For a waterproof niche, purchase a premade niche.

Hi Byrne, I agree with A Mat, they do sell some ready-made ones that are waterproof and I’m sure sloped before the water to run off. As far as depth, it depends how thick your wall conditions are, if you are backing up to a 2X6 exterior wall and then you should have a depth available of about 5 inches.

There are sbout 53 different options.

Burton without building out the wall if you have a 2x4 framed wall then your niche is going to be in that neighborhood. I don't use premade niches, when the walls are down to the studs, pick a nice place for the niche and I make them long and the width between the studs. You can go horizontal as well but that will require more work. I like a big niche so nothing gets stored on the shower floor this way you have space for Wash cloth's, face scrubs, sham/cond bar soap. I merchandise it out so it looks nice always. Yes, you will have to pitch the shelves just a tad, if you have a little level have the bubble to the mark. I kerdi my showers for water proofing and with this system build whatever size niche you would like. Do a search here on this site, you should be able to find some of the old conversations with the tile pros we had on here.

We need a lot more info and IMO prmade or a nice caddy are the choices In my experience niches have been the water damge issue too many times and honestly why make shampoo bottles a decor item ever .

I always thought I wanted those shower niches until we stayed long term in a place that had them. A pain to clean and even if slopped and made perfectly water sits around bottles and just sits there. I will take a built-in shelf any day!

Hey Kate, usually those premade ones don’t have any slope, the tile installer creates the slope with the thinset mud. Personally, I like to do a shelf all across the shower without really a niche. Looks much cleaner, although they usually need to be done on a side wall or back wall. Not where the hot and cold water is as the pipes are in the way.

Don't know why you would need deep shelves.

Use this easy system instead

Combination bar and shelf all in one.

I use corner shelves cut from same solid surface material as counter top or to harmonize with tile. 12 or 14 inches at sides and straight across the front edge. Plenty of room for shower necessities.

You need to know the exact location, the tile setter must know and so too your fabricator if custom vanity top. But it's the easiest most water proof, no goo method, requiring no slope.........and NO for me on a niche.. I detest them..........

please see shelves. its for a long 66" bathtub with tile installation like photo shown. the bathroom is limited on space so we want to put towels, etc here. There is a wall there to build the shelves into.