Shower install advice

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I'm getting ready to build my garage, finally . I'm stuck on one final thing before I get started. That's the shower for the bathroom. The structure will be concrete block. I plan to use one of several preformed shower units. But here's my question:

Being I have concrete walls do I still need to build out a wood framenext to the exterior walls?? In other words can I just attach the shower to the bare concrete walls??

This will determine where the plumber puts the drain in the concrete floor prior to pouring the slab. Most of the install structures show building a wood frame around the shower unit but they also mention screwing it directly to the concrete wall.

What have been your experiences with this sort of install??

Thanks

 

[kbs2244]

I Fla I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Up North those walls would be real cold in Feb. if they were not insulated.

 

[ScottC]

Just make sure that you have a void space around the shower drain stubout. I forgot this and didn't have room to fit the shower drain threaded connection. I ended up building a 2" wooden platform that the shower sits on.

 

[ovilla]

The big benefit to framing it in is that you can use the moisture resistant drywall and insulation. I'd still do it this way to ensure that's it's sealed tight, which will help your exhaust fan get rid of moisture/odors.

 

[Falcon05Dad]

In mine, I framed in a 48"x34" shower base and three sheets of cement board for the walls. There's a tile plant nearby and I get very good prices on "seconds" at their outlet store, so the bathroom floor and shower will be tile.

The advantage I have is that the bathroom is upstairs so the plumbing was easier than your's will be.

 

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

In mine, I framed in a 48"x34" shower base and three sheets of cement board for the walls. There's a tile plant nearby and I get very good prices on "seconds" at their outlet store, so the bathroom floor and shower will be tile.

The advantage I have is that the bathroom is upstairs so the plumbing was easier than your's will be.

I've been seriously giving this some thought. Makes it a little easier to build what you want and make sure the shower head is high enough for someone 6-2. I hate stooping for a too low shower.

 

[1320stang]

I'd at least frame up with 2x4's laid flat against the block when using a preformed unit. Were you just going to have bare block on the wall next to it? As far as the shower head, my shower heads in my 1 piece bathtub w/ surround has the head mounted above the fiberglass insert by a good 6". In the master bath, I installed a shower head that has a flexible neck, my wife can adjust it down to shower without getting her hair wet and I can adjust it up high where I like it. I also flipped the neck to where it points up instead of down. I got the idea from a custom house I once built that had two shower heads mounted one above the other with a diverter valve.

 

[gesoffen]

If you go the semi custom shower (i.e. not a pre-fab), consider checking out the shower systems by Schluter. They offer a moisture barrier that is easy to work with and tile over, a floor drain that is brilliant in its simplicity and functionality (allows nearly 3/4" adjustment in X and Y and several inches in Z), and they have shower pan systems that you can modify to your space.

I just finished a basement shower (tiled) with their Schulter Kerdi barrier and the Kerdi shower drain - cost a few bucks for the materials but worth every cent in terms of performance and easy of installation.

http://www.schluter.com/

No affiliated - just a satisfied customer.