Recommended Installation Tools (i)

Trimming tools

Bases and wall panels can be trimmed to fit a shower space. We recommend a wet or dry tile saw, though a circular saw may also be used.

Before cutting

•     Support the panel fully across its length. A panel supported only at its ends will flex during the cut, which causes chipping and can crack the piece.

•     Apply painter’s tape over the edges to be trimmed. This reduces chipping along the cut line.

•     Trim with the finished side facing upwards.

Where to cut

•     Trim inward and non-exposed edges wherever possible

•     Use tile trim to conceal exposed trimmed edges

•     Bases: do not trim more than 1.5 inches on each side. Cutting beyond that reaches the sloped drainage area and will affect how the base drains.

Cutting near the drain: expect some chipping in this area. Keep the cut inside the diameter of the metal drain cover so any chipping stays concealed once the cover is installed.

Videos

Base trimming: https://youtu.be/qE8qbAMM52M?si=sybVb6EBW829Qz95&t=255 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vOQtoeX50I 

Wall trimming: https://youtu.be/qE8qbAMM52M?si=IQt8NUX-xjsvmV2m&t=639 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzoqpXJB_ck 

Suggested trim

Match the trim to the total build-up of the wall — thin-set plus panel.

If the thin-set is kept off the base leg of the trim so the panel sits directly on it, the panel face sits only 1/2 inch above the trim leg — in which case 1/2 inch trim works regardless of thin-set depth.

Approved options:

TrimMaster Aluminum L-Shaped, available in all sizes: https://www.homedepot.com/p/TrimMaster-Black-1-2-in-x-98-1-2-in-Aluminum-L-Shaped-Tile-Edging-Trim-H8703BL98/323339231 

Schluter Schiene Brushed Nickel, 1/2 inch: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Schluter-Schiene-Brushed-Nickel-Anodized-Aluminum-1-2-in-x-8-ft-2-1-2-in-Metal-Tile-Edging-Trim-A125ATGB/202602084 

Tile trim can also be used to cover exposed cut edges where an installation has left a visible trimmed edge.

Drilling tools

Drilling may be needed to install shower doors or accessories. Always pre-drill.

•     Use a diamond tip or masonry drill bit

•     Keep holes no closer than 1/4 inch from any edge to avoid splitting, cracking, or chipping

•     When fastening a flange, pre-drill both the flange and the base before driving the screw. Driving a screw through the flange without pre-drilling the base beneath it is a common cause of breaking a piece out of the base.

•     If installing a load-bearing accessory, anchor it to a stud or subfloor. Our walls and bases are not load-bearing.

Cutting tools

For cutting out sections to accommodate shower hardware, height adjustments, windows, or accessories such as niches:

As with trimming, the blade matters more than the tool. A diamond-edged blade cuts our material cleanly, while a coarse or general-purpose blade will chip the finished surface regardless of which tool it is fitted to.

Apply painter’s tape over the cut line and keep the panel fully supported for cutouts, the same as for trimming.

Support behind a niche opening. Before installing a panel with a niche cutout, make sure there is support or bracing behind the opening. A panel with an unsupported cutout can crack from the corner of the opening once pressure is applied during installation.

Videos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEugCO1R1TG/  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UwUAepAsaY