A shower niche is a recessed shelf built into the shower wall — for shampoo, soap, razor. Done well, it looks built-in and architectural; done poorly, it leaks water into the wall behind. The build follows the shower wall waterproofing carefully: cement board with the niche cut in, full membrane coverage including the niche interior, then tile.
This guide covers building a niche during shower construction (not retrofit). Niche dimensions: typically 12-16 inches wide × 12-18 inches tall × 3-4 inches deep — fits between two studs.
- Skill level
- Advanced
- Time
- Half-day per niche (waterproofing day)
- Steps
- 10
- Tools
- 6, listed below
- Materials
- 8, listed below
Before you start
Three things to settle:
1. Plan size and location during framing. Niche fits in the cavity between two studs (14.5 inches typical between studs at 16 inch OC). Plan position before framing — height usually 60 inches above shower floor (eye level). Verify no plumbing or electrical runs through the planned location.
2. Pre-formed niche vs build from scratch. Pre-formed niche (Schluter Kerdi-Board, Wedi US): foam frame, drops in. Built-in waterproofing. Build-from-scratch: cement board cut to niche shape, more work, more labour. For DIY, pre-formed is faster and more reliable.
3. Slope the bottom shelf 1-2 degrees. Bottom of niche should slope slightly forward (toward shower interior) — drains water that splashes into the niche. Without slope, water pools in niche and slowly works around tile.
What you'll need
Tools
- Drill with bits and driver
- Saw (jigsaw or oscillating tool — for cutting niche opening)
- Trowel (notched, 1/4 inch)
- Level (small)
- Tape measure
- Mixing paddle
Materials
- Pre-formed shower niche (Schluter Kerdi-Board or Wedi)
- Cement board (1/2 inch — for filling around niche)
- Cement board screws
- Schluter Kerdi membrane + Kerdi-Band (or RedGard liquid)
- Modified thinset (or unmodified per Kerdi spec)
- Tile (matching shower walls; bullnose or Schiene profile for niche edges)
- Grout
- Silicone sealant (100% silicone)
Niche edges seal with the wall waterproofing — must be continuous
Membrane wraps INTO and AROUND the niche, not just up to the edge.
Inside corners of niche, all surfaces, and where niche meets shower wall: continuous waterproofing.
Any gap in the membrane = leak path.
Step-by-step instructions
Plan niche location during framing
Measure between studs in the planned shower wall: typically 14.5 inches between studs.
Plan height: 60 inches above shower floor (eye level).
Verify no plumbing or electrical in cavity.
Mark on wall before drywall and cement board.
Add framing for niche bottom and top
Horizontal 2×4 framing pieces between studs at niche's top and bottom.
Niche dimensions: width = stud spacing minus 1.5 (1 inch wider than 14 inch typical = 14 wide), height = 12-18 inches.
Bottom framing: slope slightly forward (1-2 degrees, ~1/8 inch per 4 inch depth) so water drains.
Toe-nail framing in place.
Install cement board with niche cutout
Apply cement board to entire shower wall.
Cut opening for niche before installing the cement board sheet.
Or install solid cement board, then cut niche opening with jigsaw.
Cement board screws around niche perimeter.
Install pre-formed niche (recommended)
Schluter Kerdi-Board or Wedi pre-formed niche: drop into the framed opening.
Glue with adhesive thinset to the framing.
Niche has built-in slope on the bottom shelf.
Cement board around niche butts to niche flange.
OR build niche from cement board
Cut cement board pieces for niche bottom, top, sides, back.
Slope bottom piece 1-2 degrees forward.
Screw together; thinset corners for water seal.
More work than pre-formed; verify all corners are tight.
Apply waterproofing membrane to wall AND niche
Schluter Kerdi: trowel thinset on wall AND on inside of niche, embed Kerdi sheets continuously.
Kerdi pre-formed corners (Kerdi-Kereck) at niche corners.
RedGard: paint two coats over wall and niche interior.
Continuous coverage from shower pan up through niche.
Verify waterproofing is continuous
Visual inspection: no gaps in membrane.
Reinforce all niche corners with Kerdi-Kereck or mesh tape.
Especially: where niche bottom meets niche back wall, and niche back wall meets niche side walls.
Pinhole-free is the goal.
Tile the niche
Bottom shelf of niche: tile with bullnose or coordinated full tile.
Side walls and back: smaller tile or mosaic for visual interest, or matching wall tile.
Outside edges of niche: bullnose tile or Schluter Schiene profile (clean trim).
Tile slope follows the niche bottom slope.
Tile rest of shower wall
Continue wall tile around the niche.
Where wall tile meets niche edges: cut tile carefully to fit, with grout joint at the transition.
Verify level rows of wall tile around the niche.
Grout and seal
Grout shower walls and niche.
Wait 24-72 hours for grout cure.
Seal grout (most non-epoxy needs sealing).
Silicone in niche corners (where niche bottom meets walls and back) — flexes with wall movement, prevents cracking.
Common mistakes that cost you
- No slope on niche bottom. Water pools in niche. Always slope forward.
- Membrane stops at niche edge. Niche interior unwaterproofed. Continuous coverage in and around.
- Grout in corners (instead of silicone). Cracks when wall flexes. Always silicone in shower corners.
- Niche too tall. Top of niche above shower head: water hits top edge directly. Stay below shower head height.
- Wrong size for studs. Pre-formed niches sized for standard stud spacing. Verify your spacing matches.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a niche to an existing tiled shower?
Difficult — requires removing tile, cutting cement board, adding framing, waterproofing, retiling.
Easier in new construction or full bathroom remodel.
Existing shower retrofits: typically wall-mounted shelf instead.
What size niche works best?
Width: 12-16 inches (fits between studs).
Height: 12-18 inches (one or two-shelf depending on need).
Depth: 3-4 inches (full 2x4 wall depth).
Two-shelf: separate shelf inside niche for organization.
What drives the cost of adding a niche?
The main cost drivers are the niche type (pre-formed foam vs built-from-scratch cement board), the tile selection, and the labour complexity of cutting and waterproofing the opening.
A niche is a modest premium over a standard tiled wall, and worth it for storage and architectural detail. For a renovation, we provide a written breakdown so you know exactly what is included before work begins.
Why should the bottom of a shower niche slope?
The bottom shelf of a shower niche should slope forward 1 to 2 degrees, about 1/8 inch per 4 inches of depth, so water that splashes in drains back into the shower. Without that slope, water pools in the niche and slowly works around the tile.
Pre-formed niches have the slope built in. For a niche built from scratch, frame and cut the bottom piece with the slope, and the tile follows it.
How do you waterproof a shower niche?
A shower niche is waterproofed with the same membrane as the shower wall, running continuously into and around the niche rather than stopping at its edge. With Schluter Kerdi, thinset goes on the wall and niche interior and the sheets are embedded, with pre-formed Kerdi-Kereck pieces at the niche corners.
With RedGard, two coats go over the wall and niche interior. Any gap in the membrane is a leak path, so reinforce every corner and aim for pinhole-free coverage.
When to call us instead
Shower niches are part of every bathroom we renovate. Custom niches integrated with the tile design are a signature feature.
Book a free 60-minute site visit →Dream Touch Renovations · 33 Roydon Pl, Suite 210, Ottawa, ON K2E 1A3 · (613) 862-4555
Renovating homes across Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orléans and Stittsville.
Related Ottawa services
If you're renovating a bathroom, our bathroom renovation team handles custom niches. Book a free 60-minute consultation.
Official references
- Do I need a building permit?, City of Ottawa
- O. Reg. 163/24: Building Code, Government of Ontario