How to Install a Swanstone Free-Standing Shower Cabinet

Print this articleThe Swan Corporation, based in St. Louis, Missouri, manufactures its Swanstone product line of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, ranging from cabinets to shower systems. The Swanstone free-standing shower cabinet can be assembled and used in basements, garages or the outdoors. Since the Swanstone shower cabinet is free-standing -- that is, not attached to any structure -- it can be easily relocated if desired.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedPhillips head screwdriverMeasuring tapePower drill1/8-inch drill bit1 1/8-inch hole sawPipe wrenchSilicone caulkAdjustable wrenchSuggest Edits1

Place the shower floor pan on the ground with the glossy side face-up.

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Lay the back panel of the shower cabinet on the ground with the glossy side face-up. Slide the right and left corner moldings into their respective slots on each side of the back panel.

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Lift the back panel and hold the corner moldings tight to the edge of the panel then slide the bottom of the panel into the groove in the backside of the floor pan. Secure the panel with the provided screws and tighten them with a Phillips head screwdriver. Have a helper hold the back panel steady until the side panels are installed.

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Lay the two side panels on the ground with the glossy sides face-up. Slide the front door jambs onto the front edges of each of the panels. Lift one of the side panels up while holding the jamb in place then slide the opposite edge of the panel into the corner molding on the rear panel and the bottom of the panel into the groove on the floor pan. Secure the panel with the screws provided. Install the remaining side panel in the same fashion.

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Measure the width of the side panel where you want to install the shower head. Divide this measurement by two and make a mark on the side panel 2 1/2 inches from the top. Drill through the mark with a 1/8-inch drill bit to make a pilot hole. Remove the bit and install a 1 1/8-inch hole saw into the drill. Drill though the panel and use the pilot hole as a guide.

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Measure down 30 inches from the shower head hole and make a mark. Make additional marks 1-11/16 inches on either side of the original mark to note the locations for the shower valves. Drill through the marks with the 1/8-inch drill bit and 1 1/8-inch hole saw the same way as you made the shower head hole.

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Insert the hot and cold valves and the shower head into their respective holes. Tighten the large nuts on the backside of each to secure them to the shower cabinet with an adjustable wrench.

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Tilt the shower cabinet to one side. Have your helper hold the cabinet in this position. Apply a bead of silicone caulk to the underside of the drain flange. Insert the drain flange into the hole in the bottom of the shower pan. Secure the drain by tightening the large nut on the underside of the pan with the wrench. Lift the shower cabinet straight up and lower it over the drainpipe in the floor if applicable.

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Thread the hot and cold water supply lines to the backsides of the valves and tighten them with the adjustable wrench.

ReferencesSwanstone: Free Standing Shower Cabinet AssemblyRead Next:

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How to Throw a Luau-Themed Couples Shower

Present each guest with a lei to wear and take home afterward.

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You have decided on a tropical luau theme for the couple's wedding or baby shower, to take advantage of the summer sun or bring a little bit of tropical warmth and cheer to the cold winter months. Now it is time to elaborate on the theme and incorporate it into every aspect of the event, from the invitations to the party favors, to create a celebration that every guest will remember with fondness.

Related Searches:Difficulty:EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedSilk flowersStringCard stockFlip-flops (optional)TableclothsRaffia skirtElectric tiki torch lightsTropical, medium-size plush animals (i.e. tropical fish)Diaper cakeBright colored ribbonTropical fish toysSilk hibiscus flowersSmall clotheslineBaby-size Bermuda shorts and tropical shirtsServing traysCoconutPineappleBananasMangosFloral leisVirgin pina coladasSalmon, shrimp or chicken breastTropical marinadeBarbecueMacadamia nut cookiesPineapple upside down cakeKona coffeeSugar cookie mixFish-shaped cookie cuttersRoyal icingTropical scented lotions, gels or candles (optional)Small baskets (optional)Suggest Edits1

Announce the theme of the shower to the guests with tropical, luau-themed shower invitations, and make the invitations yourself for a personal touch. In place of a traditional card and envelope, make some Hawaiian leis at home from silk flowers that coordinate with the shower's color scheme. To symbolize that this is a couple's shower, make two leis. Before tying the second lei, slide one end through the first lei to make interconnected leis. Attach a small piece of card stock to each lei that includes the shower information. Alternatively, present each invitee with an embellished pair of flip flops with the party details written across the soles. To highlight that both men and women are welcome, use one women's style flip-flop and one men's style and spread the details out between the two shoes.

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Top each table at the party venue with a tablecloth that coordinates with the shower's color scheme and then make raffia skirts to wrap around each table's edge. Hang electric tiki torch lights around the party room or along the fence at an outdoor celebration. Use male and female pairs of medium-size plush animals with a tropical theme for the party tables' centerpieces. Make a Hawaiian-themed diaper cake for a baby shower or towel cake for a wedding shower, embellished with brightly colored ribbons, tropical fish toys and silk hibiscus flowers. Hang a small clothesline across the venue for a baby shower and decorate it with Hawaiian-themed baby clothing, such as Bermuda shorts and tropical shirts.

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Lay out a variety of trays with tasty tropical fruits, such as coconut, pineapple, bananas and mangoes. To expand on the couple's theme, connect every two pieces of fruit together with a toothpick. Wrap a pair of interconnected floral leis around each tray to incorporate the party decorations into the food as well. Serve alcohol-free tropical fruit drinks and smoothies, such as virgin piña coladas, and prepare salmon, shrimp or chicken on the barbecue in tropical marinades. Prepare a batch of macadamia nut cookies and a pineapple upside-down cake for dessert and serve the treats alongside some Kona coffee.

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Send your guests home with unique shower favors that they will cherish or enjoy long after the celebration ends. For an edible party favor, make a simple batch of sugar cookies cut into tropical fish shapes and skewered with wooden dowels to look like lollipop cookies. Cover the baked cookies with colorful royal icing. Tie two cookies together to signify the couple's theme and to make an edible, tropical bouquet. For a non-edible alternative, consider tropical-scented lotions, gels or candles tucked into tiny raffia-filled baskets. Make sure some of the scents are masculine for the men at the shower.

ReferencesPlan the Perfect Baby Shower: How to Plan a Hawaiian Baby Shower Luau PartyPlan the Perfect Baby Shower: Hawaiian Baby Diaper CakePhoto Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Make a Shower Splash Guard

Print this articleKeep water from splashing all over your bathroom floor with a shower splash guard. Splash guards sit atop your tub’s ledge at either end and block water that would otherwise escape past the curtain ends. Most splash guards on the market are made of plastic. If you feel that plastic does not fit into the design of your bathroom, consider making a tile splash guard. It will not only keep your floor dry, but add an extra, decorative touch to your bathroom.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedTile scribeThin wireWoodSawSandpaperMortarForkConstruction adhesiveGroutBathroom caulkGrout adhesiveSmall, round paintbrushSuggest Edits1

Mark diagonal lines from one corner to the other on two tiles to divide them into triangles.

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Cut the tiles along the lines with a tile scribe. To cut a tile, place a straightedge against the line and score the tile, applying firm pressure. Place a taut, straight wire under the tile, aligned with the cut. Push down on either side of the tile to snap it.

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Create two triangular wood blocks to accommodate the tiles. Create triangular blocks by cutting a square out of a thick piece of wood. Make the square 3/8-inch larger in both directions than the tiles. Cut the square down the middle to make two triangles. Sand the cut ends.

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Measure the cut side of one of the blocks. Cut two rectangular tile pieces to fit the dimensions, using the scribe.

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Apply mortar to the backs of the tile. Rough up the mortar with a fork and stick the tiles onto the tile, leaving the square sides of the blocks bare. Allow the mortar to harden.

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Adhere the tiled blocks in the corners of the tub, using construction adhesive. Allow the construction adhesive to dry.

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Spread grout into the spaces between the tubs. Wipe the splash guards down with a damp sponge to remove any excess grout. Wait for the grout to dry.

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Run a bead of caulk along the seam where the splash guard edges meet the tub. Run a finger down the caulk to smooth it down.

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Allow the grout to fully cure then paint it with grout sealer.

ReferencesDiscount Flooring: How to Cut Ceramic TilePro Handyman: Splash Guard InstallationRead Next:

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How to Make a Shower Threshold

The shower threshold must effectively contain water.

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Although prefabricated shower units provide an easy-to-install shower construction option and usually contain a complete threshold or curb, an already-made pan typically presents limitations in regard to size, design or materials. Alternatively, a custom shower pan can be built on site to accommodate a homeowner's particular needs and desires. To function properly, the shower pan must be able to drain water efficiently and have an adequate, watertight threshold to contain water within the pan.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedMeasuring tapeCarpenter's pencil2- by 4-inch lumberSaw16d galvanized nailsHammerWaterproof membraneMarkerUtility knifeAdhesive for waterproof membraneDam cornersStaplesStaple gunMetal lathMetal cutting toolMortarTrowelThin boardLevelFloatTilesTile cuttersBullnose tilesSuggest Edits1

Remove any materials necessary to expose the subfloor.

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Measure the opening at the threshold where the curb will be and transfer this measurement to two-by-fours.

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Cut three lengths of two-by-fours and stack them at the shower threshold.

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Attach the stack of two-by-fours to form the curb at the threshold using 16d galvanized nails.

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Construct the shower prepan up to the point where waterproofing membrane must be placed. This is generally the portion of the shower floor that establishes the slope by building up mortar to different thicknesses. The mortar is placed atop building paper and metal lath and usually must be allowed to cure for at least a day before the membrane can be placed.

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Measure the shower pan area and, taking the walls and curb into consideration, transfer measurements onto a waterproof membrane. The membrane should extend at least 8 inches up each wall and up and over the curb.

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Cut the membrane to fit and place it on the shower floor, cutting small slits for the drain bolts and an opening at the drain. To fit the membrane snugly over the curb, cut the membrane for the curb at the wall studs.

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Attach the waterproof membrane to the shower pan and curb. Working from the drain toward the wall, apply an adhesive suitable for the specific membrane material and press the membrane to the underlying mortar and wood. Fold the excess material in the wall corners over to form a flap and glue this flap to the wall. Staple the membrane to the walls and curb for added security, but only place staples above the level of the curb. Only staple the top and outside of the curb.

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Glue a dam corner into each interior corner at the threshold.

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Complete the mortar bed and tiling for the shower floor.

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Measure and cut metal lath to fit over the curb.

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Staple the metal lath to the curb. Only place staples on the top and outside of the curb.

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Mortar the curb. Hold a flat, thin board on the top of the curb and press mortar into the metal lath on both sides using a trowel. Use the flat board as a guide to help make the curb mortar uniformly thick. Check for evenness with a level and make adjustments as needed. Use a wooden float to smooth the mortar surface.

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Finish the curb as desired. Typically, the curb will be tiled to match the tiled shower floor. In this case, use a tile cutters to cut tiles so that the top of the tiles for the outside is slightly higher than the top of the tiles for the interior of the curb. Use a thin layer of mortar to attach the tiles and check with the level to make sure they are even. Fill in the top of the curb with mortar and place a bullnose cap tile on the top of the curb to overhang the tiles slightly.

ReferencesWorking with Tile; Tom Meehan, et al.Ultimate Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile; Creative Homeowner PressUltimate Guide to Bathrooms; Fran J. DoneganBlack & Decker: Complete Guide to Plumbing; Creative Publishing InternationalPhoto Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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