skip to main content

How to Attach AO Corner Shelves in New Shower?

13 years ago

I usually hang out over on the Roses Forums, but I need some bathroom help, so I jumped over here.

I am in the home stretch of a complete bathroom redo with new EVERYTHING. For the past couple of days, I have been installing AO 3x6 subway tile in the new shower. I missed my opportunity during framing and wall installation to design and build a niche, so I decided it would be okay to use a couple of the matching ceramic corner shelves instead. I left out the tiles where the corner shelves will go ... and now I'm stressing about making sure that the shelves will be installed securely.

The shower is Hardibacker with 2 coats of Redgard, and I'm using "Mapei Ultraflex 1 Tile Mortar with Polymer". Is this really sufficient to install these shelves, as I have read? I was thinking, 1/4" notch, taped in place, and left to cure for a couple of days.

When I gutted this bathroom, I removed a tub with mortar-bed and tile walls, and I had to hammer the 40-year-old soap dishes off the wall, and they appeared to be installed right along with the tile, using the same mortar.

Normally, I'm not the type who gets all nervous about remodeling and renovating. I tend to jump in and figure out all the details as I come to them ... except this. Any help will be VERY much appreciated. Photos to come soon. I know how much we all LOVE to see other people's projects.

Thanks,

Connie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

hartwood
Original Author
13 years ago
This forum sure has been sleepy this week.

The rest of the shower is finished, and it was time today to install the dreaded corner shelves. I trusted my instincts on this one and just went for it ... loaded up the back of the shelves and the holes with mortar, said a quick prayer, and squished them into place. They're holding perfectly in position without any tape. I plan to wait till at least Thursday to grout to give the mortar a chance to cure ... I have other things to do for the next couple of days, so waiting isn't that big of a deal.

Photos forthcoming.
Stacey Collins
13 years ago
Hi Hartwood,
I think the forum has been sleepy because they have been having tech difficulties. I responded to this post, and others, and my replies were all deleted somehow!

What I said was that in our last house, we had these shelves, and they were installed with the tile, i.e. the field tile was cut around them, so they were partly supported by the tile edges. The tiler also taped them in place while the thinset set.

Stacey
Related Discussions
Shower Niche vs. Corner Shelves
Q
Comments (28)
@thisisnotadrill That is a great suggestion that I just did last night and it saved me $20 and maybe my marriage! I cut out both the rectangular, the quadrilateral as well as the triangle shelf and the other corner shelf that is triangular but more squared off. Everything will fit on two of them. I almost ordered the quadrilateral one but the wife prefered the shelf-E with corner/squared off one. Plus, I am putting one of the triangle corner shelves at the first grout line 24" high for her to put her foot on to help shave her legs.
...See More
How can I attach a shelf to a tempered glass wall?
Q
Comments (13)
Our glass currently has a number of holes already -- there are handles on both sides of the door, for example, that connect with each other through the glass. The shower pipe is attached to the glass in another spot -- it goes through the glass and is capped by a chromed cap on the other side. Also, the glass door's hinges are attached to both the door and the wall by bolts, which go through the glass... If no reliable glue exists on the market, I may be back to drilling holes. If this is not a safe undertaking, I may consider hiring an insured pro. The procedure does seem complicated :( Could my glass be somehow "special"? Maybe, it is not really tempered? Or, perhaps, it is not glass, but some kind of transparent plastic? Puzzling... Milkworkman, it is not at all impolite, when given an opinion, to inquire, what the basis of it is. Nor is there anything inherently wrong with arguing (which I did not even do), much less with asking follow-up questions (which I did). My responses weren't hostile -- but yours is. Please, stop. Here is a link that might be useful: How to Drill a Hole in Tempered Glass
...See More
shower niches vs wire rack corner units
Q
Comments (10)
I have slightly high ceilings, and I had a really hard time finding a floor-to-ceiling wire unit. At first, the only one I could find was from Frontgate, and it was more than $100!!!! Then I found one at Bed Bath & Beyond that could be made long enough to reach all the way. It's definitely sturdy enough. And the price was right--under $30. I think the wire pole has more visual clutter. That's about the only drawback, I think. And they don't look high-end. Were I starting from scratch, given that my home is mid to high range in my neighborhood, I'd probably try to do something more permanent, less "jury rigged" looking. I sometimes consider getting a wall-mounted dispenser instead. My sis had a problem w/ all the shampoos falling on the floor all the time, bcs there were too many for the little niche, etc. I got her a 'The Dispenser," and encouraged her to tell her teens that they had to use the same brand of shampoo. I think that's what she did.
...See More
Are corner shelves sturdy enough for shaving legs?!
Q
Comments (16)
This is an old thread but I'm currently dealing with the "shaving" issue. I'm replacing a tub-shower combo with a Swanstone shower, and was thinking that putting in the seat would make the shower too cramped. So my Swanstone guy suggested this recessed accessory shelf as an alternative. I think this could work instead of a shelf or seat. Any opinions? Here is a link that might be useful: Swanstone recessed accessory shelf for shaving legs?
...See More
hartwood
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, Stacey. I figured it was the technical issues that are causing the lack of posts on all of the threads on the forum. Instead of leaving my post to descend unanswered, I updated it with my solution ... in case it comes up on a search later.

The field tiles are cut to fit around the flange behind the shelves, and they look really good. Nothing has hit the floor yet ... which is a good thing. :)

Next step? Grouting tomorrow afternoon!

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Pick a Shower Niche That's Not Stuck in a Rut

By By Any Design Ltd.

Forget "standard." When you're designing a niche, the shelves and spacing have to work for your individual needs

SHOWERS Turn Your Shower Niche Into a Design Star

By Becky Harris

Clear glass surrounds have raised the design bar for details such as shampoo and soap shelves. Here are 4 standouts

BATHROOM DESIGN Houzz Call: Have a Beautiful Small Bathroom? We Want to See It!

By Mitchell Parker

Corner sinks, floating vanities and tiny shelves — show us how you’ve made the most of a compact bathroom

MOST POPULAR 8 Beautiful Ideas for Floating Shelves

By Laura Gaskill

Get clean-lined storage and display on walls, over windows and in nooks using versatile floating shelving

DIY PROJECTS Storage Shortage? Make an Industrial-Style Shelving Unit

By Julie Ranee Photography

Outfit your kitchen, basement or garage with handy new shelves to help keep your stuff neat and within reach

Avoid Falling Bottles with a Shower Niche!

By Becky Harris

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Design an Accessible Shower

By By Any Design Ltd.

Make aging in place safer and easier with universal design features in the shower and bathroom

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 1 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Get all the remodel details down on paper

BATHROOM DESIGN Bath of the Week: A Lovely Update for a Victorian Tub

By Mary Jo Bowling

Adding a walk-in shower and other modern amenities makes a tiny bathroom beautiful and user friendly

BATHROOM DESIGN 5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid

By Dylan Chappell Architects

Get your bath right for the long haul by dodging these blunders in toilet placement, shower type and more

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is it possible to change a color of a granite countertop

3

Massive pipe sticking out of house!

4

Why would anyone use tile and grout in a shower??

13

AXOR Brushed bronze support bar

1

tilebar kenridge ribbon white

1