Shower Installation: How to with these helpful products
Not every scratch calls for a doctor. This is also true for deceptively intimidating plumbing works such as shower installation that you can usually do yourself at home. Instead of evoking the images of flooding and wanton destruction of the future shrine of cleanliness at your home, our easy guide will take you through the shower installation steps without the need to hire professionals or learn a plumber’s trade overnight.
1) Pipe Dream No More: Getting the Place Ready
Let us assume that you have already picked out the preferred shower type and brand. The first step is to establish a clear outline of the underlying pipework, which starts by taking measurements of the installed pipes and determining the precise location of the fixtures connected with the shower kit inside the stall. Try to be as accurate as possible and take measurements from both the corners and the floor. Make sure to consider the layout and the sizes of the future shower wall tile as well.
2) Picking the Right Tools of the Trade
While some necessary screws and other supplies are usually found with the shower you purchased, you would do well to prepare some tools and equipment in advance of the installation. These include caulking for tiles and tub, a level, an electric drill, a hole saw, and several screwdrivers. Make sure you read all the instructions that came with your shower kit to avoid damaging your new investment.
3) A Clean Installation
The best way to kickstart the installation works is to carefully clean the pieces of scrap, dust, and the remaining caulking and glue from the installation site with your vacuum cleaner or broom. Double-check your subfloor for moisture before installing a shower pan. As for the walls that the shower stall will cover, make them waterproof and avoid fitting your shower over drywall to avoid damaging it by excess moisture.
4) Fitting the Shower Unit
If you performed Step 1 correctly, you could get on with drilling holes according to your earlier measurements. Carefully drill holes in the stall and use your hole saw to cut holes that will accommodate the fixtures. Do not be alarmed by the smoke that may appear during the drilling and cutting. Once this is done, you can mount your shower enclosure and secure it with screws that came with it or the ones you prepared in advance. To make your shower waterproof, use caulking to seal the segments of the stall that touch the walls and the floor.
5) Mounting Panels, Doors & Shower Pan
Installing these three components can take any order depending on the type of shower unit you opted for, but bear in mind that the time you need to set aside for this final installation stage will also depend on the complexity of individual models.
● Carefully align the shower drain with the floor and fit it without applying excessive effort and adhesives. After this, you will need to screw the drain cover and check the pan’s alignment with the level to avoid leakage.
● Once the pan is caulked, you can proceed with fitting shower panels according to the provided instructions. You better test fit these several times before making the final push. Remember to check the surfaces touching the walls for any residues of moisture.
● Once the panels are secured with adhesives, you can proceed with installing the shower door. No matter what surface it touches, the mounting structure at the bottom needs to be caulked, followed by fixing the wall tracks (if your shower features these). Do not forget the rubber bumpers that cover the screws. It is usually best to place the inside sliding door first once you have measured the track bars. After this, you can easily mount the outer door and caulk the surfaces that touch the tracks.
● Finally, you can install the remaining components of your shower stall (such as soap dish), which will depend on the model of your choice.
You can check out the rest of our guides on how to paint and maintain decking or flower gardens and use these to master the arts of DIY magic for keeping your home friendly and functional at all times.