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What are the Best Tips for Shower Door Installation?

Patrick Lynch
Patrick Lynch

Shower door installation is not necessarily a difficult task and in general can be successfully completed by those with limited do-it-yourself experience. The best tips for shower door installation include making sure that all measurements are taken carefully. Once it has been established that the wall is plumb, it is important to test the shower door area to see if it can open without hitting other objects. The height of the shower door should be decided and hinges should be added. A wooden shim should be added to leave room for the sweep and a masonry drill bit should be used for drilling before the screws are added to complete the task.

The first and most important step in shower door installation is accurate measuring of the door. This must be done correctly to within a fraction of an inch. Therefore, inaccurate measurements could ruin the whole procedure. Do not measure before the tile is in place however because this will lead to incorrect calculations.

There is no standard height for shower doors, so homeowners will have to decide on their own measurements.
There is no standard height for shower doors, so homeowners will have to decide on their own measurements.

The next step should be to ensure that the wall is plumb. Walls that are off plumb make the whole process of shower door installation extremely difficult. Should the door be installed with walls which are not plumb, it will be necessary to alter the size of the door to ensure that it fits tightly. If the door is not fitted tightly, water will spill out onto the floor during a shower.

Carefully taking measurements is advised when installing a shower door.
Carefully taking measurements is advised when installing a shower door.

It is also important to make sure that the door has the proper amount of space to enable it to open correctly. According to the building regulations of most countries, the door should only open when it is swung out rather than in toward the shower. Before the shower door installation can be completed, test the door to see if it can open freely without hitting other objects such as a toilet or sink.

A shower door installation can be successfully completed by those with limited do-it-yourself experience.
A shower door installation can be successfully completed by those with limited do-it-yourself experience.

One problem with shower door installation is that there is no standard height for shower doors. This means each individual must decide how tall the door should be. One tip is to have the top of the shower door several inches above the shower head to avoid water leaking out on to the floor.

Basics of shower door installation also include making sure the door fits into the opening and installing the door handles and hinges. These hinges are especially important because shower doors are designed not to break off their hinges for safety reasons. Always insert the middle hinge first because this makes it easier to adjust the hinges on the top and bottom.

Place a wooden shim when putting the door in position; a gap of 3/8 of an inch (1 cm) is needed at the bottom for the sweep to be inserted. Once the door is in place and level, mark the area where holes need to be drilled. Use a masonry drill bit if drilling through tile or marble and proceed with caution. Place the screws on the top of the door on the outside before working your way in. Install the sweep which should fit neatly under the door if it was measured correctly.

Discussion Comments

Heavanet

@talentryto- You should also be sure that you know exactly what style of shower door you want. Think this decision over carefully, because it takes time and money to fix if you get it wrong.

Years ago I installed what I thought was a lovely, etched shower door. Though it was pretty, it was very difficult to clean around the etching and I ended up changing it again after only a few years. This is why it is important to take everything in consideration, from size to style to maintenance, when choosing your new shower door.

Rundocuri

@talentryto- While it is very important to follow all of the building techniques to successfully install a shower door, it is also important to follow tips that will make this job much easier to complete.

One mistake that many people who like to perform do-it-yourself home projects make is attempting to do this type of work all by themselves. For many projects, including installing a shower door, this loner attitude will make the job much more time-consuming and difficult.

Many people also over look having the tools they will need to complete the project. Anyone preparing to install a shower door should also take inventory of his or her tools, decide with ones are needed, and keep them close by while working on the project.

Talentryto

I think this article is very informative and gives detailed information about installing a shower door. I'm getting ready to begin this project myself. Is there anything else I need to take into consideration before I get started?

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    • There is no standard height for shower doors, so homeowners will have to decide on their own measurements.
      By: dmitrimaruta
      There is no standard height for shower doors, so homeowners will have to decide on their own measurements.
    • Carefully taking measurements is advised when installing a shower door.
      By: Yuriy Chertok
      Carefully taking measurements is advised when installing a shower door.
    • A shower door installation can be successfully completed by those with limited do-it-yourself experience.
      By: Elnur
      A shower door installation can be successfully completed by those with limited do-it-yourself experience.