Step 1 · Plan and Mark Location

This is the step people usually slow down on. Go finger-tight first, then a quarter turn. No rush — replay the clip whenever it helps.

First, decide on the final placement of your shower niche. A common height is chest-to-eye level, approximately 48 to 60 inches from the shower floor, for easy access. Use an electronic stud finder to locate the vertical studs in the wall bay where you plan to install the niche, as it must fit between them. Place the foam niche against the wall in your desired location. Use a level to ensure it is perfectly horizontal and trace the outer perimeter of its flange with a pencil. Next, measure the recessed box portion of the niche (the part that goes into the wall cavity) and carefully draw these cut-lines inside your first tracing. This inner line is the actual line you will cut.