How to Build a Handicap Shower Tile Seat

Adding a seat is a way for a handicapped person to still enjoy a shower.

Adding a seat to an existing shower is an easy way to retrofit a bathroom for a person with limited mobility. That way, the handicapped person can still enjoy the benefits of taking a long, hot shower. You need to have a large enough shower space to build a seat at least 12 inches deep, and you must make certain that the seat will be high enough to get up from easily. If your shower is a suitable size, and you are familiar with tiling, you can build a handicap-accessible shower seat.

Things You'll Need

• Chair
• Level
• Cement blocks or bricks
• Chisel
• Masonry saw
• Vinyl membrane
• Mortar mix
• Water
• Trowel
• Ceramic tile
• Thinset mortar
• Spacers
• Grout
• Grout floater
• Sponge

Instructions

Preparation

1. Measure the height of a chair seat to determine the proper height for your seat. The seat should be high enough so a person can easily rise from it, but not so high that their feet dangle when seated.

2. Sketch out the proposed seat, adding dimensions, to determine your materials needs.

3. Cut cement blocks or bricks to size using a masonry saw or a chisel.

Build The Seat

1. Mix the mortar with water until it is the consistency of peanut butter.

2. Lay down a thin sheet of mortar on the shower floor over the existing tile and in the designated area for the seat. Set the first course of blocks. Make certain they're level and plumb. Use chips of block like shims, if needed, to get the initial course level.

3. Continue building the seat by laying rows of block on top of the first row until you get to the desired height.

4. Add a layer of mortar on top of the blocks and smooth it with your trowel, sloping it slightly away from the wall, for the correct runoff. Let mortar set for one to two hours, then smooth away all rough edges with trowel or a piece of brick.

5. Add a final thin top layer of mortar over the entire surface. Apply a waterproof membrane over the entire seat, applying pressure with the flat side of your trowel, so it adheres to the mortar. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Finishing

1. Apply the tile from the bottom up, using a thinset mortar applied with a trowel.

2. Use spacers between the tile to ensure proper spacing and a uniform look. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

3. Apply grout between tiles with a grout floater, pushing the grout into the seams between each tile. Wipe off excess grout with a damp sponge. Allow to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• For extra safety, add a shower bar for use when rising and lowering from the seat.

References

• Ask The Builder: Ceramic Tile Shower Seat
• Ontario Tile: Build A Bench