Niche question - tile guys will be onto the niches tomorrow

11 years ago

There will be 2 niches in the master bath shower. I bought marble 3/4" pieces for the bottoms of the niches. they are tall and narrow, because of the walls. The backs of the niches will have my basketweave marble mosaic. The sides will have the large format white subway (bullnose). There will be glass shelves (tempered) with a pencil edge.

The marble shelves are deep enough to protrude about 1/4 " from the face of the wall tile. Should I do this, or make them flush? They are slightly wider than the niches so they can come out like a sill. What is practical here?

The glass shelves will go side to side and will be flush with the wall tile, held up by the side tiles. Trouble is, the glass shelves will have to go against the back of the niche not tile (or else they WILL protrude). So the marble tile will go up to the bottom of the glass, then start again on top of the glass.

This is the 2nd time I've ordered these shelves (ouch) they are starfire, tempered and very expensive.

I had the idea of putting glass adhesive behind the edge of the glass shelf. I'm concerned about what the look will be, looking straight at the shelf.

Any ideas/suggestions for either of these issues?

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Comments (7)

cat_mom
11 years ago
My feeling about shelves (or anything) protruding or projecting from tub or shower walls, is to avoid them. I am a total klutz, and have been known to whack my elbow(s) on the recessed niche/shelf in my own bathroom (while reaching to take something from the niche, or, while putting something back. Having something projecting outward is just asking for an "ouch!" for a klutz like me.

I've seen some beautiful, sill-like shelves in niches, but as flush as possible would still be my preference.
StoneTech
11 years ago
I like having the shelves extend out from the wall because you gain added depth....a good thing, IMO. Having said that, it can't just jut straight out. I generally have a granite house fabricate them with a curve on the outside that ends in a point...with "L" cuts on both sides, allowing the shelf to slide into place and the ends fit out about an inch over the wall tile.

Probably too late for you on this, but perhaps someone else can benefit...
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Are your tiles white or cream? I'm glad you said that! I wasn't sure which pic you were talking about, and the white one just above your post is NOT one of mine. It was posted in here about two years ago, and was MY inspiration for the one I posted at the beginning of this thread. As for that one, it's Dal's Salerno series 12x12 ceramic tile with a 3/16" grout joint. The chair rail around it is real travertine (although I can't remember which one) set with a 1/16" grout joint, and the shelves are (I believe) dakota mahogany granite 12x12 tiles cut down, radiused, bullnosed, and polished.
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Okay-- If you're going to use a PVC or CPE liner, then the Kerdi is unnecessary. The only thing you would need is a vapor barrier behind the cement board, which would consist of either 6 mil polyethlene, or 15 pound tar paper, the bottom of which would get tucked into the top of the pan liner. One other thing-- before that liner goes in (and this is a step even alot of pros miss) you MUST form a mortar slope for UNDER the pan membrane. The reason is that water that gets through the tile, grout, and mortar will get to the liner and if it's not sloped, it'll just sit in the pan, and "ferment". It has the potential to get extremely unhealthy. As long as the liner is sloped, though, water will follow gravity to the weepholes at the base of the drain and exit the shower pan, drastically increasing the life of your shower. As for the niches, frame them, and then cement board them as you will the rest of the shower. Once that's done, you can use one of the roll-on or trowel-on membranes available, such as Custom Building Product's Redgard, or Laticrete's fabric reinforced 9235, or Hydroment's Ultraset. You coat the entire niche, as well as 6" out onto the wall in all directions from the niche. Piece of cake!! :-)
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Is a niche included in the amount you've agreed to pay the tile guy? If so, I'd get the niche or ask him to reduce his price. If not then it's up to you to decide whether it's worth the extra cost. It sounds like it wasn't included in your original quote. Personally, such a small niche doesn't seem worth it to me either but I'd hold him to his word/contract if he already agreed to do it. I've never had stone walls but there are other alternatives to niches that are pretty nice. Here's a link. They're very well built. I've had mine for several years and they still look like new. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Ginger Splashables
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Thank you for posting that example! I was just checking in on this thread hoping to see an example of where I might locate it on a tub/shower wall in terms of height since I will want to access it while lying down as well as while standing. Not a big deal (obviously!!!) but I want it to look right and to function right. I'm sure he is going to lose it on me. I have found all of this quite stressful at a time when work is also quite stressful. Oh well. This, along with a couple of the bathroom rated command hooks for loofahs and we should be all good for storage sice none of my bottles are more than 13 inches tall. I was not thinking quite clearly yesterday when I went to the Tile Shop. I wonder if he will also charge me $200 for tiling the little one? I hope not. He really seems lacking in creativity and a desire to do anything beyond what he "has seen" or certainly to do what I want; first on today's agenda will be me telling him that we are going to find a way to recess a medicine cabinet in a structural wall (after all it does support only the roof, not another whole story). He told me yesterday it would be impossible to do so. I really think he usually just doesn't want to do the work or put in the effort and hopes I will just take him at his word if he seems unpleasant enough to deal with. What s smart strategy! It really is not reflected in his other AL reviews but maybe they just took it as him being a seasoned authority. I probably should remind him I am an Angie's list member.
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StoneTech
11 years ago
Good picture of what I'm describing on this thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: niche pics
treasuretheday
11 years ago
Pictures of my niches are in the thread that StoneTech linked. We're really happy with the design of our niches, especially the rounded granite shelves. The middle shelf on our tall niche was installed in the way I believe that you are describing, with the shelf on top of the tile below it but directly against the Kerdi behind it.

You might get an idea from the photo below...
phiwwy
Original Author
11 years ago
So we made the bottom of the niches flush. There was not enough depth to make it worth it.

I have 2 niches so I'm not worried about the space or depth.

Good point about knocking into things. I would probably bang them when I'm wiping or cleaning the shower too.

This is crazy how many decisions go into tiling a shower! My field tile is 4x10.... that presents so many, not issues really, but decision points.
ShellKing
11 years ago
My niches are also on that thread (linked above) and they are a lot like your plan. You cannot see anything behind my glass shelves. They are between the tile on the back and the sides of the niche.
kelvar
11 years ago
treasuretheday - love the niches! I would have never ever thought to extend the edge of the niche. What a beautiful job you've done. Thanks to you and this forum for giving me yet another inspiration picture!

Niche question - tile guys will be onto the niches tomorrow

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cat_mom

StoneTech

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Niche question - tile guys will be onto the niches tomorrow

Comments (7)

cat_mom

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