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  • Installing a Shower Surround
    		•
    Adding a new shower surround is a great way to give your bathroom a new look: fast, cheap and very effective.
    From "Today Show Tips"
    episode DTST-106


    Adding a new shower surround is a great way to give your bathroom a new look. It's sort of the Botox of bathroom improvements. It's fast, it's relatively cheap, and it's very effective. There's no need to re-grout or re-tile, and you've got a whole new look.

    1. Remove the existing plumbing hardware: showerhead, faucet, drain and control knob(s). Scrub down the old tile and grout with bleach and water to kill any mold that might be on them. Let them dry completely.
    PHOTO

    Figure A
    2. Install the back wall and end wall first. These pieces are usually precut to size, but you can trim them with a utility knife if necessary. Put double-sided tape on the back side of the surround, and dab silicone caulking over the back (figure A). Line up the surround in the shower, then, starting at the bottom, peel the backing off the double-sided tape. Press the surround against the wall.
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    PHOTO

    Figure B
    3. Make a cardboard template with for the plumbing wall. Measure from the top of the tub to the top of the shower area and create the template with those dimensions. Cut out holes for the showerhead, the control knob, the drain and the spout. Add notes so that you'll know which edges face the back wall, the ceiling and the tub (figure B).

    4. Lay the template over the existing wall to make sure the cut-outs line up. Once it's correct, lay the template over the piece of the surround for the plumbing wall. Use a utility knife or jigsaw to cut out the holes

    5. Remove the template. Install the surround with double-sided tape and caulk.
    PHOTO

    Figure C
    6. Seal all seams with silicone caulk. To get a clean seam, use blue painter's tape and mask off the edges of the surround, leaving a 1/8-inch gap. Apply the caulk (figure C) and smooth it out with your finger. Let the caulk dry for 30 minutes, then peel away the tape.

  • RELATED PROJECTS:
  		• Faucet Installation
  		• Handheld Sprayer Installation
  		• Outdoor Shower
  		• Room to Grow: How to Install a Shower
  		• DIY Bathrooms: Bonanza of Projects
  		• Showerhead Installation
  		• Framing Shower Wall and Tub Deck
  		• Shower Bench and Sink Installation

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  		• Installing a Shower Surround