I just saw photos of a DIY shower that was lined on the inside with sheet aluminum. The aluminum appeared to be screwed to the wall using exposed metal roofing screws (the kind with rubber washers), and it met a tiled floor/curb at the bottom. I loved the look and would like to build it into our current bathroom new construction project. Currently, I have drywalled the area (the structure is a stud wall with Icynene SPF insulation) with mold-tough drywall, and had planned to use kerdi membrane before adding tile on the walls and floor. If I was to use the sheet metal on the walls instead, what would be the appropriate backing and waterproofing behind it? And how to finish the bottom, where the metal would meet the curb…?
Shawn
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don't have an aswer about the backing but are you sure you want to use AL? It'll scratch very easily the first time it gets cleaned and will not keep it's clean appearance with a lot of buffing but even then deeper scratched will never come out. Most bathroom cleaners are corrosive to AL. If the metal look is what you want I'd look for Stainless Steel.
Keep me informed, I'm tempted by the look as well. If you really wanted to make sure nothing was going to get wet, you could Kerdi the entire thing. Then the only way that it could leak would be through the screws/rubber washers. Maybe you could forego the fasteners and glue the SS to the substrate (whatever it might be)?
Z
just saw photos of a DIY shower that was lined on the inside with sheet aluminum
Can you get us a linnk, or post some of the pics here? I'm curious as to how the "look" works.
My first thought was to use an FRP product on the walls, and hold the metal panels off that in some way--but, my first mental image was corrugated panels in a 'rustic' sort of way.
Mind you, I'm not picturing a neat way to make the wall-floor connection so far.
http://www.frigodesign.com/php/shower.php
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Those look like the pics were taken immediately after the install was complete. I wish they would show a pciture of what it would look like after a years use and cleaning... and aging.
Frigo uses stainless and or copper in their enclosures.
Wanted to make sure you caught this.
Shower installs in CU. Maybe a new line for you?
http://www.frigodesign.com/php/shower/ada_enclosures.php
View Image'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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Yeah - I've seen them before. Pretty cool, but I don't think I'd like it in my house.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
I wish I had the picture, but don't. Can't find much online, either. The pic I saw used sheet stock, but I was also thinking about doing it with corrugated roofing material, I think it could be a great look, but would complicate the wall-floor connection...Shawn
You might also look into some of the metalic laminates made by Chemetal and others.Might be more durable than thin-walled aluminum by itself.Stuff runs between $200-300 per 4x8 sheet though...JT
Well, I've done some "similar" sorts of things, by making a slightly larger space, then building the desired thing within that space.
This makes for a spiffy way to do Japanese soaking baths (ofuro) indoors. Run cementitious board around, use pool mable plaster to waterproof that surface, then build the "structure" within that area. The marble plaster can be painted in tromp d'oeil or in a fade, too. Only a few inches in the sight lines really sells the effect.
Have always had a 'want to" to build an "outdoor shower" indoors like that.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Since you didn't ask anyone's opinion regarding Al in a shower, I'll keep mine to myself. As to the questions you did ask:
I'd use a plywood backing so as to have good screw holding everywhere. One must assume the thing will not leak but you better make sure. You can do a test panel and spray it with a garden hose. In any event, a vapor barrier is called for.
I'd simply lap the metal down over the tile base. A bead of silicon will keep water from wicking up. Have the metal rolled on that edge.
Over that plywood, put a layer of Ice & Water Shield... basicly treat it as an interior roof.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
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I don't even like the idea of tar paper under a wood floor as is commonly done. Nasty smell, nasty chemicals.... not in my house. I can't imagine that having ice and water inside is anything close to "green."
If you can smell something from under the side of your shower, you've got a biiig problem already.
I've got 3 walls of the bath just off our bedroom covering in I&WS. Nothing odd smelling - besides me - reported by the wife, who is the real nose in the house.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
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Like Sapwood, I'd prefer not to bring Ice and Water Shield inside the house. But what about treating the shower like an exterior wall- studs+plywood+housewrap+metal? Shawn
You are better off treating it like a roof than a wall. Walls generally don't have to put up with repeated exposure to running water that you get on a shower (Thats what eves are for!). That's why a layer in your system that self seals around the fasteners can only do you good! Plus, it will help dampen the drumming noise of falling water.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
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You might look at the metal surface formica as an option. It would hold up well, and is water proof.
They have a few in the high end line that are hard to tell from metal.
Last I saw, that was 2-3 times as expensive as plain metal.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Possibly, but it is desinged to function in the environment. And, at current metal prices, for sheets thick enough to make this work, I'm guessing the costs will be pretty close.