Description
Download free 3-panel shower wall DXF template. With 12x24 Niche configuration, 36x36 shower size.
Related Templates
Storage niches have evolved from optional upgrades to expected features in contemporary shower design, providing functional storage space while eliminating the visual clutter of hanging caddies and suction-cup organizers. This 3-panel shower template integrates a 12x24-inch niche cutout directly into the back panel design, creating a properly sized recess for shampoo bottles, soap dispensers, and shower accessories. The 36x36-inch overall configuration serves standard residential shower footprints while incorporating this practical storage element that enhances both functionality and resale value. The 12x24-inch dimension represents the most popular niche size in residential construction, proportioned to accommodate standard toiletry bottles while maintaining visual balance within typical shower wall dimensions. This size allows for multiple shelves if desired, providing separated storage for different user needs without consuming excessive wall space or requiring oversized panel cutouts that could compromise structural integrity. The rectangular orientation works naturally within the vertical format of shower walls, creating clean lines that integrate seamlessly with contemporary design aesthetics. Fabricators serving builders, remodelers, and homeowners will find shower niches have transitioned from specialty features to baseline expectations in bathroom construction. This template enables efficient production of niche-equipped shower panels, with CNC-cut openings that maintain dimensional accuracy and edge quality that hand-cutting cannot match. Whether executing simple white quartz installations for production builders or custom marble showers for luxury remodels, this template provides the foundation for delivering the storage functionality modern bathrooms require without sacrificing the clean aesthetic that makes stone shower walls appealing.
Installation Overview
Installing shower panels with niche cutouts requires coordination between framing, waterproofing, and panel mounting to ensure proper niche function and moisture protection. The wall framing must include a recessed cavity at the niche location, typically created during rough framing with blocking around the perimeter to support the niche liner or prefabricated niche box. Install waterproof niche liner or pre-formed niche enclosure before mounting the stone panel, ensuring proper integration with the wall waterproofing membrane. The stone panel with niche cutout mounts over this assembly, with the cutout edges aligning with the niche opening. Apply waterproof caulk around the niche perimeter where stone meets the niche liner. If using a prefabricated niche with mounting flange, ensure the flange seats properly behind the stone panel before final adhesive application.
CNC Cutting Notes
Programming niche cutouts requires careful attention to edge quality and dimensional accuracy since the niche opening remains highly visible and functional in the finished installation. Program the 12x24-inch rectangular cutout with corner radii between 6-12mm to reduce stress concentrations and simplify niche liner installation. All cutout edges should receive polished edge treatment matching the panel perimeter edges, as these edges are visible within the niche opening. Program the cutout positioning carefully, typically centered horizontally on the back panel and positioned at a comfortable height for access, generally 40-50 inches above the shower floor. Ensure adequate edge distance from the cutout to panel edges, maintaining minimum 4-inch margins to preserve structural integrity. Consider programming a slight back-chamfer on cutout edges to facilitate niche liner installation and sealant application.
Material Compatibility
Panels with 12x24-inch niche cutouts work well across natural stone and engineered materials when proper thickness and materials are selected. Engineered quartz performs excellently with niche cutouts due to its homogeneous structure and consistent strength properties around openings. Granite with tight crystalline structure provides good structural integrity, though materials with pronounced veining should have cutouts positioned to avoid weak grain patterns. Marble can be used but requires careful material selection, avoiding varieties with prominent natural fracture planes near the cutout area. For 36-inch wide panels with 12x24 cutouts, 3cm thickness is strongly recommended to maintain adequate material surrounding the opening and prevent stress-related cracking. While 2cm material can work in engineered quartz, the additional security of 3cm thickness is advisable for natural stone applications.
Where to Buy
This DXF template is available as a free download from Slabwise, providing complete specifications for shower panels with integrated 12x24-inch storage niche cutouts. The file includes precise cutout dimensions and positioning along with recommended corner radii and edge treatments. Compatible with all professional CNC programming software including Alphacam, Vectric, MasterCAM, and RhinoCAM. Fabricators can access additional niche sizes and shower configurations through the Slabwise architectural template library.