Hi, I need to remove a 6' x 26" countertop with an attached undersink, out of the room so that I can have a new layment over the entire kitchen floor. I also have to move the base cabinet as well of course. But my question is if I detach the counter top from the base cabinet and the two of us move this countertop to another room (and safely rest it upon a wooden contraption I will build) [i][b]might the countertop possibly break near the sink area when we pick it up at the long ends[/b][/i]? It will still have the sink attached and still have the edgings attached. Thanks! Dave [img]https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/640x480/img_1617_1__a233948c0815d69b28cafb60c8db9c41a7d306a1.jpg[/img] [img]https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/640x480/img_1618_1__78d2da8f55b7984c415869f0b056826a6ae89928.jpg[/img]

First off I wasn't sure if my question should go here or in framing so I hope I'm asking this question in the right forum. I am remodeling two of my bathrooms and part of that remodel will have me retiling the showers. Since I'm going to have everything torn out I want to install a niche in each shower. I have made a drawing of each shower. I hope they show enough detail to help answer my questions. *** NOTE *** I assume it is obvious but these drawings are not to scale. The first bath (upper bath) has a full shower and tub. My question is about the placement of the niche. As you can see in the drawing, two of the tub surround walls are exterior walls. I've been told not to install a niche on exterior walls so the only spot that leaves for a niche is the interior wall that houses all of the plumbing. That wall may be load bearing. I am no structural engineer but I do know that the wall runs perpendicular to the joists in the ceiling above so I assume it is load bearing. My question is can I install a niche that is larger than than the space between the studs. I'd like to frame out a niche and run the plumbing around it. Above the wall in question is the attic and roof so that is how I know that the wall runs perpendicular to the joists above. Can/should I put a niche here given that it seems to be a load bearing wall? *** NOTE *** The niche will be 12" x 16" in the shower after tile so the actual framing for the niche behind the wall will be in the 16" x 20" range. The second bath (lower bath) is a 3/4 with no tub. Again, my question is about the placement of the niche. As you can see in the drawing there are only two full walls and a pony wall. The wall that I want to install the niche in may be load bearing as well because the the wall runs perpendicular to the joists above. The wall is next to my utility room and there is no ceiling in there (only open joists) so I know that the wall runs perpendicular to the joists above. Coincidentally the wall is in the exact spot as the wall in question above that I want to put the other niche in (although I want the niche on the opposite side of the wall). My question is, can I install a niche that is larger than than the space between the studs. I'd like to frame out a larger niche of about 12" x 20" (HxW). Can/should I put a niche here? *** NOTE *** The niche will be 12" x 20" in the shower after tile so the actual framing for the niche behind the wall will be more in the 16" x 24" range. Thanks in advance for your help. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them as best as I can.