When renovating your bathroom, you have many options on what to put in your newly renovated space. Your choice can depend on a whole host of factors, from style to cost, all of which you must weigh carefully. Ultimately, what fixtures you put in your new bathroom depend on how well they fit with your renovation plan as well as your budget. While some dream of a large marble walk-in shower, sometimes it’s a much better option to go the more conventional (and affordable) route of and install a prefabricated shower stall. In addition to being more affordable, pre-fabricated shower stalls are also easier to install and are a great project for someone who wants a new shower but doesn’t have a lot of experience. So for anyone considering a new renovation project, this post on how to install a prefabricated shower stall is for you. Follow the DIY shower stall installation steps below.
Step 1
Measure the space you have available for the new shower. This is highly important. Also, in installing a shower stall, remember to measure any doorways, stairwells, or hallways you have in your home, as prefab units are often one piece, and they’ll need to be able to get into your house to be installed. Be sure to make a cardboard template to plot out where the faucet and drain areas are so you can connect them later.
Step 2
Install a wall board. A wallboard will separate the shower stall and the bare wall studs and needs to be waterproofed to prevent any water from the shower getting in to the wall behind it. Cover the outside of the wall board with a coat of latex primer.
Step 3
Make room for the plumbing. Before installing the shower stall, you need to make sure it lines up with the drain and faucet. Using the cardboard templates, mark on the unfinished side of the shower pan where the drain is and, with the cardboard template still in place, drill a ¼ inch hole in the center. Use the template to line up with the shower pan and mark the finished side to match. Use a jigsaw to cut out the hole for the drain. Do this exact same process for the faucet.
Step 4
Level it. Place the stall into the space, make sure the drain and faucet line up and use a level to make sure the unit is perfectly level before going further with installation.
Step 5
Install the shower. Apply plaster or adhesive to the well area where the shower stall will sit. Place the stall back into the well, making sure the drain and faucet holes match up and check that it’s level once again. Most prefabricated showers will have flanges on the backside. If nails are not provided with your stall, use galvanized nails to attach the flanges to the wall studs.
Step 6
Put on the hardware. Caulk around the lip of the drain then install a catch screen. Be sure to tighten the faucets and caulk around the fixtures to ensure an effective, waterproof shower.
And with that you’re done and have successfully installed a prefabricated shower stall unit.
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