Sound Smarter on the Jobsite: Custom Shower Glass
10 thoughts for a better install
[First, welcome to all my new folks from my old mailing list! If you’re wondering how you got here, check your email - I sent one yesterday explaining the update from my old list to my new list. I’m excited you’re here! Friday posts are always free.]
Shower glass may seem simple enough, but as usual, there's more to the story. Knowing these details can save a lot of time/effort/money in communicating with your glass guy and allow for a crisp install. Many of these things I learned the hard way, so you don’t have to…!
Custom shower doors are a nice upgrade that doesn't cost a ton (in the Boston area, a set of full height shower doors with nice hardware = $3-5k) compared to an off-the-shelf version, which you'll have to design your shower around, will be crappier, and still cost at least $1k.
Make sure the glass is "low iron." That will ensure the glass is clear, and not have a green cast to it.
Use 3/8" or 1/2", depending on the situation. Thinner is too delicate, thicker is too heavy.
Hang the door from a wall, not a glass panel. This gives the door hinges something solid to bite into, and avoids having to use a metal frame/header.
Match your hardware to the color of your fixtures. I use hinges, brackets, and handles from CR Laurence.
Make sure the glass is tempered. (Tempering heats regular annealed glass, making it 4-5 times stronger. If it breaks, it shatters in small chunks rather than shards, which is much less dangerous. Because the outside is in compression, the glass holds together better after impact.)
Make sure you get all holes planned for and cut at the shop, because once it's tempered, you can't cut it again.
Make sure your glass fabricator measures onsite *after* tile is installed, and submits shop drawings for your approval before they fabricate!
I prefer a removable sweep, so it can be removed and cleaned, since it gets kind of gunky after a while. The sweep is that little piece of plastic at the bottom of the door that deflects water away from the gap at the bottom of the door. You can slide it right on and off.
Bonus Marilyn-ism: offset your glass so you create more of a ledge on the inside of the shower for toiletries!
Don't caulk the base of the glass to the tile. There's no need, and it'll just be gloppy and gross. Just let it be. [Unless it’s receiving direct spray from the showerhead, and/or it’s a kid bathroom!]
That's it for today...what are your shower door thoughts? Comment below. Thanks for reading, as always!
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