How to Create Recessed Shelves in a Shower Wall

Move a stud finder along the shower wall where you want to install the shelves. Mark the location of the studs. The niche is designed to fit between studs in the wall cavity. Because these are retrofit items, it is a good idea to position the niche near the shower head, where there will be little water spray directly on the niche. Turn on the shower so that you can see where the water hits the walls.

Mark the top of the niche opening with a horizontal piece of tape that is at least 12 inches long. Draw a horizontal line on the tape using a level and a marker. Measure 11 5/8 inches along that line and mark each end. Place 12 inches of tape from the end mark down vertically on the tile. Measure and draw an 11-5/8-inch line vertically level down the tape. Repeat for the second side. Place your final tape horizontally between your bottom marks and draw your last 11-5/8-inch horizontally level line. This is the outline of the niche, and it should be over an empty cavity in the wall.

Put on safety goggles, gloves and a face mask. Drill through the tile or stone at the corner mark using a carbide-tipped drill, keeping the blade moist with water. Run the drill at variable speed to prevent burning up the drill or blade. Repeat for each corner.

Cut along the lines on the tape with a carbide-tipped rotary saw blade designed for cutting tile. Cut through the tile, mortar and cement backer board. Remove the debris immediately to prevent damage to the shower.

Remove the remaining tape on the tile and clean the tiles. Test-fit the niche in the opening. Apply new tape 1/8 inch around the outside perimeter of the niche. Remove the niche. Apply a bead of silicone adhesive to the back underside edge of the porcelain lip. Apply five or six large globs of adhesive to the back side of the niche, evenly spaced. Press the niche into the opening and tight to the tile. The globs should lightly attach the back of the niche to the inside of the drywall of the adjacent room. The rest of the adhesive attaches directly to the shower wall.

Press the niche tight into the tile. Apply a bead of silicone around the perimeter face of the niche and smooth with a wet-tipped rag. This should be over the edge of the tape on the wall, as the tape will prevent the silicone from smearing on the tile. Apply tape from the niche to the wall to help hold pressure on the adhesive. Position a board from the inside of the niche to the opposite wall that is slightly longer than the distance. This will cause the board to bow slightly and hold pressure on the niche. Allow the adhesive to dry for 24 hours.