Bathroom Shower Bench Installation

12 years ago

Hi All,

This is my first posting to GardenWeb... We have a renovation going on right now in our master bath. The shower is being tiled from floor to ceiling with a tile floor as well. We are also putting in a bench (made of quartz) to match the counter tops. The contractor put the bench in the other day and it looks great. My concern however is that there isn't enough structural support... There is no framework nor triangular support brackets... The quartz is being supported on three sides simply by the tile sitting beneath it... The tile guy put in the tile and left a gap for the quartz, once the quartz was put in, the tile around it was completed... So, the only thing supporting the bench is the thin-set used to mount the tile... Should I be concerned?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
12 years ago
Actually, the thinset just secures it laterally. The true support are the tiles it sits on. It should not fail there. The only concern might be the open, unsupported area, the front edge.

How thick is the granite? If it's substantial, I don't see a problem there. Certainly oughta be good for a couple of hundred pounds, at least.
ashomeowner
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the feedback lazarususa.

The quartz is 1.25" x 29" x 15".

Yes, I agree that the quartz is supported by the tiles, but the only thing holding the tiles in place is the thin-set they are mounted with... There is nothing in the assembly tied into any real structure. I know that with a tile bench, you actually need to build a frame so you have something to install the tile on, but this case is obviously different... Besides the thin-set, I am assuming that my contractor is going to grout between the tile and the bench. Any thoughts on whether or not the grout will survive?

I've got a pregnant wife, and I'd hate to see her sit on the bench just to have it collapse beneath her...
Related Discussions
bathroom tile. floor, floor/shower, floor/shower/wall?
Q
Comments (37)
I can't help but picture orange with this blue. Or a saturated blue and white. A textured all white curtain would look great as well. In no particular order, here are links to a few colourful patterned ones I found: Peaches - orange pink and green - Urban Outfitters Blue and white - Urban Outfitters Flamingo - Anthropologie Orange Contemporary - Rachael Taylor - Wayfair Medallion - Blue and White - Target Navy & white - Wayfair (might be too dark) Orange and white Ikat - Wayfair Lime? (Doesn't look lime on my screen) - Red Barrel Studio - Wayfair Moroccan Orange - Wayfair I think you can have a lot of fun with your shower curtain. So many colours look good with this blue. The trick might be to match the colour intensity.
...See More
Advice on converting first-floor full bathroom to half bathroom
Q
Comments (19)
As a real estate appraiser I would advise to try to keep it. It will reduce the valuation by a few percent. If I were to appraise your home, I would now have to compare and adjust it from a 3 bathroom home to a 2.5. That's anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 adjustment downwards. Understand that I don't know where you live or your real estate market. Even though there is no bedroom on the floor, it's a very usable space. At the very least, I'd put in a shower. You just never know when someone will lose their mobility. It looks like an older home. If your laundry room is in the basement, you may want to reconfigure it to bring the laundry up to the main living area. That would be an improvement in utility and the only reason why I would consider eliminating it. Hard to see everything, but you could reconfigure the doorway/entry and take over that vestibule area.
...See More
Help! Bathroom Shower Install Gone Wrong
Q
Comments (56)
@Kate I know I didn't pay money for it, and GC or a plumber can only be blamed here and I know like most in here do, pros or not that a handheld showerhead shouldn't be installed under another showerhead. All I did is say that any of the contractor's GC or the Plumber should have asked you and marked the locations how you want this installed or if you left them the pictures of how it should be installed they should have to make sure it was done that way, obviously, this detail was missed. I'm glad you spun the showerhead to the other side and it looks much better... Yes, the was a minor hick-up with the fixture location but I'm glad it was a manageable fix to make it look better and I hope you will shake down your GC for lunch or dinner because of that mistake and move on. Look at the overall picture, the shower looks great, looks like excellent workmanship, tiles look good, fixtures installed nicely, considering, and I'm sure you will enjoy it for a long time. Good luck
...See More
How do you like this open concept bathroom (no bathroom-bedroom wall)
Q
Comments (26)
I'll be a contrarian. I would never knowingly rent a room with a shared bathroom in the hall. That would be a complete pass - I don't even like having to use a hallway bathroom in a sleeping situation in which I would share with friends and family because if I need to use it in the night I would have to wake up more/get more decently dressed and I hate having to shlep stuff to take a shower or perform normal grooming stuff in a bathroom. I don't have the horror of viewing a toilet from a bedroom that some houzzers seem to have. It certainly wouldn't bother me on a temporary basis. I have a master bath in my home and I can't remember the last time I actually shut the door. I don't have issues with smells or humidity but perhaps that is because my Toto washlet has a built in deodorizer AND I have an excellent Panasonic fan which runs based on ambient humidity levels. I don't generally even have condensation on shower doors or mirrors after exiting let along huge amounts of humidity wafting through my bedroom. The question really is one of economics. There is a cost to installing the bathroom and OP would need to decide whether they would make up the expense by having increased rent and/or renting it out more frequently. Certainly any prospective renter would see a picture and determine whether they wanted the ensuite with a curtain in the room or use of a bathroom in the hall. Also resale value is a red herring. At such point that OP wanted to sell it would be relatively inexpensive to convert the bathroom into a closet if having the ensuite in that room was a negative.
...See More
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
12 years ago
The grout just fills it in....makes it look pretty. Trust this: the shear strength of the tiles is far & away greater than anything you'll ever need.

For example, it's one thing to "pry" a tile off the wall. Not too hard to do. Try putting a hook on a tile and trying to drag it down the wall...I doubt Hulk Hogan could do it. Shear strength it amazing!

Don't worry about it.
ashomeowner
Original Author
12 years ago
Now you are talking my language! The shear loading is actually what I was concerned about... :-)

I imagine you are right, the shear strength of the tiles and adhesive is likely stronger than just prying the tiles off the wall... Just wouldn't have imagined that would be the best way to secure the load.

Thanks for your feedback and insights.

Bathroom Shower Bench Installation

Comments (4)

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

ashomeowner
Original Author

Related Discussions

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

ashomeowner
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Bathroom Shower Bench Installation

Comments (4)

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

ashomeownerOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

ashomeownerOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ashomeowner
Original Author

ashomeowner
Original Author