Tired of bending over to reach the shampoo? A corner shower shelf can make life easier. Here's what to know about them, and how to glue one in.
Time 30 minutes
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$20 to $50
Introduction
The ideal shelves are those built into your shower. They're the strongest and most likely to match the rest of your bathing enclosure. But if your shower is lacking those, you can install a corner shower shelf after the fact to make life easier.
This article focuses on installing glue-in shelves, which are one of the easiest and least-expensive DIY shelves. But that doesn't mean that they're the best kind for your situation. Below are the various types of corner shower shelves, plus how to install the glue-in kind.
Types of Shower Corner Shelves
Corner shelves come in a number of shapes, sizes and materials.
- Built-in: Just as they sound, these are built into the shower itself. Built-in shelves can also be recessed.
- Corner tension: These can be purchased and installed after the shower is finished. They work by a screw or spring inside of a main vertical upright, which creates tension between the floor of the shower and the ceiling.
- Screw-in: These are mounted into shower walls with screws, so they require drilling (ideally into studs).
- Floating: These are often screw-in, but with no visible brackets. They range in complexity, with the easiest being systems like GoShelf, which require minimal drilling and can hold up to 15 to 20 pounds.
- Suction: These have suction cups that attach to the shower wall, so they can be moved around as needed. However, they also tend to lose suction over time and slip.
- Clip-on: these grab onto existing shower features, like rails. "But the major drawback is that they are not common or sturdy," says Jay Sanders, owner of Castle Dream Construction. "But they are the best choice for ultralight objects like razors and sponges."
- Shower caddy: These shelves typically hang from your shower head, so require no installation. They're an easy option for many situations, but inconvenient as you have to reach behind the water to get to them.
- Glue-in: These attach with a strong adhesive, so they don't need any drilling, and thus are a popular DIY choice. "But the longevity of these shelves depends on the adhesive's quality," says Sanders. "Depending on the environmental conditions and quality of the adhesive these shelves can last from one to five years."
Brandon Walker, Superintendent at ASAP Restoration, has strong warnings about glue-in shelves. He isn't a fan of them because they can't hold much weight, and if the adhesive fails, the shelf can damage your shower when it hits the floor. Also, they can be dangerous, as they pose an injury risk if you slip and try to stop your fall by grabbing one. "At least with suction cups, you know not to trust it," he says. "This looks too much like the shower wall, and it'll just fall off on you with any weight."
Where to Place a Corner Shelf in the Shower
The most common place to install a corner shower shelf is away on the opposite wall from the shower head, so you don't have to reach through the shower stream to pick up items.
How High to Place the Shower Corner Shelf
Most people install corner shower shelves between 48 and 72 inches high, depending on who's using it and how tall they are. "If children or older adults with challenges standing for long periods of time, then a lower shelf might be best," says Walker. "If only working age, able-bodied adults are going to be using it daily, then a higher shelf might be more appropriate."
When to Call a Pro
Most people DIY install glue-in, tension and suction shelves. But if you don't have construction or plumbing experience, you might want to call a pro if the wall needs structural reinforcement or a shelf requires drilling, especially if you're installing it near water pipes. "Pros can suggest to you the right type of shelf for your specific shower design and where to place these shelves," says Sanders.
Tools Required
- Caulking gun
- Level or laser level
- Measuring tape
- Pencil or marker
Materials Required
- Corner shelf
- Double-face foam tape or adhesive
- Shower cleaner
- Silicone caulk to match the shower
Project step-by-step (4)
Step 1
Clean the shower surface
- Thoroughly clean off all of the soap scum and wait for the surface to dry (otherwise, the bond might fail).
Step 2
Add foam tape
- Apply a strip of foam tape on each mounting flange, stopping one inch short of the ends.
- Test-fit the shelf before you remove the wax liner paper from the tape.
- Shim any gaps with additional layers of foam tape, adding extra layers to compensate for an out-of-square corner.
Step 3
Affix the shelf.
- Ensure all final adjustments are made before affixing, as once the foam tape touches the wall, it will be difficult to remove.
- Once the shelf fits squarely into the corner, apply the silicone caulk. Lay a thick bead of caulk around the entire perimeter.
- Locate a spot in the middle of a row of tiles where there are no horizontal grout lines running through the caulk. Then remove the liner, square up the shelf and press it squarely against the tile.
- Once the tape grabs, let go, wipe off the excess caulk and then tool the joint with a damp fingertip.
- If you mess up the placement completely, clean off the back and reapply fresh tape.
Step 4
FAQs
Are there other methods for installing a shower corner shelf?
Yes, each type of corner shower shelf requires its own installation method. This article only focuses on how to install a glued-in shelf.
How much weight can a shower shelf hold?
It depends on the type of shelf. Built-in shelves are the strongest because they are part of the shower’s structure. “Suction or adhesive shelves can only hold around five to 10 pounds, while floating and screw-in shelves can hold around 20 pounds or more, depending on the quality of setting up and tile or wall material,” says Sanders.
How do you clean shower shelves?
Just clean them as you do the rest of the shower— once a week or so.
- Glass and metal: Sanders recommends avoiding abrasive sponges and using a mixture of vinegar and water or glass cleaner to avoid hard-water stains.
- Plastic: soap and water is usually enough. Tough stains might require a baking soda paste (leave for 15 minutes before scrubbing gently).
- Natural stone: use a pH-neutral cleanser to protect the finish.
- Ceramic: use a non-abrasive cleaner and cloth to avoid scratching the surface. Diluted vinegar or a bathroom cleaner designed to remove lime and soap scum are good options. “If you have tiles, use the same tile cleaner that you use on the rest of the surfaces in the area,” says Walker. “This will help to keep a consistent look between grout lines and mineral deposits between deep cleanings.”
About the Experts
Brandon Walker is Superintendent at ASAP Restoration in Tempe, Arizona. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, doing everything from running his own company and ASAP teams to all of the odd-jobs in between.
Jay Sanders is a licensed contractor based in Baltimore. He owns Maryland Contractor and Castle Dream Construction, and has been working in construction for more than a decade.
Originally Published: June 20, 2017
