If you are busy setting up your home bathroom and would like to save on the cost of completing the work, considering doing without professional labor rather than sacrificing the quality of your bathroom fixtures and furnishings can be a valid solution. If you are wondering how to install a shower enclosure and, above all, whether you have the skills and familiarity required to complete this job successfully, you are in the right place. In this article, we will see together how to install a shower enclosure like a true professional, taking all necessary precautions to minimize the risk of mistakes and damage to the items.
How to install a shower enclosure: tools and materials needed
To proceed with your DIY shower enclosure installation, you will need:
- Tape measure;
- Spirit level;
- Drill;
- Screws and wall plugs;
- Screwdrivers or electric screwdrivers;
- Silicone;
- Gloves;
- Masking tape;
- Safety goggles.
With your toolbox fully stocked with everything you need to proceed with the installation, you can now move on to the operational phases of this task.
Prepare the setting: clean before installing the shower enclosure
To ensure a flawless job, you must make sure that the workspace and the items you will be working with are spotless. clean the shower tray to have a clean and tidy workspace. If the shower tray has already been installed, proceed directly to the next step.
Otherwise, position the tray by aligning the shower tray waste hole with the one on the floor, then proceed with the steps that will lead to the complete installation of the shower tray.
Clean the shower enclosure profiles before installing them
The shower enclosure must be completely clean before being installed. This is because, when you proceed to seal the components with silicone, applying it to a dust-free surface will prevent dirt from getting trapped inside.
After washing them thoroughly, proceed to dry them or let them air dry by leaning them against a clean wall.
Take and note down the measurements for a flawless shower enclosure installation
This is the first operational step to pay close attention to in order to achieve the expected result. Equipped with masking tape and a pen, you will need to measure the drilling points and the precise positions where the shower enclosure profiles will be placed on the walls. Use the spirit level to ensure that the measurements and slopes are at the exact desired inclination. Mark the points on the masking tape with a pencil/marker where you need to drill, and prepare for the next step, where you will drill into the wall at the newly marked spots.
Drill the wall to install the shower enclosure
Using the drill, drill the tiles at the marked spots with a drill bit specifically designed for ceramics. Take your time to drill just enough to insert the screws for the profile supports, making sure not to activate the hammer action until the drill has passed through the tile and started drilling into the brick, which may require firmer movements. Executing this step with particular caution will minimize the risk of breaking the tile, which would make its replacement necessary.
Fix the shower enclosure walls
After drilling the walls for the shower enclosure profile supports, use a screwdriver or an electric screwdriver to fix the profiles and insert the screws into their respective wall plugs provided with your product.
Afterwards, proceed with the assembly of the shower enclosure profiles, making sure to insert the walls into the appropriate tracks, taking into account the direction of each wall and ensuring that every part is joined as planned.
To complete this step successfully, you will find instructions in the shower enclosure installation manual included in the packaging of your product. Perform this task with care and attention to execute each step precisely, sliding each panel into its track slowly and correctly.
Close the corners to complete the shower enclosure installation
To finalize the work, use the specific connectors included in the package to close the corners and complete the shower enclosure assembly. At this point, all you have to do is seal every component of your new shower enclosure with silicone. Do this with white or clear silicone (depending on the color and model of the shower enclosure you selected) and let it dry for at least 8 hours. Properly executing the assembly phase of the shower enclosure is of fundamental importance for the quality of your future showers and is one of the main causes of water leaks from the shower enclosure when not done correctly. Also, remember to periodically monitor the condition of the silicone, and remove it when it deteriorates over time to reapply it.
By following these steps, you will have completed the installation of your new shower enclosure. The skill level required to complete this job smoothly and without any particular difficulties is intermediate, so you do not need to be a professional builder, but you shouldn't tackle this as your very first experience in the fascinating and convenient world of DIY.
Create the bathroom of your dreams by choosing high-quality items, saving on installation labor rather than on the quality of the products you install in your bathroom.
