Sorry, link doesn't work. I'll try to fix that.

Try this....sorry!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1458633}}

If I understand your question, the problem is caused by the location of the niche relative to the size and placement of the wall tiles. Hence, there are no easy fixes... You could retile the walls or move the niche, neither of which is by any stretch easy.

What would I do?
Nothing...
IMO, the 'cure' is worse than the 'problem'.
Just make a mental note for future renovations...

Thank you for your response. I feel to blame because I am the one who wanted the border.

One quick question, would you feel the same if you knew this wasn't a DIY project but one we are paying a contractor to complete?

It's a border.

It's fine as is. Would a pro have done it differently? Some would have some wouldn't have. Some would do it better, some worse. Defining "better" and "worse" is up to the homeowner.

Some will hear the instructions and install it as described, others will hear the instruction, note a potential discrepancy, and bring the point up with the homeowner for discussion.

One thing to consider is that grout lines always look worse before the grout is installed. If you choose a grout color that contrasts the tile color, the grout lines will pop. If you choose a grout color similar to the tile color, everything will blend and disappear.

But truthfully, the border is fine, even with the offsetting grout lines. DIY or pro. No need to worry.

Question...the back of the niche. I think I see the back of the drywall for wall in the opposing room? Is that regular old gypsum board? If so, are you tiling directly on it or will you be treating it in some way prior to tiling.

And for the shower iteslf...what are you using as a backer board to tile upon?

I'm viewing on a low resolution black and white monitor today so I'm colorblind and without decent color gradation or adequate pixel resolution. It's hard for me to identify your tile backer on this screen.

Thank you for your response. Yes, that is drywall where he cut out the niche and I'm assuming that he plans on waterproofing that. I will be sure that is the case.

As for the wall, where he cut out the original fiberglass unit, he has used a product that said for tiling. I can't remember what the label said....maybe denshield. I am taking the tile to the ceiling and above where the old unit was, he left the drywall.

dwojnar, the real question is whether looking at those misaligned tiles and grout lines will bother you when you see them, or whether you'll pretty much forget about them once the project is done and it's 'just a shower' again. Different people will feel differently about that. Many won't care; some, like me, would keep looking at those lines like they're a magnet for my eyes. ;) If you think it will annoy you for years, it's worth taking time to change it now. Otherwise, move on and enjoy how nice your new shower will look.

-- Eric

Well, you may get your chance for a mulligan on that border.

What I'd like to see is the inside of the niche coated with a waterproof membrane of sorts. Just painting something on the back drywall really won't do much good, as there's no way to adequately seal the drywall on the back of the niche to the sides of the niche seeing as they are already tiled.

One thing to realize, is that caulk is not adequate waterproofing. Neither is grout.

With a tile backer like denshield and a site-built niche that is not waterproof, typically the inside of the niche will be made waterproof by painting it with a waterproofing membrane. Usually the wall around the niche opening is painted too, out a few inches from the niche opening.

A suitable waterproofing membrane would be HydroBan, RedGard, something along those lines.

But again, I wasn't there when this niche was built, and I cant see color with this monitor...but it's a point I'd bring up with the person who did the work.

If it wasn't properly waterproofed, then pull the niche tile off as well as the border, waterproof it, then retile to your heart's content.

Is the niche centered on the wall? If so, the grout lines wouldn't bother me because it will feel centered.

But at the end of the day, only you can say. My experience has been that after a few months, I've forgotten about most if not all of the things I worried about (my DH would probably substitute the word obsessed.)