How to Build a Bench for a Walk-in Shower

Walk-in showers are a feature in many homes. They are especially popular in new construction and remodeling projects. The flaw in most walk-in shower designs is a lack of a place to sit down. When an especially young or older person, or someone with a disability, uses the facilities this could pose a problem. A bench is the perfect solution. You will need something small and able to be exposed to moisture. Here you will learn to make a compact, water-resistant bench for your walk-in shower.

Things You'll Need

• leather work gloves safety glasses respirator hacksaw drill with 1/2-inch bit adjustable wrench Twenty-four lag bolts (3/8 inch x 5 inch) Twenty-four nuts (3/8 inch) Twenty-four washers (3/8 inch) Eight PVC 3-way angle joints (2 inch) Six pieces PVC pipe (2 inch x 10 feet) PVC primer PVC glue Four sheets coarse sandpaper Soft clean cloth

Instructions

How to Build a Bench for a Walk-In Shower

1. Use your hacksaw to cut the 10-foot PVC pieces into twelve pieces 24 inches long for your frame. Cut twelve pieces of your 10-foot PVC into twelve pieces that are 30 inches long.

2. Lay out four of your 24-inch sections into a square with four of your angle joints at the corners. Use your sandpaper to ruff up the ends of your 24-inch PVC pieces and the inside of your angle joints. Wipe away any dust or debris from the ends and angles. Take the end of one 24-inch piece and apply your primer on the 2 inches that will fit into the joint. Apply primer to the inside of the corresponding angle hole. After 30 seconds apply glue to both of those pieces and slide the end of your 24-inch piece into the angle. Repeat all the way around your square until all four pieces are connected by the angles. Be sure to keep all of the third inlets of your 3-way angle joints are pointing up.

3. Build another square from four more pieces of 24-inch PVC and your other four angle joints. Clean, prime, and glue each piece to connect them securely. Use your last four sections of 24-inch PVC to complete the cube by cleaning, priming, and gluing them into one of your squares leaving the new additions pointing up. Clean, prime, and glue the upper ends of these pieces and the open ends of your other square then fit them together. This will give you an open, complete cube.

4. Find the center of the top of your cube and place one of your 30-inch PVC pieces to each side of this center line. Use your drill to make a hole down through the end and completely through the 30-inch length and the top beam of the cube. Install a lag bolt through this hole and place a washer and nut on the end. Tighten the nut hand tight. Drill and install a bot in the same manner into the other end. Repeat this process to install all twelve of your 30-inch pieces to create your seat.

5. Use your wrench to tighten all the nuts on your lag bolts. Place the bench into your shower and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Power tools and chemicals can be hazardous. Please read and follow all the manufacturer's recommendations. Wear all safety equipment to avoid injury. This project should be done either outside or in an open, well-ventilated area.