Custom Niche on EXTERIOR WALL--- How to Do It

There are important considerations to make when installing a niche on an exterior wall. First of all, there is not a good way to fasten wall board to the backside of the niche since it is usually stucco or siding that cannot be penetrated by fasteners. Secondly, in order to make space for the recessed niche, insulation will need to be removed. This can lead to problems especially in cold climates. Lastly, cutting or removing studs in a load bearing exterior wall requires a header with proper support for the roof load.
In this video I show how to make a custom shampoo niche for tile using 1/2" Hydro Ban Board and custom cuts to minimize joints.

[mmmmmmb]

Perfect timing. I'm doing my last project, the complete bathroom renovation, next weekend. Prep work this weekend. Thanks for all the videos. They have taught me so much.

[tonygoshive]

That’s crazy I never even thought of making a niche like that. Great tips thank you

[Aepek]

Thx for vid.
Really enjoy using the FloFX “drains” now, & really like the diff parts get in the box when order, along w/ all the options. Really a great thought out product. Definitely like the “squareness” of it when setting shower pan tile along w/ hex, mosaic, etc….as helps not making all those circle cuts, imo, speeds up that part of job.
Had another installer visiting & he asked what I was using, as he’d never seen FloFX products before, was using the pvc bonding flange on a remodel and went smoothly installing the FloFX along w/ dry pack (deck mud, etc). He was impressed and we ordered 1 for him to try out.
Thx again for “helping” out w/ “stuff”👍🏻
✌🏻

[jaredmoss]

Literally just made mine! Couldn’t find any vids on it so I improvised. I used 1/2” aerogel blanket (R-27 insulation, $60 for 1x4’ sheet) and glued it to the back of the kerdiboard. I only have 2x4 studs to work with, so normal insulation was too thick. 90 degrees F outside and cool to the touch! Then I used brackets on the reinforced studs to wedge the kerdiboard against and now it’s solid as a rock… (my osb wall was a little bowed out). Sealed with AquaDefense and reinforcing fabric. To finish it off, I used your LED light upgrade from your video!! ^_^

[BathroomRemodelingTeacher]

Great tutorial Isaac! Very well explained and edited. I definitely like hydroban board over kerdi board too

[ozarad]

This guy is perfect, he is my royal model. he does perfection in his work. Building stuff. taken care of his body. teaching and helping. I hope I can meet him one day

[carmfully]

IF spacing allows, easiest thing is to furr out the entire wall by 1-2 inches and frame in a niche floor and header running horizontally. Then toenail or screw two or so false studs (of same thickness as your furring) running from the niche floor to header, right up against the exterior wall sheathing. You can fill in the extra space between those false studs with rigid insulation foam of the same thickness as your furring bump out. You can then fasten your niche back wall to those false studs, right up against the foam insulation. Add some liquid nails there while you're at it. Then build out the sides, top, and bottom of the niche backer board. This way, you at least have some insulation behind the niche AND have something to fasten the niche back wall to AND have a framed floor and header to screw the niche top and bottom into. Much more secure than just the backer board hanging in the air without any support.

[dalegribble]

A big thing to me on my Nitchs I like to pre-measure my tile joints so the bottoms and tops land on a grout joint and don’t end up with many cuts around the nitch

[Canadian_nomaD]

I wish I could put niches on exterior walls. Code doesn’t allow it because of the winters we have. Awesome tip though on making the niche. Never thought about cutting on 45 and keeping the back sealed. Much love

[benjenkins]

WOW! I am going to do this on all my jobs from here on out! What a tip, and thank you for sharing such cool tips to spread the savings to our customers as well. I have been laying tile for 17 years now, and custom showers is what I has made my name. The tricks/Tips you show are things I have not even thought about just always on the grind from one to the next. Thank you for thinking outside the box!
Benjamin's Flooring " When being square is cool".

[frankduva]

Isaac, nice idea for the base of a wall niche. Thanks

[michaellee]

You posted a video a while back where you discovered that Schluter Kerdi-Fix was NOT waterproof. You could not use it to seal out water in the corners of shower pans. You didn’t use Kerdi-Fix in this video but you said to could use it if you had it. Did Schluter change the formula of Kerdi-Fix to make it waterproof?

[jtltet]

I would like to see you do a video of how to waterproof and tile around a window in a shower.

[jamesschmid]

Your the best bro I’m lovin tile work and reference all your videos for help

[totheknee]

Now how do you seal the outside edges to the wall?

[kra]

Great tutorial, one question, does there need to be a slope on the bottom for drainage?

[christiandethloff]

Love your videos. Very educational. I use Kerdi almost exclusively. I have actually built niches in this method in your video. I stopped and went back to just cutting and fitting Kerdi board, then using band and preformed corners. I also apply red gaurd over everything. What benefit do you see using the method in your video over what I described? There is cost of the Kerdi band and preformed corners but I always end up with extras of both. I feel like the labor difference is a wash. Also, I usually use 2cm quartz as a border trim on my niches when designers allow me and seal all my voids with silicone.

[sarahwalters]

Super cool!! gonna try it this weekend!

[tommurphy]

I have watched a few videos on niches and like your method of cutting 45 degree miter folds but i think it is much easier to buy a 90 degree v router bit and using a trim Brouwer set the bit just short of cutting full depth and after removing the corners you are left with miters that glue up perfectly square without the worry of cutting through the waterproof backing

[MineGabe]

Brilliant! Love your videos. They are so informative.