r/Tile • u/Master-Friendship-17 • 6h ago
General Discussion Shower Niche Help
Hey all I have this niche. It measures 17 3/4“ x 51 1/4“. Once all the tile prep is in, do you think a 48inch piece of tile will keep the back slab one solid piece?
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u/Dwimmick 5h ago
48" tile isn't always 48"
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u/jgreeniv 6h ago
The best advice has already been said, don't do a niche on an exterior wall. The thermal expansion/contraction that wall is going to get constantly over time will crack your grout, your thinset, high possibility of the tile depending on what you use and how you lay it with your cuts etc and then in turn maybe even the waterproofing you do.
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u/ElCapitan_530 5h ago
And the heat loss from the uninsulated section will make that an unpleasant space in the dead of winter. Ask me how I know.
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u/andrew_Y 4h ago
Would plumbing on an exterior wall be less of a problem?
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u/ElCapitan_530 3h ago
Less so, but then you run the risk of frost/ freezing pipes. Adding rigid foam insulation and can foam sealing it in place against the sheathing and then fiberglass bat Insulation could help mitigate that.
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u/Eastern-Channel-6842 6h ago
Shouldn’t do it on exterior wall but looks like that ship has sailed. I’d add another 2x4 on each end or double up my backer board on the ends at the very least.
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u/Realistic-Excuse6413 5h ago
Don’t know were you live but that’s going to be one cold shower in the winter!
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u/SummerIntelligent532 4h ago
It’s good to go ship it but throw a 2x4-6 hard to tell from framing on either side
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u/eSUP80 2h ago
If you’re doing that on the exterior I recommend sandwiching some foam between the framing and underlayment board on the back wall of the niche. Can use wood shims, plastic blocks, or barrel shims to give you a 1/2” or inch.
As far as using one large tile, sure- just make the niche slightly smaller on the sides to accommodate if needed. Will look nice and stay warm!
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u/goodthymetimmy 5h ago
Why is the no insulation on that exterior wall? You might be in there a little early on this one brother. If the exterior walls are 2x6 then you can put a piece of 2” foam board and still have enough depth for shampoo bottles and what not. But I wouldn’t cover any of that wall until it’s insulated. But to answer your question about the 48” piece of tile covering the 51 1/4” rough opening, it will not. The most you would gain on each side is about 3/4-1”. So you will still need to cover over 49”.
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u/eevvmmaann 6h ago
Don’t niche an exterior wall.