ᐅ Shower Too Small – Custom-Made Shower Enclosure

Hello,

we are nearing the end of our build with a general contractor and have encountered the following issue:

The width of the shower niche in the family bathroom measures only 117.9cm (46.4 inches) after tiling. The rough opening was specified as 124cm (48.8 inches). The shower enclosure we selected for 120cm (47.2 inches) wide niches has a tolerance of only 15mm (0.6 inches) and, based on our current understanding, will not fit. This tolerance seems to be typical, as we haven’t been able to find any alternatives quickly.

The plumbing company we informed about the discrepancy has now sent us an additional quote for a custom-made unit, including measurement costs, totaling over €600 net.

We would like to avoid these extra costs and are seeking to understand where things went wrong. Was the rough opening already too tight? Who should have been responsible for monitoring the accuracy of the measurements? In our opinion, the site manager (who has unfortunately been quite slow). Should the plumbing company have pointed out when installing the shower tray that sufficient clearance needed to be maintained (perhaps using less tile adhesive or thinner tiles)? Should the tiler have been aware that the dimensions were critical?

We are quite frustrated at the moment because, towards the end, several issues have arisen regarding coordination and promised deadlines that have not been met. This situation is just adding fuel to the fire, which we might otherwise have accepted in an otherwise smooth process.

Tomorrow we have an on-site meeting with the site manager (originally to locate a missing boundary marker). I would like to calm down beforehand so that the meeting can be productive.

Thank you for your insights and suggestions!
Nina

I would ask how the 3cm (1.2 inches) build-up height of the wall covering was determined. I suspect that there was already an error in the initial structural measurement.

Well... Rough opening is 124 cm (49 inches) – about 3 cm (1 inch) of plaster – double tile thickness plus adhesive, so I’m only at around 118 cm (46.5 inches). Besides, you can never get a rough opening measurement accurate to the millimeter. Who determined the 124 cm (49 inches)? Who coordinated the choice of the shower door?

Have you already bought them? If it’s not a standard door, usually someone comes to take measurements and then it is custom-made accordingly.

....and if you simply ask a glazier or someone from the area who regularly installs custom shower glass, for example. In 2019, we had two installed measuring 140cm x 200cm (55 inches x 79 inches), and the whole thing cost less than €800, including installation.

NKB2020 schrieb:

We want to avoid these additional costs and would like to know at which point it went wrong??? Was the rough construction measurement already too tight? Who should have been responsible for monitoring the measurements? In our opinion, the site manager (unfortunately quite a slowpoke). Should the plumbing company have pointed out when installing the shower tray that sufficient space needs to be maintained (maybe use less tile adhesive, thinner tiles)? Should the tiler have known it was going to be critical?

Well, I carried a tape measure around and took measurements of the rough opening, after plastering, and after tiling. At least wherever things could have become critical.
If something is important to you, you just do it yourself and point it out.
But try your luck with the site manager.