Shower Stalls USA
Installing and maintaining Shower Stalls
We have five pages of expert guidance on Shower Stalls:
1. Introducing shower stalls
2. Choosing the right type of shower stall
3. Design tips for shower stalls
4. Leading suppliers of shower stalls
5. Installing and maintaining shower stalls (on
this page)
INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING SHOWER STALLS
The first step in installing a shower stall is to
fit the shower pan. Our separate guidance note on installing a shower pan is
here. The key points are to ensure
that the floor is absolutely flat, that the shower base is firmly fixed to the
floor to avoid rocking or cracking, and that the joints between the shower pan
and the wall finish are well sealed.
Installing shower stall kits
Some shower stalls are provided as complete kits, with shower pan, wall panels,
and glass door. These are relatively straightforward to install, provided that
the manufacturer's installation instructions are carefully followed. Take care
to protect the shower pan by cutting a piece of cardboard to fit, and laying it
in the shower pan during your assembly work. In this was you will avoid
scratching or otherwise damaging the shower pan.
The most critical weakness in a shower stall is the risk of water leakage at the vertical joints between wall panels, and particularly at the horizontal joints between the wall panels and the shower pan. The risk is increased in the case of a power shower. Take care to follow the manufacturer's instructions as to how these joints should be sealed.
A useful guide to installing a shower stall kit is published on the Hints and
Things website
here.
Installing tiled shower stalls
As an alternative to a shower stall kit with wall panels, the walls can be
tiled, with the shower pan and door being bought separately. Again the shower
pan should be installed first; this is usually in the corner of the room or in a
recessed bay. You then have a choice as to whether you want to fit the wall
tiling before or after fitting the shower stall frame and door. This choice
depends on whether you wish the tiling to continue outside the shower stall
itself, or to be contained only within the shower stall.
If you wish the tiling to continue outside the shower stall, we would recommend that you apply the tiling to the whole wall area before fixing the frame and door of the shower stall. However, if you wish to contain the tiling entirely within the shower stall, we would recommend that you fix the shower stall frame before applying the tiling. Take care to ensure that the shower frame is fixed in a perfectly vertical position.
In both cases you should make sure that the tiling within the shower stall is fixed to a waterproof material, such as waterproof cement board. Fixing tiling within a shower stall to normal drywall panels will lead to rapid deterioration of the wall and the fixing.
Pay particular attention to the vertical joints between the shower frame and the
tiling, and to the horizontal joints between the tiling and the shower pan. Both
should be sealed carefully with a waterproof sealant.
Maintaining a shower stall
The most important maintenance of a shower stall is to check regularly the
joints through which water may leak. Check the vertical joints between the wall
panels, or between the wall tiling and the shower frame. Even more important,
check the horizontal joints between the shower pan and the walls. All these
joints should be well sealed with waterproof sealant.
Cleaning of a shower stall should be undertaken with soapy water. Avoid aggressive or abrasive cleaners, as these are likely to damage the surfaces.
MORE INFORMATION ON SHOWER STALLS
Please click below for our other guidance notes
on shower stalls:
Introducing shower stalls
Choosing the right type of shower stall
Design tips for shower stalls
Leading suppliers of shower stalls
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