How to Add a Chrome Shower

Select the shower unit that will fit your space, based on the size and shape that works with your bathroom layout. Choose bypass glass doors or closable doors, based on your needs. Select routes for water pipes and the shower drain, so you can fit the shower around them.

Define the footprint the shower will take up on the floor using careful measurements. Construct a tile base or install an acrylic base over the floor drain.

Build a shower base to cover in tile. Cut a wooden liner for the shower pan from 3/4-inch thick plywood. Nail all parts of the liner together with a standard carpenter's hammer. Cut a hole in the plywood with a hole saw for the drain. Line the shower base with roofing felt and mesh that you staple into place with an electric staplegun.

Trowel on mortar to slope the base toward the drain. Staple on a shower pan flexible liner made of rubber before applying screed material for laying tile to cover the shower base. Seal spaces around the drain and along seams with silicone caulking.

Install a pre-made acrylic base, rather than a tile base, if you prefer. Dry fit the base directly on top of the subflooring. Mark the placement for cutting and fitting the drain. Check with a carpenter's level to ensure the acrylic shower pan is level, using shims of wood if needed to level it as perfectly as possible. Screw the flange to wall studs using galvanized screws and hook up the drain components.

Dry fit the glass shower's bottom metal railing that will hold the glass walls and door unit. Set the rails in place, using tape to hold them temporarily. Fit tape perpendicular to the rails to strap framing to the shower curb. Mark pilot holes you will need for screws to hold framing to the tile curb or acrylic base. Drill pilot holes using an electric drill and a 3/16-inch masonry drill bit.

Position vertical shower framework, with the help of a friend, to mark holes for screws on the wall. Measure and cut metal wall framing sections within 1/16-inch of what's needed. Cut every piece of metal framing this close to prevent leaks. Check framework with a level.

Mark the position of all bottom railings on the curb and remove the tape strapping railings temporarily to the curb. Apply a thick bead of silicone caulking under the bottom railings and screw all bottom railings in place to the curb with an electric screwdriver. Remove excess caulk with a damp cloth.

Install a bead of caulk behind sections of metal framing that will rest against the walls. Secure screws into the wall tiles. Get friends to help position the first section of glass, working outward from the wall side. Add silicone caulk between one section of glass and another, if your shower has multiple sections of glass side by side.

Follow the manufacturer's guidelines in moving glass sections into place. Add silicone caulk directly to the bottom sections of wall glass that will rest directly on a tile floor with no metal railing, for example, due to the fact some glass showers do not use metal floor framing. Set the glass on rubber pads (shims) included in the shower kit as you maneuver each section.

Drive screws for brackets or door handles with appropriate hand-held screwdrivers to prevent glass breakage. Snap on any chrome edging provided by the manufacturer for corners or top edges.