Has anyone experienced their shower shelf coming off, and do you have any suggestions for fixing it if we didn’t tile the shower ourselves?
Asked by رهام نكو نظر 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 12, 2024
Hey, has anyone else had the issue of their shower shelf coming loose? Any suggestions on how to fix it? Just a heads up that we didn’t install the tiles ourselves, they came with the house. Just looking for some advice on how to repair it.
The shelf was poorly made, it needs to be pushed back into the tile for proper support
Not always, . There are shower shelves available on the market that are specifically designed to be installed on top of the face of the tile.
When cutting the caulking around it, check if it’s grout caulk. Remove the shelf and clean the caulking off the shelf and tile surround with a flat blade. Then use Loctite Power rab on the substrate behind the tile, hopefully it’s hardie board. Reinstall the shelf, apply pressure for 3 to 5 minutes, and finally caulk the shelf with white silicone-based caulk. This should only take about 30 minutes.
Sorry about that mistake, it was meant to be trimmed, not cut (blame autocorrect).
Sorry for the confusion, I took a closer look at the picture. You’ll need to cut off all the caulking and use Power rab on the tile, using the old caulk line as a template. Make sure to apply pressure and then caulk the perimeter with silicone-based caulk 😊
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Haha, I couldn’t help but step on it. My bad!
For a repair of that size, you’ll likely need two tubes of grout product. One tube is used to secure the shelf back in place, while the other is for grouting around it to seal it properly. Additionally, using diamond blades can help clean up the area for the shelf to fit in seamlessly.
This isn’t what you should be focusing on right now.
It can be a bit tricky to figure out exactly what’s happening here. How about getting some close-up shots from different angles?
Took out the shelf…I’m a little worried because there’s tile behind it. The tile looks new…definitely not from the 80s and everything in this house was original except for this shower (seems like they installed it right before selling).
‘s shelf has a lip on it…seems like they stuck it on with adhesive.
Nevermind, just getting up. It’s not tile! Feels more like cement board or something though…
Well, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It seems like there is backer board behind the tile, though not the ideal kind. If that’s the case, fixing it shouldn’t be too hard. Here’s what you can do: first, remove all the silicone around the shelf to clean the tile surface. You can use a razor blade, just be cautious. Next, try to get rid of as much thinset or mastic behind the shelf as possible. It looks like thinset in the picture, which is a cementitious product, but it might be mastic, which is easier to remove. If it’s thinset, it’ll take more effort. You can use a wood chisel for the job, just be careful not to chip a tile. Once it’s all cleaned up, you can reattach the shelf. The best way is to use thinset, which you can get from a big box store. You might need to
Thanks for your help, ! I’m really starting to dig this idea!
Suggested following Sean’s advice and going to a tile shop to find out what adhesive to use for installing the shelf. I personally used a grout/epoxy mix recommended by a tile shop for a soap dish repair over 30 years ago, and it’s still holding up well. Best of luck!✌
That’s exactly the advice I would have given you as well.
Make sure to check the condition of the material behind the tray. If it’s wood, there’s a chance water has seeped in and caused damage. It’s important to address this to prevent further issues.
Shower shelves are typically hollow with a hole in the back of the shelf. You can securely attach it by screwing in a 5-6 inch deck screw into the wall and filling the inside of the shower shelf with liquid nails. Once in place, the screw will bond to the liquid nails, ensuring it stays in place. I’ve always found this method effective for installing shower shelves.
I would try to coax it out completely. Remove the grout around it, gently wiggle it loose. Apply a bit of thinset on the back, reposition it, and reapply grout.
Imagine this: talking to a shelf in the shower, encouraging it to come off the wall. What a sight! 😁
Haha, here. Sometimes, a little chat is all you need.
This shelf is made to fit into the tile, probably added later. Personally, I would discard the idea and clean up the tile where it was attached, caulked, etc. Nevertheless, it can still be repaired and installed correctly. You will need to cut the tile into the corner so the shelf lip can slide in. Use color-matched tile caulk to glue it. Clean up and let it cure for several days before getting it wet. It’s likely better to hire a professional unless you have experience with tile work. Trust me, I do a lot of this, it’s meticulous but doable.
Here’s a sample of my work. I created a custom shelf using the wall tiles.
After examining the images below, it appears that it was placed in the tile. Make sure to clean it thoroughly, glue it back in, and seal the joints with tile caulk that matches the color. I recommend using sanded caulk because once it’s completely dried, you won’t be able to distinguish it from the grout and it offers flexibility.
Scrape or grind around (dremel) until you can completely remove it. Prepare mortar, fill in the space, and cement it back. Use a flexible stick or board to apply pressure for 24 hours. Caulk the edges to prevent water from seeping in. Wait another 24 hours before using the shower.
I would remove it before it falls and breaks. Use rotary diamond tools to cut out the tile and space for grout, then grout it in properly.
Hey Terry, you might want to check this out. There’s actually a pocket behind the shelf!✌
Halfway there
Despite what others have said, it seems like there is a pocket in the tile to accommodate the shelf. I once replaced a soap dish near my bathroom sink. I mixed grout with epoxy glue, placed it on the wall, taped it there for a day, caulked around the edge after it set. It has been over 30 years, and it’s still strong. A tile store can advise you on the material to purchase. Best of luck!✌
Well, that’s disappointing! These should be inserted into a tile pocket, not stuck on the front.
Exactly. rout is specifically designed to fill the gaps between tiles, not for setting them. It doesn’t have water-retaining agents or adhesive properties. When it comes to setting tiles, THINSET is the way to go.
I have no idea where you found that information, but grout is definitely not water-impervious. That’s basic tile knowledge. The only truly water-impervious grout is epoxy grout.
Doesn’t take much to secure that small shelf in place – the surrounding grout will do the job. Let’s not argue all day, just stick it in with some adhesive! 😅🙃
Comparing tile and grout doesn’t make much sense. They serve different purposes and are not interchangeable. rout fills spaces between tiles, while silicone sealant is used at plane changes.
Hey, I’ve actually tiled quite a few bathrooms and attended various seminars on the topic. Trust me, I know my stuff.