How to Remove a 1-Piece Shower Enclosure

How to Remove a 1-Piece Shower Enclosure
Written By
Keith Allen
Keith Allen
Published: Aug 9, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Step 1

Shut off the water supply to the shower. This is usually a cold and hot water supply with valves in a closet or under a plumbing access panel. Remove the shower door and any decorative trim from the shower enclosure.

Step 2

Disconnect all plumbing from the shower. Remove the drain strainer in the shower base by removing the screw through the center. Disconnect the drain from the household plumbing by loosening the locknut below the base. You will need to access this from the basement or crawl space. Remove the water supply controls from the interior of the shower. Look for screws through the handles and loosen them. Remove the shower head by loosening the set screw.

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Step 3

Pry the shower enclosure from the wall. Enclosures are commonly held in place with construction adhesives, in effect gluing the enclosure to the wall. Careful work with a pry bar may salvage the drywall backing. However in most cases, replacement of the drywall is necessary.

Step 4

Remove the shower enclosure from the bathroom. Because many one-piece shower enclosures are installed early in the home construction process when the workspace is more open, they often will not fit through doors. Cut the shower enclosure into pieces that will fit.

Tips

Removal of only the shower enclosure walls, rather than also the shower base or tub, requires some minor changes to the procedure. The drain removal steps can be skipped. Protect the base or tub from damage with a tarp or blanket during the removal of the enclosure walls.

Photo Credits

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Keith Allen

Keith Allen, a 1979 graduate of Valley City State College, has worked at a variety of jobs including computer operator, medical clinic manager, radio talk show host and potato sorter. For over five years he has worked as a newspaper…

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