How to Build a Shower Nook

Prepare the shower wall and plan where the nook will be placed. In new shower construction, the nook can be built after the cement backer board and waterproof membrane for the shower wall is installed. It may be ideal to tile the shower walls nearly up to the nook level before beginning nook construction to ensure that tiling will more easily line up. The nook must be placed between wall studs and should ideally be located where there is no wiring or plumbing. If the nook is being implemented in an existing shower, the tiles and mortar in the area will have to be removed.

Cut the space for the recessed nook. Cut a space nearly as wide as the stud bay, even if the nook will not be as wide. Take the thickness of the cement backer board and tiling into account when creating an opening.

Install the framing for the nook. Measure and cut two lengths of 2-by-4s to fit tightly between wall studs to form the ceiling and bottom of the nook space. Use the hammer to tap the 2-by-4s snugly into place. Use screws, if necessary, to attach the horizontal 2-by-4s to the wall studs. If the space between the wall studs is wider than the desired nook, cut and install a length of 2-by-4 vertically to act as a new wall.

Measure and cut a section of cement backer board for each surface within the nook.

Install the backer board, beginning with the piece for the rear wall. It may not be necessary to secure the rear piece, as the pieces for the side walls will hold the back wall boards in place. Use screws to secure the cement backer board to the frame.

Measure and cut a piece of waterproof membrane to cover the interior of the nook. The membrane should be cut so it will extend a few inches out of the nook and onto the surrounding shower wall.

Affix the waterproof membrane. Apply an adhesive suited for the specific material type and press the membrane into the nook, working from the inside out and making sure the membrane is smooth and no air is trapped behind it.

Prepare to install the trim pieces or tiling around the edge of the opening. Use bullnose cap tiles, which have a lip, placing them so that the lipped edge hangs over into the nook slightly. Take into account the thickness of the tiles that will be placed on the nook's side walls. Use tile cutters to cut any tiles to fit around the nook as desired or necessary.

Install the bullnose cap tiles. Use a notched trowel to spread a thin, even layer of thinset mortar around the perimeter of the nook and press the tiles into the mortar. Use tile spacers between tiles to maintain adequate and uniform spaces. Check for evenness with a level and make any adjustments necessary before the mortar sets.

Prepare tiles for the back wall of the nook. To achieve a pleasant appearance, the tiles at the back of the wall must typically either align with the surrounding tiles or be placed diagonally and centered in the nook. Cut tiles to accommodate the desired design.

Spread thinset mortar on the back wall using a notched trowel and press the tiles into the mortar, use spacers between tiles and check to make sure tiles are even.

Tile the side walls and roof of the nook using the same mortaring techniques as with the bullnose tiles and the rear wall tiles.

Install the bottom of the nook. The bottom must have a slightly slope to facilitate drainage. Build up the mortar so it is slightly deeper at the rear of the nook. Use a straight-edged object to make sure that there are no low spots in the mortar. Run the notched trowel over it and press the tiles into the mortar. Check to make sure that the tiles are barely sloped towards the shower drain but no tiles on the nook bottom have a lip.

Apply grout to the spaces between tiles in the nook. This can be done at the same time the remainder of the shower is treated with grout.

Apply a bead of silicone caulk to all corners within the nook.