How to Install the Single-Piece Shower

Measure the opening for the shower and the width of the doorways to the bathroom. Purchase a unit that will fit both through the doorway and into the shower opening. Note the location of the drain in the floor. Left, right or center openings are standard; manufacturers build models for each of these drain configurations. The purchased unit needs to have a shower pan drain that matches up to the drain in the floor.

Find the studs behind the walls of the shower opening. Use a pencil to make a mark on the walls where the studs are. This eliminates guesswork when the new unit is being installed.

Place the new shower unit in the shower opening. Line up the drain hole in the shower pan with the drain in the floor. Get the walls of the unit flush with the walls of the opening. Check for level. If the unit is not level, use shims as needed until level is achieved.

Find the location of the water supply and cut the necessary holes. There are usually two holes, one for the valve and one for the shower head, depending on the type of fixtures purchased. Use the hole saw with a fine toothed blade to make the cuts.

Attach the unit to the walls. Drive screws through the flanges on the unit. This flange is a lip that is there for the screws. Don't worry about the screws showing, there is usually a trim piece that covers the flanges. Start with the screws at the bottom on either side at the front of the shower. Then attach the upper inside corners. Work toward the outside edges and down the sides. Along the top edge place a screw in every stud. For the side edges, place a screw every 8 inches.

Install the drain and tighten in down with the drain wrench. Verify with the manufacturer's instructions about whether to use silicone caulk or putty to seal the drain. Install the fixtures per installation instructions. Install trim pieces on the flanges. Turn the water on and check for leaks. Let silicone dry for 24 hours prior to normal shower use.