QA

Question: How To Install Fiberglass Shower

How much does it cost to install a fiberglass shower?

The price of prefabricated showers varies depending on the material of the surround — that is, the part of the bathtub or shower area that lines the walls. A fiberglass surround, which is best for smaller showers, costs $300 to $600. The most common type, an acrylic surround, runs from $300 to $1,200.

What goes behind a shower wall?

The insulation behind the tub or shower should be equivalent to the insulation in the rest of the exterior walls and should be covered with an air barrier of cement backer board, rigid foam insulation, or non-paper-faced drywall that is sealed at the edges and seams to provide a continuous air seal.

Can you screw into a fiberglass shower?

If you strike plywood behind the fiberglass, you can drive in stainless steel screws instead of using toggle bolts. If you don’t hit plywood, drill 3/8-in. holes. When you’re drilling through the side of the surround where the shower valve is mounted, apply only light pressure as you drill.

How long does it take to install a shower insert?

A good estimate for a shower replacement would be between three to five days. However, it can take much longer than that in certain circumstances, especially if you’re going to complete the work on your own.

How much should a tub to shower conversion cost?

Tub to Shower Conversion Cost The price to convert a bathtub to a shower ranges from $1,200 to $8,000, with an average of $3,000. You’ll pay $2,150 to $7,950 for a walk-in style, compared to $1,200 to $3,600 for a stall. The amount you pay depends on whether you choose a one-piece stall or a custom design.

What sizes do fiberglass showers come in?

Standard prefabricated shower widths are 32, 36, 48 and 60 inches, from one side wall to the other. Standard available heights are 59, 72, and 96 inches. These sizes are available in a number of shapes and configurations, such as square, rectangle or neo-angle, or corner units.

What do you put under shower base?

Mortar is recommended to use under all shower pans. Mortar reduces the risk of your pan slipping or cracking from an uneven surface.

Do you put sheetrock behind shower walls?

The short answer to the question is, “It’s not recommended.” However, this answer only really only suffices if you’re converting a room that was never a bathroom into a wet space. Drywall on its own is not suitable for use in bathrooms because it is prone to absorbing moisture and thus losing structural integrity.

Do you need a vapor barrier behind a fiberglass shower?

Moisture barriers stop that water or vapor from getting any farther and potentially rotting your studs, the drywall or greenboard installed behind the enclosure. They are required beneath your shower pan and behind your shower walls.

What is the best material to use behind shower walls?

Acrylic is the best system to use for shower walls because it is the safest, least high maintenance, and easy to install, meaning your shower could be done in as little as one day. Acrylic is one of the most durable materials used in the shower construction industry, and for good reason.

What screws to use for a fiberglass shower?

Predrill 3/16-inch-diameter screw holes through the tub’s flange, then fasten the tub to the wall studs with 1¼-inch-long decking screws. Use a drill and hole saw to cut holes through the fiberglass tub surround for the shower valve and tub spout.

Will screws hold in fiberglass?

Wood screws are for wood only, never fiberglass. If you think an underlying wood core alters this, you are doubly wrong. So whether installing screws into solid laminate or through a fiberglass skin into a core plug of cured epoxy, use stainless-steel sheet-metal screws.

How do you find a stud in a fiberglass shower?

Use a stud finder to locate a stud on any wall that is drywalled in your shower room by placing the stud finder up to the wall, turning it on, and moving it slowly until it beeps. The stud finder will beep at the edges of the stud, so find each edge and mark the exact middle between the two edges.

How do I replace my shower myself?

Steps to Replace Your Shower Shut off water supply to shower. Remove door and frame, if present. Take off the shower head, faucet knobs, and trim, leaving only the exposed ends of the supply pipes. Remove the drain assembly. Use the utility knife to cut lines of caulk along shower panel walls.

How much does it cost to replace a fiberglass shower with tile?

Tiling. The average cost to retile a shower is $12.50 per square foot, and the homeowner can expect to pay between $1,000-$3,000 for tiling to cover the shower floors and walls.

How much does replacing a shower cost?

Installing a new shower costs $5,870 on average, with a typical range of $2,627 and $9,280. The total depends mostly on the size, style and material used. A 32 inch square acrylic stall runs from about $750 to $3,000. A custom tile shower of the same size ranges from $4,200 to $8,500.

What screws to use in shower?

Stainless steel screws will be the best bet.

Can you tile a shower in one day?

Tiling a shower is a DIY project that you can usually accomplish in a few days with the right tools and equipment.

How do I turn my tub into a shower?

The quickest and most basic way to add a shower is a slip-on attachment. These can be used with any type of tub, and feature plastic or rubber connectors that fit over your existing spout, redirecting water through an attached hose to a handshower; nothing gets opened up or removed.

Does replacing bath with shower devalue house?

Eliminating a home’s only full bathroom could turn off potential buyers. The National Association of Realtors says as long as the home has at least one tub, switching from a tub to a shower shouldn’t negatively impact resale value.