Molded fiberglass showers are not the easiest place to install a grab bar, they have space between the shower itself and the wall frame. I removed the tile, and the concrete, all the way down to the rubber lining. Install the water supply plumbing, including the shower valve and the drop-ell for the showerhead. The tub/shower unit seems to be made of acrylic, has no lines and looks like it is only one piece. In our project we had to round off the edges of the aluminum molding so they would fit perfectly into the radius of our fiberglass shower. Next, turn off the water supply before installing hot and cold water pipes. There are two piece fiberglass shower stalls that can be installed in most situations. Plastic. Step 6 Or better yet, I am a big fan of Sterling Vikrell products instead of using fiberglass. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. There is an exception with a frameless door, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to try to install it in a fiberglass surround. For safe entry and exit, install a vertical grab bar inside your shower 18 to 24 inches from the shower head end. Installation: Mask the shower unit enough to allow you to spray glue over the gap area using contact glue from a spray can. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Jan 5, 2020 - Explore Rosalie Cervantes's board "One piece shower" on Pinterest. On the plus side, they tend to be solidly constructed and easier to clean. By using our site, you agree to our. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Rona: Install a Prefabricated Shower Stall: Install a Shower Kit Including the Base, Wall Panels and a Door, Mr. Handyman: Installing Water Resistant Drywall. These prerequisites include a properly framed alcove — with straight walls and a level base — and up-to-code water supply and drain plumbing. As you could probably guess, the complete unit can be a bit bulky, and for that reason difficult to carry through doorways or up stairs. Finish off by connecting the … After the frame is ready, slide the tray into position and screw it in place. Apply a line of silicone sealer to the bottom of the wall channels. Fiberglass grab bar; Screwdriver; Silicone caulk; How to install a grab bar in a fiberglass shower: Step by Step Process Step 1: Locate a stud-stand near the shower and measure the height of 33 inches from the floor. How long does it take to install a shower stall? Take some of this lumber, and create a square frame which is large enough to hold the shower pan. Acrylic shower walls that install by gluing panels to drywall are NOT an appropriate substrate on which to install any shower door. Find a stud there. See more ideas about one piece shower, shower stall, shower kits. The maximum width for a shower door is 36″. Similar to cultured marble, fiberglass is made with a gel-coat, then backed with pigment and chopped strands of fiberglass in a resin mixture. If you want to install a new fiberglass shower or change the plumbing in your existing shower, you may need to cut a hole in the shower wall. Screw the drain assembly into the hole in the bottom of the shower before setting the stall in the framing. No grout lines, no caulk, and no leaks. Single-piece prefabricated showers are complete units, usually made of fiberglass or acrylic. They can be installed by a professional crew, or by a DIYer. To install a shower stall, start by clearing the area and drilling a hole in the floor for the drain. But, if you have enough money to spare, we would recommend the suction grab bar. Moreover, we showed you 2 ways to do so. If you plan to replace the shower valve, remove it now. Now, dry fit the enclosure. (For more on plumbing a bathroom, see guides. The gap created between shower and frame makes it not safe for attaching grab bars directly to the fiberglass, the material is thin and un-supportive of the weight displacement from when a person pulls on the bar in the event of a fall. Weigh the differences and see which one suits you better. ... Our basement has 2 drains, one in the laundry room and the other just outside the door to the garage. Place the level on a perpendicular lip and adjust if necessary. The sewage smell is almost unbearable. The One-Piece Shower unit is a contractor’s dream with our comprehensive packages, ready to install within one shipment. If your plumbing is coming through a wall and not, say, a basement area in which the pipes are exposed, you must tear out the portions of the wall. Interlocking multi-piece units will usually come in a set of four to six large pieces, including the shower pan (the base area where you would stand in the shower and that connects to the drain), wall coverings (for the side(s) where the unit will be mounted along the bathroom wall), side sections (that will not be placed along the bathroom wall), and a door. Screw the drain assembly into the hole in the bottom of the shower before setting the stall in the framing. This article has been viewed 125,185 times. Plan on at least a full day, sometimes more if you're inexperienced. The covering should completely overlap the stall flanges. You have to locate the center of the stud and use the low tack painter’s tape to mark the targeted place. Press them against the wall then screw the wall channels into the holes you drilled into the fiberglass shower. Slip resistant floor, integrated shelving and grab bar. Ideally, you’ll already have a drain roughed in, with the pipe sticking a few inches above the floor. Then move on to installing it. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. For some units, at least some of the frame building will have to be completed. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. After the frame is ready, slide the tray into position and screw it in place. They tend to be more expensive than other shower stall sets, and some also claim that they can be more difficult to install. File it down with a metal file. For extra strength, use self-tapping cement backer board screws to affix the cement board sheets. Just as affordable, easier to get, better looking, more options, at least as durable, and also designed with moving through hallways/doorways in mind. Then, build a frame to support your shower tray according to the instructions of your shower kit. Turn the main water supply on and check for leaks. Many homeowners are opting for the addition of a shower stall as a functional alternative to a full bathtub. Install the faucet handles and the shower head. Green drywall, which is the type you should use in the bathroom, is water-resistant, but it isn't waterproof, notes Mr. Handyman. You attach the valve to the framing with screws and connect it to the hot and cold plumbing. Here are a few tips that will ensure a clean cut. Tools, such as wrenches and screwdrivers. Keep this in mind when purchasing your sealants, as some can also be used as adhesives. Prepare the subfloor by checking level with a 4-foot level and using floor leveling compound to fill in depressions and correct slopes. He worked as an expert consultant with eHow Now and Pro Referral -- a Home Depot site. Using dull tools or poor technique can cause the fiberglass to crack around the hole. Since they are shipped in one piece, you will get a seamless pattern throughout the surface. One-piece units are designed for new construction only because they are too large to fit through a door. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Pre-fabricated shower stall units are usually fiberglass or acrylic kits created in a factory and shipped to your home in one or several pieces. An avid craftsman and musician, Deziel began writing on home improvement topics in 2010. Some multi-piece shower kits come with a kind of frame that will be used to hold up the sides. Install a shower kit including the base, wall panels and a door Are you planning a bathroom renovation , or installing a brand new bathroom? Many fiberglass manufacturers make one-piece shower pans and enclosures and one-piece combination tubs and showers with the wall enclosures. No. Install a cement board matching the existing drywall thickness. For tips on how to decide on a location for your shower and which type of stall to choose, read on! This will create a floor on which your shower pan can rest. Single-piece stalls work well in open bathrooms. Either way, this is the perfect opportunity to improve the functionality of your bathroom and introduce a new style element at the same time. Cover the vertical flanges on either side of the stall opening with trim or wall covering, depending on the design of the walls and bathroom. x 83.5 in. How do I install a stand alone shower stall? He has degrees in science and humanities and years of teaching experience. For some kits, the side mounted to the wall will have to be screwed into place, while others just recommend that your use heavy duty caulk. Along the studs, mark the top edge of the base on all three sides. Then, build a frame to support your shower tray according to the instructions of your shower kit. Screw in both wall channels and the bottom track in this manner. If you're drywalling the bathroom and you want to ensure a waterproof covering between the stall and the framing, put the drywall over a layer of fiber cement board in the areas around the stall. With a fiberglass or acrylic tub, cut out a chunk with a jigsaw and lift out the tub (Photo 5). Pre-fabricated Units . Not only do you need to make sure that you have enough pipe, you must also be certain to obtain the appropriate parts that will allow you to connect the new pipes to existing ones. Replacing a shower pan is a major project. This will also be the surface on which you can nail the membrane in place. Set a level on the lip of the base and adjust the stall to center the bubble. To install a shower stall, start by clearing the area and drilling a hole in the floor for the drain. If you're renovating a bathroom, or planning a new addition to your home and you're ready to install a shower stall, there are a few steps you must follow. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Explore More on homedepot.com … x 48 in. This video focuses on the proper methods used to remove a fiberglass shower. View shower products, get ideas on how to build the perfect shower for your home. If you are going to this length, you might want to take the opportunity to install a new shower pan that is more resistant to flexing. Obviously, this must be one of your first steps. What type of shower is the easiest to keep clean? Some pieces may need to be customized. For tips on how to decide on a location for your shower and which type of stall to choose, read on! Screw a waterproof wall covering, such as half-inch fiber cement board, to the framing above the walls of the stall. Insert the drain from the top side and tighten the locking nut from the underside, using adjustable pliers. Once the plumbing is done, cover any exposed parts of the frame with water-resistant drywall and seal seams or cracks with silicon-based caulk. The floor of my tiled stall shower floor leaked. Be sure to properly install all gaskets that came with the drain according to the instructions provided.