Just a tip from someone who's been doing this for 30 years. I wouldn't use 1/2" pex B for your spout line out. Often its too restricting and causes water to always flow out your shower head when filling the tub.

Doing the template is genius! I'm glad I watched this video, I am doing a complete bathroom remode in a few weeks. Ive done toilets and vanties, but never a new shower install. Thanks for taking the time to make and share this.

This is a project that I hope to undertake very soon. One recommendation that I especially am grateful for is when you mentioned making a cardboard template. That one recommendation made the entire video worthwhile for me. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.

Outstanding video, thank you! We used this as our main guide to install the Delta 600 surround and it was incredibly helpful. To cut down on the echoing/boominess of the surround, we applied 3 cans of Big Gap spray foam on the backside of the panels in the open pockets, under the shelves, etc. (applied another 2-3 cans to the undersides/inner gaps of the Kohler tub we installed as part of this project too, and then set the in mortar) and it made a huge difference. Give yourself plenty of time to be methodical and do it right. Follow every step and it will turn out awesome. Those long bar clamps are under $100 for a set of 4, and were of critical help, too. Could not have done this job nearly as well without this great video!

Man I can't thank you enough. I've watched your videos on the tub/shower. You really filled in a lot of the blanks for me. Now I'm ready to tackle mine.

Thank you, just thank you for making this video. To anyone who plans to have someone install this, I suggest asking them to read the instructions AND sending them this video and asking them to watch it. Anyone who hasn’t already installed one of these very well may make a mistake or two that will ruin the surround.

Dude that's a awesome idea with the cardboard I will use this technique tomorrow to finish my install. Thanks.

You look very professional and an honest guy. God bless you.!

Finally a video that tells everything that one needs to know to install this surround tub/shower combo. I have had my shower Laying in its boxes for nearly a year. YU NAILED IT ! Mahalo Nui 🤙

Thanks for making this video. I watched it before installing my shower surround, and I want to mention a few things that I ran into. My shower is a Sterling Ensemble which is made out of their proprietary Vikrell material (probably just fiberglass with a secret ingredient), so there are some differences compared to normal fiberglass. 1. I cut the valve hole from the back like you did, but that was a mistake since it caused blowout on the front of the panel. Thankfully, the valve cover will hide the blowout. 2. The panels only touch the studs at the top and bottom. There's no point using sealant like you did since it wouldn't make contact with the panels. The panels are quite firm on their own. 3. The side panels use a tongue and groove system to slot 1/4" into the back panel. When measuring for the valve opening, I forgot to take this into account and ended up 1/4" off! Cheers!

Perfect video. Well thought out with fantastic instructions. Our bathroom is the spitting image of this one your working on. Followed your instructions step by step as we purchased the same tub and surround plus the shower valve. Delta needs to step up and financially support your channel. Thanks for all your help!

Just a note to an excellent video. If you intend to add a door or sliding doors to the tub/shower unit, you need something to hold screws for the frame on the ned pieces. You can add frame pieces as mentioned in the video or you can use contractors cement to glue in 2x4s inside the end pieces. I've glued in boards in two enclosure installs and it works great...its easier than inserting a frame piece.

I just completed a Tub/Shower install that included replacing the floor under the old tub, minus a few minor mistakes of my own doing this video among the others including the extra support and faucet install help me out tremendously. I watched other videos but this entire series of videos was spot on for my project, I also used a Delta Tub as the replacement and was almost identical to my install. Thanks for all the videos. 😀

🛠The only reason I bought the Delta Classic 500 was because of your video installation. Great job, well explained and even showed your "non-perfect" areas, like gaps and cut holes. Most BS videos show perfect installs after several practice videos. Made us feel like we can do it, so we did. Delta owes you some % of the $.

Awesome instructions. Thank you. 3:52 Although you won't be installing shower doors, someone else might in the future if you ever sell the place. So I think it would have been nice to put in those extra studs. Plus it might give the surround just a bit extra rigidity.

Great video. One observation based on past experience - I put a layer of cardboard down in the tub to protect the tub finish from those nasty little scratches caused by anything that happens to be caught in the tread pattern of your shoes or happens to stick to your shoe soles and you don't notice until AFTER you step in the tub to do work. Don't ask me how I learned that the hard way with my mother's shower. 8-(

Fill shelves with foam on backside. Insulate walls to muffle noise. Drill pilot hole from backside then flip over and finish hole drill. Run strip of wood same width as surround edge at top and install mold proof drywall. Get good quality faucet with hot/cold stops and make hole big enough to access.

I would add 2x6 blocking around the top where you cut the drywall at the top of the shower/tub mounting flange, which gives you additional support for securing the top of the surround!

I would have installed wood blocking for glass door mounting regardless. Good future proofing practice

bought a house where seemingly alot of the renovations were done with many half-measures. i smelled stagnant water in that bathroom and looking closely and pushing on the panels of this exact shower kit its loose as hell and ive been trying to find any info on if the joints are meant to be sealed. watching this i realize just how bad it is and likely they did not even use adhesive so it looks like im taking apart my shower today! thank you for making a better video than the manufacturer.

That's cool. Thanks. I am kind of amazed that nothing needs to go between those panels and the studs. I was thinking of some kind of moisture barrier to prevent water or steam from going back into the wall studs. Also, I wish you had not assumed that everyone already had their tub/shower alcove dimensioned correctly, and covered the case of when you have to do something to make it the right dimensions. It is great to see this done though on video because it allows us to have the confidence to do something like this. Great video

I like these videos. Helps me understand the bills that I pay for professional work.

Thank you so much for this, I really wish you could have shown what you do under the tub. I have the shower model and just need to know if I need to add hardy board to the floor or if putting it on top of the preexisting wood is all good.

Excellent video on all counts! Have saved this KZfaq for a future project. Really appreciate all the tips for a secure mounting of the "flimsy" panels.

Love the hole saw re-drill tip 15:40

I would recommend before putting up the panel with the shelves, is to put gap foam in the voids to stiffen them up. You want the low expanding foam that doesn’t warp the panel. I’d do this because people will use the shelves as handles and the foam stiffens it up and if they crack, to have something behind the acrylic to patch the panel. You can put an acrylic filler and there’s something behind it to hold the filler. Else, if the panel cracks, you can’t fix it and you’ll have to tear it all out and install a new panel. From experience you do not want to do that. Major pain in the butt for something that takes but a few minutes to do.

Wow, what a deal. I will be attempting a bathroom build in my basement. Looks like I'm in for some learning. Thanks for the video/info.

Great cardboard template reference pre-fit!

Brilliant I have recently bought a new house. The bathroom is a job I need to do. So informative and explained so clearly. This is definitely going to help. Are you able to show us how to install a new ceiling in the loungeroom. My inside ceiling needs replacing from water damage. The outside roof has been repaired so no more leak. You do such a great job. Thank you🙂

Possible consideration, being the studs are exposed, to place bracing between the studs for addition of shower grab bars either now or the future.

Do you have a video to show how to finish the walls around the tub surround ?

I absolutely love this design.. Can it possibly be attached to green board and studs.. And still work properly???

Have you released any more of the videos showing how you finished the top edge and the side edges where it will meet the drywall

On the exterior wall, do you need to have a vapor barrier(plastic) or something? I'm curious because I'm doing a similar project... And my basement exterior wall has two by fours with insulation and plastic over them. Which in essence means I have to trim the plastic off of the studs so I can glue the wall panels to the studs

Excellent tutorial - thank you for making this video. Appreciate the stud work / shower door support explanation. I will be trying this out in the near future and using your vid for reference.

Just wondering - or suggesting - once you know exactly where the hardware will be where you will need the holes, why not just put the laser level on the target (e.g., handle) and then dry fit he panel without moving the laser? Wouldn’t that give you the location for the hole? You’d have to do that for both holes of course. After watching your video I bought that laser level - at first I thought I wasted $100, but you made a believer out of me! Thanks much!

Thank you for the video! I think I watched about 5 videos for these surrounds and yours was the most helpful! I'm in AZ, I couldn't find the sealants and adhesives listed either. Working on the install this weekend. I'm using the shower pan version instead of the tub, same difference just taller walls. The floor is sloped about 1/8" from one end to the other. Do you know how much that is going to effect the install? I figure I may just have some gaps like you had where I would need a little more sealant at the bottom where the wall meets the pan. I just poured some self leveling cement stuff and turned out nice and flat, (as my floor was unevenly pieced together after replacing some rotted subflooring), its just not perfectly level. Thanks again for the video!

Use shower rods to hold panels

Dude, you’re a lifesaver! I just bought this same model shower and tub today and this tutorial has already proven invaluable. Thanks for the help, and I’ll post an updated comment when done. 🤙🏼

Thanks for the video. Two questions. 1) Should the studs behind shower be pressure treated? 2) I have heard about leaving a small sealant gap to leave a weep hole for condensation on backside of shower to drain into tub, not sure if this is universal?

it looks like you have a really nice finished product.. . I have installed 5 tub/shower surrounds kits in remodel projects this past winter and spring - not Delta brand.. However i installed Delta valves in all of them.. The brand of tub surround and shower surrounds kits that i installed require no adhesive and little to no caulk. While Delta is a nice looking surround i would not recommend it to my customers since seeing this install video. However a very nice video if someone wants a Delta surround kit.

Well done, very thorough and thoughtful steps for future use like adding the soldering pad to the rear in case someone decides to go with copper for the mixer in the future. Someone someday might thank you for that. Very good job - I will probably still go with the "glue up" cheap version for my rental but this was still a useful video.

Well done. Thanks for making this video. I learn from your work, and that makes your channel worthwhile. I need to install a new shower with door, so I'm off to find a video on that specific project. You have provided a solid foundation of knowledge to build on.

Just installed one of these. Your video was very helpful! Thank you!

I would put some blue painters tape on the front and back of the panel where you are drilling holes that way it want chip the surface.

Do you have a video of how you finished the walls around the top of the surround?

Great job man, great explanation

I think everyone commenting are useful tips I’m doing the same and will use all tips given thank you guys

Use the card board to imprint the valves on backside by pushing in and then transfer the cardboard stencil

Just a pro tip to anyone that is looking for a great sealant. OSI Quad clear is the best on the market.

I don't understand why you need to install the horizontal studs and why were you so specific on how far to locate them above the floor.

I put a tub surround in at our cabin and I got it from Lowes and it was annoying to install as it was egg shell thin and required studs every 12 inches and the surround had to be glued to the studs with a special tub surround glue in addition to screwing the surround to the wall. If I hadn’t been on a septic system I would have drywalled and tiles as it is way easier and stylish.

If you ever drill the holes slightly off-center, you could always move the valve it would be a lot cheaper than going and buying another shower surround.

Thanks for the tips. Doing my bathroom now.

I would really love to find ONE video that has the prep leading up to this, and then the finish after this. Knowing how to install the surround is great, but what about the big gap in the drywall above? How did you decide to cut up that high? What was on the wall before that? What was the prep that you did to get ready prior to the install? I hate having to search up videos for each step of this process, would love to see the entire thing beginning to completely finished product.

Thanks this saved me a lot of money.

Thank you for giving me confidence .

I noticed there was no vapor barrier on the exterior wall. Can anyone give any advice on how to handle a vapor barrier with the need to use adhesive.

@EverydayHomeRepairs - Great video. Love the fact that you don't skip past steps and show the whole process in detail. What brand of fire-resistant pad did you use? Could you add a link?

How do you do that hack with the circular saw to cut an eighth of an inch of wood off of a stud

Scott. This is just amazing talent. You demonstrated a project that can be intimidating to oh wow I can do it too. This is enjoyable to watch and very detailed with tips. Well done. Thank you for sharing

Hi All ,, At the 2:10 to 2:30 part on the video ,, I ( and others have mentioned to ) think it's good to add extra support bracing , in case you'd want to add hand rails ,, at some point ,, to the wall . And with camera phones now - a - days ,,, take pictures where they are place , along with measurements ,, that way you'll know where they were placed . Though the kit he used has some "hold" , "grab" area's ,,, some tub surrounds are just plain , smooth walls ,,,, and you can place grab bars in more places .

Outstanding skill set you have!

What detailed instructions. Awesome explanation.. thanks

Why not used cement board as a backing and red guard as a waterproofed. Than install panel.

Just brought a house with these showers and the gaps are not sealed thanks for this ill seal them asap I knew it's seemed wrong

I have changed the walls and did everything perfect. I’m stuck now trying to add the tub spout. I need help please!

Liquid Nail also works to bond the wall panels

Great video! Very helpful!

Why we can not use waterproof sheet rock behind the surround shower wall?

Good video production, good instructions.

Can you show the drain parts that you utilize so I can purchase?

Best DIYer out there.

Great detailed explanation. Thank you.

Could you theoretically install this over a thin layer of sheet rock? I’m trying to imagine (other than being able to add horizontal studs) why I couldn’t drill direct to the studs without having to rip it down.

your videos are great

Scott, Thank you so much for the details and notes.

Extremely helpful!!! Thanks!!

Great Video, Thanks for sharing !!

Awesome video thank you!

Please help..Great vid but i need help, my shower wall opening is just under 60" by maybe an 1/8 inch and the shower enclosure is 60" and not flexible ? im stuck, how can i shave the vertical studs down ?? just use a sander? this is original construction, i am replacing the old shower, thanks

How did you transition from the drywall to the surround to cover the gap?

Great info, but I have an issue with support! I have no way to clamp anything to my back surround! My bathroom run length ways so nearest wall is like 10’ away!!

Very helpful! Just installed the same thing. I couldn’t find any of the four recommended sealants either. I think I’ll go with the dap amp hybrid too. Hopefully it does the trick.

Thank you for great instructions! I do have one question though. I did not understand the purpose of the two horizontal studs you talked about starting at 58 seconds. Can you please elaborate?

Should you put insulation between the studs? If so, would rigid work? I hate the pink stuff:(. Also your videos help greatly!

Hey what goes over them surround flanges ??

Drill pilot hole from back then turn panel over and finish hole, go in reverse to start then forward

Great video

Great video! Thank you.

2 Questions: Why didn't you put the stud in behind the end walls for support of a shower door in the future? You future-proofed the back of the holes for soldering. And, why did you end up with such large gaps along the tub? Shouldn't everything be snug?

Great video!

I just went to Home Depot and looked at a Delta Unit. They are saying you don't need to caulk the seams.

Why not put insulation behind the tub surround walls?

Very well done video

So i am doing a shower install right now. I do not need to use green surat behind the surround???

Great video, very helpful,Thanks

Nice demonstration. Thank you

I want to put a surround like this on my old cast iron tub that doesn't have a lip on it. I'm terrified. Don't want to replace the tub, it's really nice and most importantly installed and paid for. Am I going to have a bad time?

Needed insulation on side wall for sound dampening and retaining heat in the shower.