Showers are great and give your home another level of comfort. It’s just that small thing which makes you enjoy a sunny day, a moment to step back, relax and calm down. In mobile homes I think it’s even more useful given as you need a space where you can clean up yourself even if the rest is quite chaotic (as my mobile home is..sometimes..). Of course you want your shower space to be as comfy and as enjoyable as it can get, but sometimes the standard which is given in the normal mobile homes is not matching with our expectations. So, when something like this happens, we have two options: either we stick with the given one and we try to make ourselves like the old one, or we change things and try to create an environment which suits our expectations!
In this small guide I hope to give you few advice on how to change your shower stall in you are not happy with it or if it’s simply broken somehow.
Once you decide to change your shower stall be sure to be happy with the shower pan (for its dimensions, quality, draining capacity and stuff like this: oh and be sure there are no ckracks on the floor which might cause a leaking somewhere iside your mobile home, and that would be really bad). If not, you can also consider to remove the shower pan and install a new one, though this will add more time to your work. In any case, if you want to give it a try here’s a useful link on how to install a shower pan:
Sliding stalls
After this point, measure the base of your shower, the walls and the existing stall to be sure the new stall walls you bought fit in that same opening. Next step is to remove the plastic cover from the new stall and carefully place it in the “tracks” of the old stalls. During this procedure I usually prefer to spread some product which might help against the formation of limestone. Sometimes water flows end up in small cavities and this could cause formation of limestone sediments which could consequently block the normal movement of the stalls or deteriorate the tracks. Prevention is always a better option than to cure (or to fix).
You will then need to fix the first stall to the walls of your mobile home to create a solid base for the moving stalls. It will also be important to create a corner of your shower which is waterproof and will avoid leaking. To do this, you could take the chosen stall and set it on the path (which should be already there if you have the right shower pan). Then, you’ll need a specific kind of glue, the silicon glue, to help you with the task. Use a pen or a marker to mark the area on the wall where the stall will end up. Apply the silicon glue on the area and let it dry just for few seconds before sliding the stall in its position fixed to the wall. Press hard for the first minute, and then I always put just a bit more of glue on the corners to be sure there are no possible leakings in any point.
After this part, you will just need to install the moving stalls. Depending on the stall you chose you will either just set the stall on the right track or fix it on the trail if it has small wheel attached to it (some types of stall use this format to better move along the path). So in the first case you just need to be sure that the stall is properly fixed, and to do that you just have to move it along the path back and forward and see if it goes smoothly. In the second case you’ll usually have a small trail down at the top of your shower pan which helps getting the stalls on track.
Door stall
In case you chose a door-like stall, you just have to mark a straight line starting from the shower pan up to the ceiling. Depending on the model, you’ll have to fix the hinges either on the wall or on the fixed stall of the shower. In the first case, just put the loose hinges along the line on the wall and mark where the screws holes are, then drill the marked holes and place the hinges at the right spot. Hold’em steady and fix them to the walls with some screws. In the second case, the hinges should already be on the stall, so no more work to be done for you! Just set the part of the hinges of the mobile stall into the fixed-stall and see if it moves smootly. You can add a bit of oil if the movement doesn’t convince you enough.
Few more tips
It seems pretty easy, doesn’t it? Most part of the work is for you to choose the right stall and to fix it to the shower pan which you already have! However, if you are up to some other changes in the style of your shower, you can also try to remove the stall and leave the trail on the top (if you have one) and use it as base to install some shower curtains. Sometimes I prefer the curtains to the stall as the bathroom will look less “heavy” and fixed.
The rest is up to you, I always like these home works as they give you the chance to rethink the house according to your taste, to create a better place and a warm refuge just for you.
Hope you enjoyed this little guide, see you at the next one! Cheers!
