Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
EASY STEPS TO YOUR MOSAIC SHOWER BENCH
Up the luxury stakes with a built-in shower bench. It’s made with treated pine and fibre cement sheet and clad in mosaic tile sheets.
Gather your supplies
• 70 x 45mm blue treated framing pine
• Fibre cement sheeting
• Mosaic tile sheets
• Brass tile trim
You’ll also need Tape measure; saw; drill; timber screws; timber offcuts; spirit level; gloves; paint rollers and brush; waterproofing primer; waterproofing reinforcing mat; waterproofing membrane; tile cutter; tile adhesive; tile grout; grout float; sponge; lint-free cloth
For you to note
• The shower recess needs to be waterproofed before installing the bench, which will also need waterproofing. Check if your state allows DIY waterproofing – if not, you’ll need to call in a pro.
• Tile the walls and floor after the bench is installed and before you lay the mosaic tiles.
• Have the brass trim cut to length by the supplier.
• Standard shower size is 900 x 900mm. This recess is 1100mm wide, leaving room for the built-in bench.
Here’s how
STEP 1 Measure shower to cut rails and 2 sides from blue pine to make a ladder frame.
STEP 2 Predrill rails and sides for joining and for attaching to wall.
STEP 3 Position rails between sides and screw components together to make ladder frame.
STEP 4 Cut 2 fibre cement sheet panels to size of ladder frame and attach one panel to bottom side of frame with screws.
STEP 5 Use timber offcuts as props to position ladder frame, panel side down, at desired bench height.
STEP 6 Check for level, then screw through ladder frame into walls to secure.
Remove timber props.
STEP 7 Attach second fibre cement sheet panel to top of ladder frame with screws.
STEP 8 Cut a piece of fibre cement sheet to clad the front and attach with screws.
STEP 9 Wearing gloves, apply waterproofing primer with a roller to bench.
STEP 10 Following product instructions, seal bench and wall joints with waterproofing reinforcing mat. Apply waterproofing membrane with roller or brush.
STEP 11 Glue brass tile trim to benchtop flush with front edge. Leave glue to set.
STEP 12 Cut mosaic tile sheets to fit and a ach to bench with tile adhesive. STEP 13 Apply grout with a float, working it in. Use a sponge and clean water to wash off excess grout. Use cloth to remove grout haze on tiles. Leave to cure.