Shower Niche

[dc007]

I have two projects going on at once. One my mother blindsided me with, and a second bathroom in my home.

So I attempted to build a shower niche. After putting up the drywall in the bathroom, I realized that I didn't do a very good job, the location of it doesn't seem that great, and I am re thinking if I should go through with it. Do you guys think this is salvageable or should I drywall over it and pretend it never happened? I am basically using this bathroom as practice for future projects. Pictures are attached.

[cwilde72]

Are you using Kerdi for your waterproofing Darnell? If not then I'd be more concerned with the use of drywall in a shower than how good your niche looks

[dc007]

Yes, I am using kerdi for waterproofing. Originally decided to use Kerdi because I hate cutting CBU. However if I had did what any rational person would of done and researched the price of the kerdi, I would of just suffered through cutting the backerboard and used a liquid waterproof.

The problem is there is a gap between where the bottom and where the back of it exists and hole in the middle of the left side of the metal stud which I guess i'd have to fill with some type of wood.

[cwilde72]

You'll need to "line" that niche with either drywall or the cement board that you used on the back wall of the niche. The Kerdi needs a proper substrate to bond to-lumber and metal studs are not a proper substrate. The holes and voids will be covered by which ever substrate you choose.

[Topspin]

Couple issues to correct:

1. Board at bottom - if you can slip it out, then do that and put in a full depth board. If you can't, I wouldnt think thats a killer, just put in your sheetrock as a wrap around the interior of the niche. There is little chance of the unsupported back end giving you any problems. Or put another layer of sheetrock/cbu on the back to bring it closer to the board if you feel uncomfortable about the support. Then cover all with Kerdi and Kerdi-fix corners and for double protection coat the seam edges with K-fix also.

2. Looks like drywall mud there. Never to use Drywall mud under Kerdi. Reason is that the water in the mud will help dissolve and dispurse the drywall mud. Making it to some extent useless and likely providing a worse bond. Since its there I would prime it with a premium primer to seal the mud in. But just in areas of mud. No need to prime the rest of the untouched board.

People have asked me to tape the seams of the boards before Kerdi application. I love to ask them if I should use an inferior tape or the best tape available? Drywall tape is just wrong for this use, Kerdi/Kerdiband is waaaaaaaay stronger than any drywall tape, and its what the mfgr recommends.

So no mud in a Kerdi shower.

I am basically using this bathroom as practice for future projects

You're adventurous. the bathroom - shower in particular is the most critical area you can pick for tile installs (save tiling the exterior of a building on the 102nd floor). If you can do a shower right as your first project, it'll be all downhill from there.

[Houston Remodeler]

What Kevin said except;

If you are using "hot mud" (the dry powdered kind you mix with water) you are OK under the kerdi. But you still don't need it there. It is OK to float the walls outside the shower and have some overlap into the shower to make a smoother transition.

[Topspin]

What Paul said.

[Houston Remodeler]

Its all about the teamwork.

[dc007]

Ok, so i did use hot mud for the areas inside the shower. I will still prime them just in case....when you say premium primer...do you mean something like regular killz or is there a specific type I need to get?

[Houston Remodeler]

Zinsser 123 or BIN will work well, or the kilz you mentioned. We prefer an oil based primer for the entire bathroom. The Zinsser can be top coated with a latex paint in 1 hours. Usually we finish paint the bathroom before tiling.

[dc007]

Any reason why you paint the bathroom first? Just asking because I am horrible about picking design features without actually seeing everything first.

[Topspin]

Why paint first? From a tile guy perspective we can do All our thinset, grouting, cleanup wipe downs without affecting drywall mud underneath. And it's a finished job when were done.

From the painting person's perspective, it's a lot easier to paint just passed the last tile/bullnose tile without taping. And since the grouting is done as close to perfect as possible, it still leaves somewhat of a rough edge that makes it not as easy to paint right up to. If you paint afterwords, you should tape off the grout to wall joint and then sometimes you'll need to use a little fine brush to get in even closer so it's simply a technical and time issue

[cx]

I, too, prefer always to prime and paint the first coat of color on the walls before work such as tiling is done. Makes it easier for the painter to cut in his color on the finish coat and generally makes a better job of it.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Houston Remodeler]

Yep,

What they said.


And its flashy and shows the customer why we're earning money. Gets them visually closer to the end product.