tiled shower niche/recess

[CynthiaDelgado]

We are just doing our en suite and main bathrooms. I have asked the fitter if he can build a tiled built in recess. I think these look lovely and avoid the need to metal fitted baskets.

He has tried to put me off saying these will get mouldy and dirty. It would have to go on the same wall under the shower. Have any of you any experience with these? I don't want to make work for myself if I can help it!

So false wall to accommodate shower valve and niche in that wall? Depending on the type of shower head, I imagine you could put the niche high enough up and to one side so it doesn't just fill with water when the shower is on. If it did fill with water all the time, it would just be a pain. You can get stainless steel baskets/shelves which suction to the wall. Could that be a suitable alternative?

Yes we are having false wall anyway. Fixed traditional type shower head and brick/metro tiles. Not yet decided on that.

Shower is for our 4 boys and I thought a recess might be the easiest option but they certainly can't be relied on not to fill it with gunge. They look lovely in pictures but not sure of the practicalities. I know its hard for the bathroom fitter to do so I wondered if that was why he wanted to put me off.

We are having this done in a few weeks time. Recessed shelves and false wall for shower pipe etc. Plumber who is doing this says it is not a problem. I think it looks great and will be so much cleaner than rusty metal shelving/baskets.

DON'T do it, they are IMPOSSIBLE to stop going mouldy.

The only way to do it would be to dry off thoroughly inside the recess and all the wet product bottles every time you get out of the shower - never going to happen with 4 boys!

Mum had it done and the little recess she has (x 3) now look so old and manky compared to the rest of the tiling.

You mean like this? If so, strongly advise against it:

The one here in the wetroom is a fitted unit in the tiles with drainage groves and still the soap gels and looks awful.

We have a shelf in our shower rather than a recess. Make sure there is a run from back to front so that water can't sit on it and remember to wipe it from time to time. We've had no problems with mould.

We had one our previous house and will have them again when we get the bathrooms done in the new house. You just have a slight slope built in - not enough that bottles slip, but enough for water to run away.

Yes just like that picture. Mmmmm mixed reviews. I'm inclined to give it a miss. Looks good in pictures online but I really don't need any extra work. I'm still working on getting them to pick wet towels up. I think wiping out a recess is wishful thinking.

We have had them in all our bathrooms as have my parents. No mould issues yet after 10+ years of doing this. We have never ever wiped them out or dried the bottles (we use a soap dish in the niche so soap isn't sitting directly on the tiles). I think they are great.

Not sure how it would work putting it directly under the shower on the same wall though - you'd have to avoid putting it where the pipework goes, so it would have to be off to one side. Subject to that, it's a good place as it wouldn't get very wet (the water would mostly arc out and miss the niche I presume).

I really wanted one but our builder really didn't want to; much more prone to leaks & mould he said.

I wouldn't if you are in a hard water area

This is mine in my ensuite. Had it done over 3 yrs ago, hard water area and we never wipe it down after a shower, not mouldy. Having said that, we don't use bars of soap, only bottles. Also, the tile supplier advised us to use epoxy grout because we chose mosaic tiles that are more prone to looking grubby (more grout visible). Tilers seem to hat the stuff but it seems to be working

What I would definitely advise - whether you get the alcove done or not - is that you get the whole false wall done in fully waterproof tile backing board -something like Hardiebacker. If this is done I'd say risk of leaks is much lower.

Also the risk of leaks depends on what tiles you choose. Mosaic and natural stone (limestone) are more leak prone than large ceramic tiles.

this is all phenomenally useful - thanks all (also currently planning on a recess in a new shower). We're having a central ceiling mounted shower head rather than wall mounted so hopefully it won't get so wet either

You see I think sleeps recess looks great. Unfortunately our previous bathroom was fitted and tiled badly and now its out we are having to replace joints and floor boards etc from all the rot.

So I guess theres the practicalities of keeping it clean as well as the practicalities of damp.