Inside Your Shower

See what goes into a shower beyond the tile.

Illustrative assembly. Actual materials and installation details vary by project.

Read about the shower components

Wall tile & joints

Porcelain tile creates the finished surface you see and touch. Grout fills the joints, while flexible joints allow for movement at corners.

The visible finish is only one part of the assembly. Waterproofing sits behind it.

Small porcelain tiles follow the shower floor’s slope toward the drain. Their many joints give the floor its distinctive texture.

These warm neutral finishes are demonstration selections.

Clear glass helps contain splashes while keeping the shower visually open. A hinged door, handle, and fixed panels complete the enclosure.

Glass dimensions, supports, and attachment details need project-specific design.

The shower head and controls deliver and adjust the water. Their matte-black finish coordinates with the enclosure hardware.

Visible fittings are representative; final products are selected for each project.

Wall framing gives the shower its shape and support. Added blocking supports fixtures and other attachments where needed.

The framing is simplified to explain its role, not specify a structural design.

Supply pipes bring water to the mixing valve and shower head. These lines sit inside the wall, beneath the finished surfaces.

Representative routing only. Actual pipes, valves, and connections vary.

Solid wall panels provide an even surface for waterproofing and tile. In this example, gypsum panels are covered by KERDI membrane.

The panels alone are not the water barrier.

A bonded membrane manages water behind the wall tile. Sealed seams and connections link the walls, base, and built-in features.

Illustrates Schluter KERDI. The shower tray includes its own factory-applied waterproof surface.

A thin layer of mortar bonds tile to the waterproofed surface. It supports the tile so the finished surface works as an assembly.

Shown as a continuous layer for clarity. Product choice and coverage follow the selected system.

The prefabricated tray supports the tiled floor and slopes toward the drain. Its factory-applied waterproof surface is part of the tray.

The tray and its waterproof face move together; no separate field-applied floor membrane is implied.

The grate admits water into the drain. Beneath it, a bonding flange connects the drain to the shower’s waterproof surface.

The drain connection is simplified. Waste piping beyond the visible outlet is omitted.

A recessed shelf keeps shower essentials within reach. A sealed prefabricated shell connects to the wall waterproofing behind its tile finish.

The shelf and sill slope toward the shower. The complete niche moves as one assembly.

A built-in bench provides a place to sit or rest a foot. Its waterproofed shell joins the surrounding shower assembly beneath the tile.

The seat slopes toward the shower to shed water. The tiled bench moves as one assembly.

The threshold forms the shower’s entry edge. Its waterproofed core and inward-sloping top help keep water inside.

Shown as a complete tiled assembly, including its waterproof core.