How To Insulate An External Wall Shower Niche?

Install insulation without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in all exterior wall cavities behind tubs and showers. Cover the wall cavities with a rigid air barrier or other supporting material to prevent cavity insulation from sagging and create a continuous thermal barrier. Before installing a niche, consider building codes that have specific requirements for insulating and waterproofing exterior walls.

When installing a niche on an exterior wall, there are important considerations to make. First, there is not a good way to fasten wall board to the backside of the niche. In a 2×6 wall, you might be able to get a piece of 2″ foam insulation between the niche and the sheathing, but on a 2×4 wall, you’ll have no insulation.

If your shower or tub is on an exterior wall, cover the insulation and studs with a plastic moisture barrier before installing whatever backer board you choose. If you build a full secondary wall to install a niche, you can fully insulated this wall and the existing outside wall, making the space behind the niche the only area that would be exposed to a slightly higher temperature.

Adding a shower niche is one of the most popular projects that homeowners tackle, and for good reason. To install a recessed shampoo niche in an exterior wall of a tile shower without removing all of the home’s insulation, use a minimum 1″ rigid foam insulation on the outside wall and then some waterproof foam board on top. Glue up a 1″ foam board such as 1″ 3M Foam Board with a R5 value to the outside sheathing and spread adhesive 100 across the foam board so no insulation is lost.

Do I need a vapor barrier on the exterior wall of a shower?

Vapor barriers are essential for shower walls, especially when using backer board materials like Hardiebacker or Durock. Some manufacturers may not stress the requirement of a vapor barrier, leaving it up to local building codes and industry standards to determine the best choice. Vapor barriers can be applied or installed over the tile substrate using a liquid or sheet membrane. Liquid membranes are easier to apply and secure joints and plane changes, while sheet membranes offer continuity of thickness and a sturdy surface.

However, industry standards and local building codes do not encourage the use of vapor barriers behind and over the tile substrate. A poor understanding of both can lead to a “moisture sandwich”, where moisture can’t evaporate if a second vapor barrier is applied or installed to the outside of the tile substrate. This can cause mold growth.

A standard argument is that moisture would never reach behind the tile substrate if a liquid membrane or sheet membrane is installed over the tile substrate. If this is the case, a vapor barrier installed behind the tile substrate is unnecessary, avoiding the “moisture sandwich”. It’s crucial to note that the wet area is inside the shower area, not behind the walls, so protection should be directed outward.

Can you put a shower on an exterior wall?

Water-related plumbing should be placed in interior walls and not in exterior walls or unheated attics. If plumbing is in exterior walls, pipes should be well-insulated and air-sealed to protect them from heat loss. Cavity insulation should be installed behind pipes and between them and the exterior wall. Common places for exterior wall plumbing include basement bathrooms, attics, shower heads in ceilings, laundry hook-ups, and kitchen sinks.

To keep pipes warm and prevent freezing, any necessary measures should be taken. Exterior plumbing is commonly found in areas where there is no other place for the plumbing to go, such as basement bathrooms, attics, shower heads in ceilings, laundry hook-ups, and kitchen sinks.

How to insulate an exterior wall behind a shower?

The Energy Star Single-Family New Homes, Version 3/3. 1 (Rev. 11), emphasizes the importance of insulation behind tubs and showers. The insulation should be the same as the rest of the exterior walls and covered with an air barrier made of cement backer board, rigid foam insulation, or non-paper-faced drywall. The air barrier should be sealed at the edges and seams to provide a continuous air seal.

The Compliance tab contains program and code information, and links may have changed since posting. The thermal enclosure system provides fully-aligned air barriers at each insulated location, including walls behind showers, tubs, staircases, and fireplaces.

Do shower niches get moldy?

Bathrooms are susceptible to mould build-up, especially in shower niches. To prevent this, keep a soft cloth in the shower and wipe down the niche shelf every few days. The Niche Man niches, designed with a 100% waterproof design, prevent water and mould damage. A detachable shower head is an excellent tool for keeping the niche clean, and a soft cloth can be kept in the niche or nearby to wipe it out every few days.

The prefab niche design ensures 100% waterproofness for life, eliminating the risk of damaging mould or leakage. Despite the potential for mould damage, The Niche Man niches offer a secure solution for your shower niche.

What are the disadvantages of shower niches?

The installation of custom-built tiled horizontal shower niches can provide a luxurious and spacious storage solution. However, such solutions may be associated with an increased risk of water leaks and are often more expensive than alternative options. The construction of these shower niches requires a significant investment of time and resources, and there is a risk of structural damage during the modification of walls. Furthermore, these units possess a sole recessed shelf for storage.

How to keep a shower niche dry?

To waterproof a shower niche, use two or three thick coats of a quality liquid waterproofing membrane, such as RedGard or Mapei’s Aquadefense. Apply multiple coats to prevent cracks and pinhole openings in the paint-on waterproofer. Roll the waterproofer on nice and thick, wait an hour for it to dry, and apply a second thick coat. Apply a third coat to the inset niche for peace of mind. Use a cheap chip brush to get the RedGard into all the inside seams with each coat.

A continuous waterproofing layer on top of the concrete backerboard is crucial for a tile shower or tub surround installation to last a lifetime. This is the best practice for waterproofing a custom tile shower or tub surround project, regardless of the niche.

How to insulate an exterior wall with plumbing?

To insulate pipes, cut the pipe sleeve to length and wrap it around the pipe, ensuring there are no gaps between sleeves. Make a joint at the elbow and angle the ends of the foam to form a mitered corner that fits the pipe’s angle. Remove paper strips covering the self-sealing seam and press the edges together. Tape over the seams and joints with acrylic or aluminum foil tape to increase durability. Secure the insulation (and plastic covering) to the pipe every 1 to 2 feet using wire, tape, a plastic tie, or metal clamp.

Use caulk or foam to seal any holes where pipes penetrate walls, floors, ceilings, or framing. If pipes run through exterior wall cavities, insulate the wall cavity as you would the other cavities using blown cellulose, fiberglass, or spray foam. If using fiberglass or mineral wool batts, split the batt lengthwise, slide half the batt behind the pipes, fit into the cavity, and fit the remainder in front of the pipes to fill the cavity.

Cut a piece of rigid foam to fit the wall cavity dimensions, run a bead of foam adhesive around the back of the foam, slide it behind the pipe, and press it into place to seal it to the back wall of the cavity. Use caulk or canned foam to air seal the edges to the framing of the cavity. Lay a split batt over the front of the pipes.

Is it okay to install a shower niche on an exterior wall?

Building a tiled or finished niche in a wall that is not an outside-facing wall is generally recommended due to the moist environment in the shower. Water vapor can enter the stud cavity through wall tile, tile backer board, and the niche. The amount of water vapor that enters depends on whether a waterproofing membrane has been installed and the niche’s resistance to water vapor penetration. The permeability of the niche varies depending on the type of niche and waterproofing strategy.

Does the vapor barrier go inside or outside the exterior wall?

Vapor barriers are typically placed on the warm side of insulation, with the exterior being in a hot climate and the interior in a cold climate. In a climate with equal heating and cooling degree days, it doesn’t matter which side of insulation is used. The GBA Detail Library offers a collection of 1, 000 construction details organized by climate and house part. GBA Prime members can access the latest developments in green building research and reports.

When should you not use a vapor barrier?

In the majority of other climate zones, the use of an interior plastic sheet is not necessary, nor is the application of one on the interior.

What is the best insulation for exterior walls?

In cold climates, closed-cell spray foam is the best insulation for exterior walls due to its high R-value per inch, which effectively resists heat flow and serves as an air and moisture barrier. Insulating exterior walls from the inside is possible, often done in existing homes where exterior modifications are impractical. Options include blown-in cellulose for filling existing wall cavities and spray foam insulation for excellent air sealing. The R-value of the best insulation for exterior walls varies by insulation type and wall structure, and it’s beneficial to choose an R-value that meets or exceeds local building codes.

Typical R-values include fiberglass insulation (R-13 to R-15 for 2×4 walls, R-19 to R-21 for 2×6 walls), foam board insulation (R-4 to R-6 per inch), spray foam insulation (R-6. 5 to R-7 per inch), andcellulose insulation (R-3. 5 to R-4 per inch).