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I am in the process of installing a shower base and require some direction. Acritec, Venco, Mirolin, Kohler, Hytec, Amer. Standard, etc.
- 1 Drill Into a Fiberglass Door
- 2 Fix a Crack in a Fiberglass Hot Tub
- 3 Drill Into a Bathroom Wall to Install a Shower Rod
- 4 Install a Wall Bumper Door Stop
![Install Mirolin Showers Installation Install Mirolin Showers Installation](http://www.diychatroom.com/attachments/f7/29025d1295810535-stuck-bathtub-installation-08-total-view.jpg)
Fiberglass shower surrounds are common because they are inexpensive waterproof options. They can present a problem, however, when you're trying to install a shower curtain rod. Drilling into fiberglass can crack or shatter the fiberglass if it's not done correctly, and it's hard to patch fiberglass if you drill a hole in the wrong place. Tension shower curtain rods are a good choice if you don't want to drill holes through your fiberglass, but if you want to install a more permanent curtain rod, use the right type of drill bit.
1
Measure the height of your shower curtain. Hold the shower curtain rod in place about 2 inches higher than the length of your curtain with both ends against the fiberglass shower surround. Ask a friend to put a level on top of the rod and ensure it's straight. Mark the ends' screw hole locations on the fiberglass with a grease pencil.
2
Remove the shower curtain rod. Place masking tape over each mark, then transfer the mark to the outside of the masking tape so you can see it clearly. Hold the shower curtain rod back up if necessary to make sure your marks are still accurate.
3
Press a drill with a brad-point bit against the first mark. Drill straight into the fiberglass to create a hole. Don't push the drill into the fiberglass; let the drill do the work and carve out the hole. Fiberglass isn't thick, so you don't need to drill far. Repeat with the other screw-hole marks. Remove the masking tape.
4
Slide a toggle bolt into each screw hole on one end of the curtain rod. Twist the toggle wings onto the backs of the bolts, on the wall side of the curtain rod bracket.
5
Ask a friend to hold the curtain rod in place. Drive the toggle bolts through the fiberglass with a power screwdriver, stopping when you feel resistance. Don't overtighten, or you can crack the fiberglass. Hand-tighten with a screwdriver to make sure the bolts are secure. The wings in the toggle bolts spread out along the back of the fiberglass as you tighten the bolt, spreading the surface area to create a stronger hold.
6
Repeat with the bolts on the other side of the shower curtain rod.
Things You Will Need
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Grease pencil
- Masking tape
- Drill
- Brad-point bit
- Toggle bolts
- Power screwdriver
- Hand screwdriver
- Wood screws
Tip
- If your fiberglass shower surround has plywood behind it instead of open space between the surround and the wall, use wood screws instead of toggle bolts to connect the curtain rod into the plywood.
Warning
![Install mirolin showers installation kits Install mirolin showers installation kits](http://coastalclub.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3-piece-shower-unit-one-tub-units-bathtub-the-best-ideas-on-about-acrylic-installing-s.jpg)
- Although the toggle bolts hold the shower curtain securely, they may not hold a person's weight. Don't hang on the shower curtain or use it to pull you up out of the bathtub; you could crack the fiberglass.
About the Author
Based outside Atlanta, Ga., Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the 'Marietta Daily Journal' and the 'Atlanta Business Chronicle,' she most recently worked in communications and management for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a BA in communications from Jacksonville State University.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Choose Citation Style
Munroe, Shala. 'Mounting Shower Curtain Rods to Fiberglass Shower Surrounds.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/mounting-shower-curtain-rods-fiberglass-shower-surrounds-33161.html. Accessed 30 October 2019.
Munroe, Shala. (n.d.). Mounting Shower Curtain Rods to Fiberglass Shower Surrounds. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/mounting-shower-curtain-rods-fiberglass-shower-surrounds-33161.html
Munroe, Shala. 'Mounting Shower Curtain Rods to Fiberglass Shower Surrounds' accessed October 30, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/mounting-shower-curtain-rods-fiberglass-shower-surrounds-33161.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.
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- 1 Insert a Shower Drain
- 2 Put Wall Molding Around a One-Piece Tub & Shower
- 3 Install Corner Shower Units
- 4 Install a Freestanding Shower
Fiberglass shower enclosures are quick and easy to install and offer continued convenience by being easy to clean and care for. Some enclosures come in a solid piece, where the drain pan and walls are formed as one piece of fiberglass. Others come in several pieces, requiring you to connect the walls with the bottom pan. Although the single-piece versions are faster to install, they may not fit through doors and hallways of older or smaller homes. In those cases, stick with the multiple-piece versions.
1
Measure the size of your shower area. Measure the size of the drain pan as well as the height of the walls. Buy a shower enclosure that fits those measurements.
2
Measure the location of the shower controls and faucet. Transfer those measurements to the correct shower enclosure panel and cut the holes with a hole saw. Most shower hardware requires a 6 inch hole saw for the controls and a 1 inch hole saw for the top spout.
3
Place the shower enclosure in place in your bathroom. If you have separate pieces, spread construction adhesive on the bottom of the pan and set it in place. Drive screws through the pre-drilled holes in the sides into the wall studs, if possible. For a single-piece enclosure, add adhesive to the bottom and put the entire piece in place. Check the single-piece or separate pan with a level and add small wood shims to the bottom, if necessary, before the adhesive dries.
4
Place the side panels in place if you have a multiple-piece enclosure. Your single-piece enclosure sides were put in place at the same times as the drain pan. Drive screws through the pre-drilled holes in the panel rims into the wall studs.
5
Cut water-resistant drywall, often colored blue or green, with a utility knife and install it above the walls of the shower enclosure, covering the screwed-in rims. Screw the drywall into the studs with drywall screws. Paint the drywall.
6
Install the shower head and controls. Many shower heads screw directly onto the pipe. Your shower control handle typically connects to the hot and cold water pipes, then is kept in place by screwing on a faceplate cover.
7
Apply silicone caulk to all edges. This includes where the enclosure walls meet the pan, where the walls meet the drywall and around the shower controls and shower head. Hold the caulk at a 45-degree angle while sliding it rapidly across the joint to create an even bead. Then, wet your finger and slide it along the bead to flatten it and create a finished edge. Allow the caulk to dry before using the shower.
Things You Will Need
- Measuring tape
- Hole saw
- Construction adhesive
- Drywall screws
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Paint
- Caulk
Tip
- Caulk comes in many colors. You can choose clear caulk or a color that matches your shower enclosure.
References (2)
About the Author
Based outside Atlanta, Ga., Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the 'Marietta Daily Journal' and the 'Atlanta Business Chronicle,' she most recently worked in communications and management for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a BA in communications from Jacksonville State University.
Cite this Article Choose Citation Style
Munroe, Shala. 'How to Install Fiberglass Shower Enclosures.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-fiberglass-shower-enclosures-27611.html. Accessed 30 October 2019.
Munroe, Shala. (n.d.). How to Install Fiberglass Shower Enclosures. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-fiberglass-shower-enclosures-27611.html
Munroe, Shala. 'How to Install Fiberglass Shower Enclosures' accessed October 30, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-fiberglass-shower-enclosures-27611.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.