DIY shower enclosure repair

In detail: DIY shower enclosure repair from a real master for my.housecope.com.

A shower enclosure is a simple thing, but very useful. It looks especially attractive that its cost is several times less than that of a shower stall. In addition, it is quite simple to install a shower corner with your own hands, this will further reduce the burden on the family budget.

Shower corner with deep tray

The main difference between a corner and a full-fledged shower stall is that the corner is just a fenced-off part of the bathroom. The shower cubicle is much more complicated, it is a kind of capsule, in which many manufacturers provide for such pleasant additions as hydromassage of the back, feet, equip them with a telephone, a steam generator, etc.

Note!
If, in the case of a shower corner, additional lighting is not needed, then in the booth, most likely, there will not be enough light, so it is equipped with lighting.
That is, it is more difficult to connect the cabin, in addition to water supply and sewerage, you will also need an outlet.

The shower stall is much more equipped than a conventional shower enclosure

Do-it-yourself installation of a shower enclosure will require solving several problems:

you will need to organize a reliable water drain;
you will also need a cold and hot water connection;
the final stage can be considered the installation of the walls.

Moreover, one and the same problem can be solved in different ways.

For example, when organizing a drain, you can go in 2 ways:

just buy a shower tray, raise it above floor level and mask all the pipes under the shower tray itself;

Note!
From the point of view of ease of repair, installation of a shower enclosure in this way can be considered optimal.
And so that the gap between the pallet and the floor does not disfigure the interior of the bathroom, it can always be closed with a decorative panel.

Video (click to play).

do not use the pallet at all - in this case, even at the stage of screed installation, you will have to install a shower drain into the floor and ensure the required slope;

Shower drain diagram

a compromise option - the flattest pallet is used. In this case, a regular siphon will not work; you will have to look for special flat models. Sometimes a recess is made in the floor so that, after installation, the edges of the pallet do not rise above the floor level in the bathroom.

Even at the stage of choosing a pallet, you need to think about the shape of the future corner. If, for example, you plan to install a 5-corner shower enclosure, then the shape of the shower tray must be appropriate.

As for the material of the walls, the choice in this matter is not very large.

If we discard completely budgetary options, when the corner is simply fenced off with curtains, then we can highlight:

glass walls - only tempered glass with a thickness of 8-10 mm is used, you can choose any color, and only the price can scare you away from the purchase. The cost of glass sheets will go far beyond 10 thousand rubles;

Glass shower enclosure to fit into any décor

plastic - it is possible to note their lower weight, lower resistance to mechanical stress and low weight, which somewhat facilitates installation. Otherwise, a nice pattern can also be applied to the plastic and the shower corner will look quite stylish.

Plastic shower corners can look good too

The main installation steps have already been listed. It remains only to consider them in more detail and pay special attention to small, but important details.

It is necessary to start installing shower enclosures with your own hands with the installation and connection of the pallet to the sewer pipe.We will consider the optimal option from the point of view of labor costs - when the pallet is raised above the floor and pipes are placed in the resulting gap.

The instructions for performing the work will look like this:

the pallet itself is first tried on, the position of the drain hole is noted;
then the sewer corrugation is attached to the sewer pipe, its other end is attached to the siphon using a union nut;
after that, the siphon is attached to the pallet itself, installed in the corner. The level of the pallet is checked by the level and, if necessary, its position is adjusted using threaded legs;

The photo shows the installed siphon

Note!
Particular attention should be paid to the junction of the sides of the pallet and the walls, these places must be carefully greased with a sealant.
If this is not done, then dampness, mold and mildew under the pallet are guaranteed.

after that, it remains only to fix the panels that hide the gap at the floor.

Instead of decorative panels, you can lay out brick sides

At this stage, the main problems most often arise with how to seal the shower enclosure. An ordinary silicone sealant is also suitable for this, you should not try to find a miracle composition, the main thing that needs to be ensured is the rigidity of the pallet, it should not bend a millimeter.

This is what most often becomes the reason for the dampness of the space under it. Even if the deflection is 1-2 mm, the edge of the pallet easily peels off the layer of hardened sealant, and water seeps into the gap without any problems.

If the rigidity of the factory frame is not enough, then you can always put an ordinary brick under the pallet (put a piece of rubber on top so as not to scratch the plumbing fixture).

Checking the rigidity of the frame

If, despite all efforts to seal the shower corner, dampness is still felt in the bathroom, mustiness and fungus cannot be removed, then the reason should be sought in poor ventilation. Of course, you should first check the tightness of the joints.

This stage can be considered final in deciding how to install a shower enclosure.

Much depends on the design of the corner:

if the bathroom is tiled, then the walls of the bathroom itself can act as the back wall. In this case, the installation is very simple - just fix the metal profiles and insert glass or plastic into them;
but a shower enclosure with a back wall will require a little more effort, you will also need to install opaque rear walls.

Read also: DIY glass repair

Note!
Shower corners with a back wall can be installed in wooden houses.
They can also be placed not only in the corner of the room, but also slightly removed from the walls of the room.

Shower corner option with back wall

As for how to properly install the shower enclosure, the installation procedure remains the same, if placed against the wall, you need:

install metal profiles on the wall and on the floor. Naturally, before installation, the verticality of the arrangement is checked, then holes are simply drilled and the profile on the dowels is attached to the wall;

The pallet is installed, the profiles are fixed

Note!
For the tightness of the shower corner, the joint between the profile and the wall must be coated with a sealant.

The joints are carefully coated with sealant

then the glass walls are simply inserted into the profiles. Formally, rubber gaskets should provide sufficient tightness, but it would not be superfluous to insure and additionally coat them with silicone. In this case, water will definitely not get into the gap between the glass and the gasket;

Insufficient tightness of the joints can lead to this result.

you can also advise on top of the glass sheet to additionally fix the metal lintel to the opposite wall, which will increase the rigidity of the structure. On this question, how to assemble a shower enclosure can be considered closed.

For shower corners that are not adjacent to the bathroom walls, the procedure remains the same, except that the profiles do not need to be fixed to the wall. The frame is simply assembled, and then the walls are mounted.

Self-assembly of a shower corner is an extremely simple task. All that needs to be done is to install the pallet, connect it to the sewer and fix it around the perimeter of the wall. Any novice builder can handle this.

The video in this article can be considered a detailed guide to installing your shower enclosure.

Repairing shower trays is an undertaking that can be done independently. Despite the fact that the plumbing is made with a sufficient margin of safety, even it often breaks. A cracked pallet makes the washing process impossible, which creates significant discomfort for people.

The simplest solution is to replace the damaged fragment. However, it is quite expensive and time consuming. As a rule, this work can only be performed by experienced professionals. It is much more profitable and faster to repair the shower tray with your own hands. For this, the set of household tools that are in every pantry is quite enough. To know how to repair a cracked bowl, it is necessary to dwell on the nature of the origin of this unpleasant phenomenon.

Today on the market there are shower cabins made at domestic enterprises in Europe and Asia. Almost all manufacturers provide a multi-year warranty for their products. To avoid buying a low-quality fake, you need to check that the seller has a certificate and appropriate markings on all parts of the shower stall. But even the most reliable documents will not protect the pallet from damage.

These products crack for the following reasons:

Manufacturing defect. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common phenomenon that consumers have to deal with. Defect is the presence of voids in the shell mass, distortion or violation of its geometry. In some cases, if the production technology is violated, the strength of the material is significantly inferior to the declared parameters. If such a product is under warranty and there is a receipt, then it is better to hand it over to the store or replace it with another similar product.
Errors made during the installation process. The most common mistake that inexperienced craftsmen make is to install the shower stall on an uneven surface. This leads to an uneven distribution of the external load and the creation of internal stress in the material. Another mistake is over-tightening or under-tightening the fasteners.
Violation of the rules for operating the shower cabin. These products must be handled with great care. Cracks can form due to excessive pressure on the sink with several people standing on it. Damage occurs when heavy and sharp objects fall onto the pallet.

So, the shower tray is cracked, what should I do? Having dealt with the reasons for the appearance of cracks in the container, it is necessary to carefully prepare for the repair work.It is necessary to start repairing acrylic shower trays immediately after damage is found. Otherwise, the crack will begin to widen and the entire bowl may split. In such cases, no repairs will help. Having found a crack, you must immediately stop using the shower stall. The container must be thoroughly washed and degreased. After that, you should leave the bathroom to ventilate. Work can only be carried out in the absence of moisture and dampness. Image - DIY shower enclosure repair

To repair an acrylic shower tray, you will need the following tools and materials:

sharp knife;
scissors;
building level;
wrench;
screwdriver;
epoxy adhesive;
fiberglass;
acrylic paint;
sandpaper;
paint brush;
ethanol;
dentifrice;
rags;
respirator;
protective goggles and gloves.

Before starting work, it is advisable to remove children and pets from the premises. The reagents used in the repair are toxic and have a pungent odor.

During the operation of shower cabins, small and deep cracks, chips and holes can form in their bowls. Each case requires a separate troubleshooting approach. Repairs must be carried out so as not to redo the work performed after a short period of time. Consider a list of measures that are carried out when eliminating various kinds of damage in the bowl of the shower stall.

This is the most common malfunction that occurs on shower trays. If the crack is repaired right away, then the destruction of the bowl will end there.

Such work must be done in the following sequence:

Use a sharp knife to clean the edges of the crack. It is necessary to scrape off the acrylic until the walls of the scratch acquire the original color.
Remove generated dust with a vacuum cleaner. Wipe the treated material with ethyl alcohol.
Wear goggles, respirator and gloves. Prepare acrylic paint for use.
Using a brush, apply acrylic paint to the scratch. Depending on its depth, repeat the procedure several times until the paint level exceeds the level of the bottom of the bowl.
After the paint is completely dry, smooth out all beads with sandpaper, gradually reducing its graininess.

The final stage of the repair is polishing. To avoid unnecessary expenses, you can use a mixture of toothpaste and tooth powder. With this composition, you can bring the surface of the bowl to a mirror shine.

If the damage is deep, then it can quickly destroy the entire bowl, rapidly increasing in size. If the product has burst throughout its entire volume, then staining is indispensable here. More action needs to be taken.

Dismantle the bowl. To do this, you will need to turn off the water and disconnect all communications from the shower stall. If bolts and nuts are corroded, they must be treated with silicone grease. This will greatly facilitate the process of unscrewing them.

After such a repair, the pallet will become stronger than at the time of sale. Its service life will increase significantly.

A similar nuisance can happen when heavy construction tools or a massive shower head fall into the bowl. Despite the fact that the problem seems insoluble, it can be easily eliminated using all the same household tools and materials at hand.

Repair of holes must be carried out in the following sequence:

Remove the container from the base. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage its edges and not split. Clean the bowl from all types of dirt, wash and dry.
Clean the edges of the hole from all contamination. Remove protruding fibers and fragile fragments. Degrease the acrylic with rubbing alcohol.
Apply a strong patch on the inner surface of the pallet, which is necessary to fix the filler and seal it. For this, epoxy glue and several layers of any durable material are used. It is best to use fiberglass, which is intended for just such a purpose.
Prepare epoxy adhesive according to the attached instructions. Pour it into the hole so that it protrudes slightly above the surface of the bottom of the pallet. To avoid voids in the epoxy filler, wire the epoxy in several places.
Place another patch over the glue-filled hole. For this, epoxy glue and thin fiberglass are used. Paint the patch with acrylic paint after drying.

It is advisable to carry out such repairs only when the hole diameter does not exceed 10 cm. If it is larger or there are several holes, then it is impossible to eliminate such a breakdown.The pallet structure loses its integrity and strength.Problems with the shower cabin can be easily avoided if you follow all the rules for using this product. First of all, it is necessary to exactly fulfill all the requirements for installing the pallet. When taking water procedures, you do not need to bounce on the sink and invite a companion with you. Handle very carefully with a watering can, made of metal and having sharp edges. If dropped from a height, the watering can can scratch, split, or puncture the bowl. Image - DIY shower enclosure repair

You can only clean acrylic from dirt with soap or alcohol solutions. Acetone and acid can dissolve and damage this material. When installing the shower stall, its bottom can be strengthened, which will protect it from breaking and cracking. To do this, bricks are laid out under the bowl, and the free space is blown out with polyurethane foam or filled with silicone.

The pallet should be regularly inspected for damage. If they are identified, repairs must be carried out immediately. This way, the pallet's lifespan will be practically unlimited.

From the author: hello dear readers! In recent years, we have begun to pay more and more attention to the comfort of our home. Modern manufacturers have also caught this wave, so the market has been flooded with various devices that are designed to make our life the most convenient and comfortable. Especially global changes have affected the bathrooms. Toilets with lights and radios, jacuzzis and the like - could we have thought of something like this fifteen years ago?Of course, a jacuzzi can still not be found in every home. But shower cabins are becoming more and more popular. They are convenient and do not take up much space (although the latter factor depends on the specific model). In addition, closed models have many interesting features. In them you can take a rain shower or enjoy aromatherapy, get a hydromassage treatment and benefit the body in other ways.However, just this type of booth is usually distinguished by its impressive dimensions. Therefore, in small bathrooms, open models are more relevant. They take up very little space, and installing a shower enclosure yourself is quite simple. In today's article, we will analyze just this procedure.The modern market offers many types of shower stalls, which, in general, are divided into two types: open and closed. The last type is named so because such a model is closed on all sides: it has walls, a floor, a ceiling. In fact, this is a small separate room for taking water treatments.As mentioned above, such cabins can have a variety of interesting functions for massage, relaxation, and the like. In general, the equipment brings a considerable amount of comfort to the life of the owners, this is especially true for those who are very fond of water procedures.Of course, there were some drawbacks. Closed cabins have the following disadvantages:

a complex installation procedure, especially in the case of the presence of those very additional functions. In principle, you can buy the equipment already assembled and not bother with connecting each element. But it often happens that such an assembled model simply does not pass through the bathroom door. As a rule, the case still ends with a call to the master, who assembles the stall directly in the bathroom;

price. Plumbing is generally distinguished by considerable prices, and when it comes not just about water supply, but also about comfort, it can turn out to be completely costly. Moreover, the more functions, the more expensive the model, which is natural. On the other hand, they usually serve for a long time, and they bring a lot of pleasure;

dimensions. The large dimensions mentioned in the first paragraph can be a critical factor when it comes to a typical bathroom in an ordinary apartment building.What can we say about the notorious combined bathrooms in Khrushchev, where it is generally difficult to turn around. Such a cabin simply will not fit there.

If all of the listed disadvantages - especially the last one - are of great importance to you, then the shower corner will come to the rescue. It is easy to install, inexpensive, and most importantly, takes up much less space than closed models.In fact, the main set of such equipment consists of a pallet and doors. The side walls are the adjacent walls of the bathroom itself. Thus, you get a corner in which the shower equipment is located, a pallet is mounted, and the whole thing is closed with a door and, in part, with panels.There is no ceiling in such a corner, so, of course, you cannot put various "bells and whistles" like a tropical shower here. But the production of work is greatly simplified. And such equipment will in any case bring convenience and comfort with it, no matter where it is located: even in a city apartment, even in a wooden house.To make the installation procedure easy and hassle-free, we suggest reading the instructions below for installing a conventional shower enclosure with a pallet with your own hands. Also, a video is attached to the article, by watching which, you will additionally enrich your stock of knowledge. So let's get started.The first thing to do is to prepare the premises.The process of installing a shower enclosure always begins with the installation of a shower tray. To do this, you need a wrench and a silicone-based waterproof sealant. And also, of course, the structural elements themselves: a pallet, a siphon included in the package and a drain hose.In some models, the siphon, as such, is absent. In such cases, the hose itself takes over its function. As a rule, the kit then includes special devices that, when installed on the hose, give it a curved shape. The siphon bend is necessary in order to prevent the penetration of unpleasant odors from the sewer pipe into the room. Therefore, do not ignore these adaptations.After the sealant has dried, you can proceed with the installation of the door and side panels. Unpack all structural elements. Try to act carefully - we remind you that fiberglass can suddenly surprise you with its fragility.Set the glass parts aside for now, let's start with the frame first. Assemble it from metal frames. After assembly, check that all ends are even and that the corresponding elements are vertical. Only then fix it with screws. Try not to tighten them too tightly, otherwise the frame may be skewed.Now we place the assembled metal structure on the pallet and check how smoothly everything is installed and converged. It is better to do this together, since the frame must be held on both sides.The side frames have special holes for fasteners. It is necessary to mark these places on the wall. Then remove the frame and set it aside for now.Drill the wall at the marked locations. If it is covered with tiles, then do it very carefully to avoid cracking the tiles. You will need two diamond drills specifically designed for this finish.First, make notches on the glaze of the tile, then drill the entire thickness of the tile with a very thin drill, and then take a nozzle of the required diameter (corresponding to the dowels) and bring the holes to the desired depth and width. Fasten the dowels in them.Place the frame back on the pallet and fix it to the wall with screws. Before doing this, coat the side frames with a waterproof silicone sealant on the side that will be adjacent to the wall surface.After tightening the screws, remove excess sealant with a damp cloth, without waiting for it to dry.Install the supplied gaskets and rollers onto the frame. Next, fit the side panels and then the door. Be sure to check the latter: open and close several times, while paying attention to the ease of sliding.Finally, secure the door handle and seal all joints on the structure with sealant. Remember to remove any excess before drying. After it hardens, the shower enclosure will be completely ready for use.That's all, dear friends. As you can see, the installation procedure does not cause any difficulties. In addition, some people prefer not to bother at all, but install only a pallet, around which they hang a regular shower curtain.Of course, this option looks less modern and stylish, but it also has a right to life. But in this case, you will have to first take care of high-quality waterproofing of the floor, since the curtain protects it from water much worse than a fiberglass structure. The choice is yours. Good luck!

Modern manufacturers present many designer models of these products. You can find the best option for your home on the website

Many shower enclosures come with this feature, which provides optimum comfort and aesthetics. If the pallet is present, then the installation should be started from it. This process consists of the following sequential operations:

Initially, you need to put the structure on the floor and level it strictly horizontally.
In the next step, you need to connect a siphon and a drain pipe to the structure.The last element is also inserted into the central drain to collect water. Please note that some pallets have a small height, so it will be necessary to additionally form a niche in the floor for the drain system. It is advisable to do this even at the design and installation stage of the floor covering.
Sealing. To exclude the ingress of moisture between the wall and the pallet, it is advisable to fill this gap with a special sealant.

The procedure ends with the installation of glasses. It is carried out in several sequential actions:

First of all, a metal profile is exposed. The lower element is located on the pallet itself, and the vertical structures are located near the walls. At the same time, it is important to check the evenness of the location of all these structures in their main planes.
When the profile is aligned, it must be screwed to the wall. For this, holes are initially drilled in the base and metal frame for self-tapping screws. Then a dowel is inserted into the wall, and the profile is sequentially attracted to the surface. It is important to observe verticality here, since minimal deviations may not allow glass to be installed. This is done with all end elements. Sometimes a profile can have a complex structure and consist of several guides that need to be fixed on the main frame.
The procedure is completed by installing the glass. They simply slide into the bottom and top guides. In this case, the system is equipped with a pressure roller, which should be the last to enter the frame. It is often located at the bottom of the glass.

See also:

Tips in the article "Which chainsaw to choose" here.

The assembly technology of the shower enclosure is relatively simple and only requires adherence to the instructions, as well as accuracy.

Video (click to play).