How to build a shower niche in a single brick internal wall?

[atmatic]

Hi all,

I was hoping if anyone could help me or have done a shower niche, in a single brick internal wall?

Plan is to have 600mm width x 395mm height as shower is to be 900x900.

I know that I need to put in a lintel (still need to know minimum requirement)

Picture below shows where I was planning of putting it.

Plan is to only make a crevice  according to the brick, i.e. not put a hole in it through the wall.

The brick itself will have a backing of at least 20mm, based on measurement. With the facia cement render included, there should be at least 75mm depth of the niche.

Will this work?

[JacobZ]

Hi @atmatic,

Thank you for your question about creating a niche in a brick wall.

I can't say I've come across brick used like this before but assuming the wall above is supported with a lintel, I can't see why it wouldn't work.

The one issue I can see is that you would need to line the top and bottom of the niche with Villaboard Lining to cover the holes in the besser blocks before waterproofing over the top. 

Allow me to tag some of our knowledgeable members to see if they have any thoughts, @Nailbag, @ProjectPete, @Dave-1.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @atmatic I think your right in needing a finished depth of around 75mm for there niche. However for a 900 x 900 shower, personally I think you're being very generous in the niche size for essentially a couple of personal items. 300 x 400-450 max would be plenty.

Without knowing for sure in your case, but a standard brick is around 110mm deep, though looking at the photo's the walls appear to be a limestone or Besser block. So potentially the tiles could be fixed directly to the wall after waterproofing. Are you doing the work or getting a trade in? If it's a trade, then I would get them in now for their advice. As @JacobZ mentioned it may need villaboard but also may not depending on what's within regulations for your region.

Regards, Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Morning @atmatic 

Must admit I am a little nervous about only a single brick wall and hollowing out the bricks. As @Nailbag mentions a tradie may be a good idea to hit up I would go the route of at least confirming that it can be done aqnd if a tradie should be doing it. Waterproofing an area requires certification and it would be a shame to go and do it yourself and not be able to get it signed off.

Dave