Use this story pole to frame the wall for the niche and follow shower niche manufacturer recommendations for proper 2×4 spacing.įor example, Schluter prefab niches require studs at 16″ on-center spacing, and that goes for vertical or horizontal studs. If your subway tiles don’t have lugs, I recommend using 1/16″ horseshoe shims to accurately depict the story pole. This makes stacking the tiles on the story pole and drawing reference lines very straightforward.

Same for the drywall ceiling.Īny change of plane for tile requires this expansion joint per the Tile Council of North America.Īlso, most subway tiles have lugs or integrated spacers. Story poles are super simple and show how the tile will look at the floor, the bottom of the niche, top of niche, and ceiling.ĭrywall, scrap pieces of backer board, plywood, or even cardboard make great story poles.įactor in a 1/16″ to 1/8″ expansion joint (not grout joint) between the shower floor tile (for walk-in showers) or tub. I recommend having your tile before the planning process.įor example, this shower was built with 3×6 subway tile and I used a story pole to get an accurate tile layout. The first step to any beautiful shower niche is planning…and lots of it. Let’s dive in! Subway Tile Shower Niche Planning This tutorial shares several tips that’ll make your project easier and look spectacular. More importantly, how do you get that tiled niche to look terrific? How do you build a subway tile shower niche?

Subway tiles shower