How To Build A DIY Bathroom Shower Bench
A shower bench is a lifesaver when you are trying to exfoliate, shave your legs or scrub your feet. It’s also useful for disabled people who can’t stand for long periods of time in the shower, or who experience lightheadedness from medications.
Furthermore, it offers an extra surface to place your toiletries, towels or serve as an actual sitting bench.
If you experience mobility troubles, then a shower bench is the best way to cut down the effort you put in while taking a shower.
If you don’t have space for a wide bench like this, consider purchasing a shower chair or shower stool. We even show you how to build a shower stool.
When you decide to build a shower bench, you can choose from a wide range of materials and designs.
Here are a few tips on how to build a shower bench:
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How To Build A DIY Shower Bench
The above video is a great guide. You can also check out this Instructables tutorial to build this DIY shower bench, or proceed to our general instructions a bit down the page:
1. Choose the material
The type of material you go for should complement your bathroom. Moreover, it should withstand the constantly humid environment and soap chemicals.
In today’s market, you can choose from a selection of materials for your shower bench. These include:
- Wood
- Marble
- Teak
- Cedar
- Quarts
- Bamboo
- Acacia
Once you have selected the material, it’s crucial that you go an extra step to make it waterproof.
Out of all these selections, teak is the most recommended among experts since it is strong and naturally waterproof, hence durable.
2. Select your preferred style
When researching how to build a shower bench, you must have come across many pleasant and eye-catching styles.
Today, we will review permanent shower benches and consider three main types.
These include:
- Built-in- these are shower benches whose stand is on the shower wall or floor. They may be restricted to a corner or run the entire length of the bathroom.
- Floating- these benches are fixed on the wall but have no footing on the shower floor. These types of shower benches need careful engineering so that they do not collapse on you in the future.
- Fold-down- fold-down shower benches are a space-saving solution for people with smaller bathrooms. They have hinges that allow you to spread the bench when needed and fold it when not used.
Building a shower bench in a DIY project is a perfect way to upgrade your bathroom. However, you need to take proper measures to ensure that you do not compromise your pipe works or bathroom drainage while doing so.
To ensure you are walking on the right path, you need to know to interpret your bathroom’s blueprints and design.
If you are not sure of what to do, consulting with a professional is always the correct answer.
However, if you are well-informed in building and construction, below are helpful guidelines for building a shower bench.
Tools you will need
Consider building a wooden built-in shower bench. Some helpful tools you will need include:
- Nail gun
- Measuring tape
- Circular saw
- Level
- Power drill
- Tile backer board
- Tile trowel
- Thin-set tile
- Ceramic
- Pressure-treated lumber and plywood
- Waterproof shower pan liner membrane
Steps to building a shower bench
Below is an overview of the steps you take when building a shower bench:
- Choose the location and size of your shower bench
- Cut out the frame, including a slight inclination to help with water drainage
- Measure and cut the lumber to your selected size
- Nail the structure to the wall of your bathroom
- Cut the plywood for the bench seat
- Screw the plywood onto the frame
- Line the bench with the waterproof shower pan liner membrane
- Fix the bench to the wall with galvanized screws
- Seal any gaps with a thin-set mortar
- Install the tiles on any rough surfaces and wait to dry
If you cannot handle the proper installation of a shower bench, you can always ask for help from shower remodeling experts. Some individuals, particularly overweight and disabled individuals, can benefit from a bathtub transfer bench– they’ll help you or a loved one transition in and out of the tub.
Even more security and fall prevention assistance can be provided using a bathtub safety rail so that there’s a secure grip entering and leaving the bathtub.
