but remake as a torsion box of sorts and make it a part of the wall framing...an absolutely ridgid and forever part. Say to removable and bring you best carpentry skills to bear. I'd even go so far as to let the whole thing dry and stabilize for a couple weeks. Framing lumber has notoriously high moisture content.


Then skin all in tile backer, mesh tape and thinset all seams then waterproof.


You could also consider a Better Bench.


You don't want to face it down to floor, that ship has sailed. Only way I'd do that now is with masonry. But then I don't build conventional showers anymore, having gone the surface membrane route a number of years ago.

[Davy]

I'd ditch the wood and build it out of concrete blocks. Then you have nothing that will swell or rot. 2nd choice would be Better Bench.

[Greg H]

If I replace with the Better Bench seat would you mount it on top of the Backer boards? I want it for structural strength as well as usefulness. I can reinforce the walls as I just have framing exposed right now.

No I will not be RedGarding the floor.

[Lazarus]

"Better Bench" is great.....but I prefer this. Built in levels in two dimensions and works great.

http://www.markeindustries.com/shower-seat.html

[madmantrapper]

http://www.markeindustries.com/shower-seat.html

Have many of you guys used this? I am considering it.

So the under side gets nothing?

[ss3964spd]

I used the Better Bench, Paul. I'd be concerned about the plastic one flexing in the center, as well as the long term bond of the mortar to the plastic.

[madmantrapper]

I used the Better Bench, Paul. I'd be concerned about the plastic one flexing in the center, as well as the long term bond of the mortar to the plastic.

Thank you

[Kman]

I'll throw a monkey wrench into your plan, Greg.

The Better Bench is simply folded metal, and I wouldn't rely on it for the strength you need. It's strong , but I would rather have lumber like you currently have.

My benches are usually constructed with lumber and covered with sheetrock and Kerdi. Since you're going with a liquid membrane, you could add a sheet of plywood and cement board, then your membrane.

As long as you waterproof it correctly, i.e. to the proper thickness and number of coats, and up the wall to the height of the shower head, it will work.

As for the front of the bench, you can frame up and sheet it the same way if you want. That will save someone the headache of cleaning underneath.

However if it's a relatively small shower, leaving it open may make the floor seem larger. But you'd need to cover and waterproof every surface just like the top of the bench.

Have you got the top of the bench sloped a little to shed water toward the drain?

[Lazarus]

I have done several of the http://www.markeindustries.com/shower-seat.html benches and have had exactly NO issues, problems or failures of these items.. DalTile sells them and I doubt that they would continue to offer them if there were any issues...