How to Frame a Corner Acrylic Shower

Set the shower base in place and measure the distance along both sides for the floor and ceiling plates, top and bottom boards for the frame. Indicate the measurement on 2-by-4-inch boards with a square and pencil. Use a saw to cut the floor and ceiling plates. Set the floor plate boards in place next to the shower base and mark their location on the floor. Move the shower base out of the way.

Locate the joists in the ceiling with a stud finder. Cut and remove the ceiling drywall above the intended frame location with a keyhole saw or reciprocating saw if the frame will run parallel to the joists. Measure the width between the joists and indicate the measurement on a 2-by-4-inch board with a pencil and square. Cut boards to brace the joists every 16 inches. Toe-nail the brace boards into place by driving two nails at an angle through each end into the joists.

Place the floor and ceiling plate boards next to each other on the floor, and line them up flush. Hold a scrap piece of 2-by-4 board on end flush with the end of the ceiling plate board. Trace the inside edge of the scrap board onto the plate board.

Measure 16 inches in from the edge of the plate board and mark the location with the pencil. Line the scrap board up on the plate board centered over the 16-inch mark. Trace the outline of the scrap board onto the plate board. Adjust the distance between the studs to 12 inches where the shower head will be located. Continue this process until all the frame stud locations are indicated on the ceiling plate.

Make the same marks on the floor plate. Count the number of stud outlines on the floor plate to determine how many wall stud boards will be needed.

Measure from the ceiling to the floor and subtract 3 inches to determine the length of the frame studs. Use a pencil and square to indicate the length on the stud boards. Use a saw to cut the boards to the proper length.

Set the ceiling plate boards on the floor, narrow edge down. Set the stud boards in place along the ceiling plates. Line the first stud board up carefully on the first pencil mark. Drive two nails, spaced approximately 1 inch apart, through the ceiling plate into the bottom of the stud board. Use this process to attach all the stud boards to both ceiling plates.

Set the floor plate boards in place and nail them to the floor using two nails spaced evenly apart in each section between the pencil marks for the studs.

Lift the ceiling plate, with the wall studs attached, into place. Use a plumb bob and level to make sure the ceiling plate is lined up perfectly with the floor plate and to make sure the wall studs are plumb. Secure the ceiling plate to the ceiling joists or braces with two nails driven through the ceiling plate into the joist or brace above at each intersection.

Use a level to make sure the studs are perfectly plumb and lined up properly with the pencil marks on the floor plate. Toe-nail two nails through the base of each stud into the floor plate.

Cut two 12-inch-long 2-by-4-inch boards for the plumbing fixture braces. Measure up from the floor to where the shower faucet fixture will be located, and slide one of the braces between the studs. Make sure it is level, and secure it with two nails driven through the wall stud into the brace at each end. Measure up to where the shower head will be located and install another brace in the same fashion.