Fitting and design
Shower niches: setting out, falls and waterproofing
At a glance
- The niche base needs a slight fall to the room so water drains rather than sitting on the shelf.
- Setting out to tile courses avoids awkward slivers and keeps the niche looking deliberate rather than cut in afterwards.
Design decisions worth getting right
- 1
The niche base needs a slight fall to the room so water drains rather than sitting on the shelf.
- 2
Setting out to tile courses avoids awkward slivers and keeps the niche looking deliberate rather than cut in afterwards.
Your questions answered
Where should a niche go?
On the wall away from the shower head spray line, at a height reachable while standing.
Can a niche go in an external wall?
Only with care for insulation continuity; it is usually better placed in an internal stud.
Questions about niches and recesses?
A short phone call usually answers more than a long email thread. Ask anything, including the awkward questions.