How To Install A Shower Sliding Door

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If you're looking for a way to upgrade your bath, consider replacing that drab shower curtain with a luxurious glass door. Not only are glass enclosures more visually appealing, they're like shooting fish in a barrel enough for the boilerplate homeowner to install themselves, eliminating the need for expensive contractor work. Your first footstep is to measure the opening of your shower to determine what size door will exist the best fit. And so, cut the mounting rails to accommodate the dimensions of your shower stall and secure them in place. Finally, hang the door itself, making sure information technology'southward flush with the rails on each side, and apply sealant around the edges to create a watertight seal.

1. 1

   Measure the opening of your shower. To ensure that your new shower door fits correctly, you'll need to accept three separate measurements—the full length of the threshold, the threshold'southward halfway point, and the height of the walls upward to 5 feet (1.5 m). These numbers volition help you find the necessary dimensions for each of the door rail.^[1]

   • Note the distance betwixt the opening of the shower and whatever nearby plumbing equipment, such every bit the toilet or sink, to leave adequate clearance.
   • Record the measurements of the shower stall on a separate piece of paper in case you need to refer to information technology at any betoken during the installation process.^[2]

2. 2

   Choose between a swinging or sliding door. The way you go with will largely be a matter of preference. That being said, the size of your shower tin bear upon the wait and function of the door. Swinging doors tend to be meliorate suited for small shower stalls—those that measure 48 inches (120 cm) or less from wall to wall—where limited space makes it easier to have a single big door. For enclosures that are greater than sixty inches (150 cm) across, a pair of sliding doors will economize space past offering a more than applied pattern of movement.^[3]

   • Should you decide to put in a sliding door, the measurement for the threshold'south halfway signal volition become important, as this is where the edges of the two separate door panels volition overlap when airtight.
   • Compare different sizes and styles of doors to find one that matches your shower enclosure.^[four]

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3. 3

   Cutting the base runway to the appropriate length. Employ a fine-toothed hacksaw to trim the metal piece to match the measurement of the threshold. The length of the base track should represent exactly to that of the threshold in club to fit snugly in the stall opening.^[5]

   • A miter box can help yous make cleaner, more than precise cuts.
   • Go over the sawed ends with a metallic file to smooth them down. Be sure to vacuum up any stray metal shavings afterwards to proceed them from leaving scratches on the bathroom floor.^{[half dozen]}

4. 4

   Center the base track on the threshold. Position the slice over the raised threshold, using a tape mensurate to look for an equal amount of space on either side. See that the alignment is carefully adapted—if it's off by even 0.75 inches (1.9 cm), the door may non close correctly.^[vii]

   • Marker the placement of the base rail with a pencil. That way, you'll be able to hands recenter information technology should information technology happen to sideslip while you're working.

5. 5

   Secure the base track with silicone sealant. In one case y'all've got the bottom slice where you need it, run a line of silicone sealant forth either side to glue it downward. Utilise constant pressure level to the base of operations rail for virtually a minute until the sealant has dried plenty to concord it in place.^[8]

   • About quick-drying sealants volition ready within iii-12 hours. Notwithstanding, it may take upwards to a full day for the sealant to cure completely.^[9]
   • To prevent leaks, avoid using the shower until the sealant has had time to dry.

6. 6

   Align the hinge-side jamb with the base rail. Slide the jamb downward into the grooved base track. Take a minute to make certain it'due south both flush (lying flat against the wall) and plumb (perfectly straight). Otherwise, you could end upwardly with small-scale gaps in the finished frame.^[10]

   • The swivel-side jamb tin can exist distinguished from the strike-side jamb by the mounting slots for the door hinge on the inner edge.
   • In near showers, the door hinge is placed on the opposite side of the stall from the shower caput.
   • Sliding doors won't have specific hinge side and strike side jambs, but the installation of the side rails is essentially the aforementioned process.^[11]

7. vii

   Mark the screw holes on the wall. Insert the tip of a pencil into the screw holes running up the face up the hinge-side jamb and make a small dot in each. These dots will be used to indicate where to bulldoze the screws needed to secure the jamb.^[12]

   • Grease pencil markings may show up on tile or acrylic shower walls improve than graphite.

8. 8

   Drill the screw holes. Remove the jamb from the wall and open up the holes using a ³⁄₁₆ inch (0.48 cm) masonry drill flake. Each spiral hole should exist roughly 1.75 inches (4.4 cm) deep to accommodate the mounting screws. Subsequently y'all've finished drilling the holes, tap in plastic wall anchors to protect the surface of the shower from harm.^[13]

   • It may aid to notch the screw holes with a small bit or divot to get them started. This will provide a shallow seat for the drill bit, making it less likely to wander.
   • Drill advisedly to ensure that each hole is perpendicular to the wall.

9. 9

   Position the jamb and spike the screws. Place the frame slice confronting the wall, lining upwardly the spiral holes with the ones you but drilled. Have a helper hold the jamb steady while yous fit a 1.v inches (3.8 cm) pan-head screw into each hole and drive it down tight.^[14]

   • Drill slowly to avoid overtightening. This can create stress fractures on the surrounding frame.

10. x

    Repeat with the strike-side jamb. Align, marker, drill, and fix the wall jamb on the opposite side but as you lot did the kickoff. When you're finished, you lot'll take assembled iii of the iv frame pieces.

    • Don't forget to confirm the plumb and affluent of the piece and insert wall anchors before you spike the screws.
    • The construction of the strike-side jamb is simpler than that of the hinge-side—it's nigh often an L-shaped piece that acts as a stop for the door.

11. 11

    Measure and cut the header track. Pull the shower door closed and extend your tape measure from one side to the other. Mark the dimensions on the frame header and employ your hacksaw to cutting information technology to size. Smooth down the raw edge using a metallic file.^[fifteen]

    • Information technology'due south of import that you measure out and cutting the upper track separately, rather than duplicating the dimensions of the base runway. It may non exist exactly the aforementioned width as the bottom of the frame.^[16]

12. 12

    Set the header at the peak of the frame. Lift the pinnacle rails onto the upper edges of the door and adjust it until it slides into place. If the header you lot're working with has screw holes on the end, it should be fastened downward for extra security. This slice will consummate the quaternary and final side of the frame.

    • Many shower door headers are slotted to fit over the the top of the jambs, without the need to bring together them to the frame separately.
    • For swinging doors, brand certain the shorter arm of the header is facing outward so the door can swing open up and shut freely.

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1. 1

   Insert the hinge rail into the hinge-side jamb. Guide the bottom corner of the door into the grooved base of operations track, then lift it and press it into the side jamb. Use your tape measure to check whether the opposite edge of the door is plumb, or running straight up and downward where it meets the strike-side jamb.^[17]

   • Take your time to get the plumb simply right. The frames of most glass shower doors allow for a i.5 inches (three.eight cm) margin of error to enable you accommodate the alignment without disengaging the hinge rail from the jamb.
   • Recruit an extra fix of hands to help y'all maneuver the heavy shower door into place. Information technology may be too unwieldy to safely handle on your own.^[18]

2. 2

   Drill screw holes into the side jamb. Have your banana hold the door as you lot drill a ⁷⁄₃₂ inch (0.56 cm) pilot hole direct into the hinge-side jamb through each of the screw holes in the swivel runway. It typically takes three-iv screws to successfully mountain most glass shower doors.^[19]

   • If you're working alone, a few strips of duct record can come up in handy for preventing the door from shifting.
   • Suction up and dispose of any loose metal shavings after drilling.

3. 3

   Adhere the door to the jamb. Sink the screws into the holes from lesser to top to finish mounting the door. Brand certain each spiral is nice and secure, merely not overly tight. The frame should be able to support the weight of the door without any wobbling or extra movement.

4. 4

   Test the shower door. Swing the door open and close a few times to meet whether information technology tracks the way it'south supposed to. Assuming it'southward been aligned correctly, it should glide through its full range of motion smoothly and with little or no noise. When closed, the handle-side of the door will also sit firmly against the header track and strike-side jamb.^[20]

   • If the hinges encounter with resistance at any point or you detect excessive squeaking, information technology may be necessary to check the tightness of the screws or inspect the flush, plumb, or level of the base of operations rail and swivel-side jamb.

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1. 1

   Install bumpers in the side jambs. Most sliding shower door installation kits come with bumper stops—small, blunt pieces of safe or plastic that forestall the door from colliding with the strike-side jamb when it's closed. These can exist attached by simply sliding them over the fastening screws before securing the strike-side runway in identify.^[21]

   • Some shower doors only feature 1 bumper stop in the center of the strike-side jamb. Others may use 2 or 3, spaced at regular intervals wherever there'southward a screw hole in the rail.

2. two

   Attach hanger brackets to the tops of the door panels. Identify the 2 mounting holes on either side of the upper border of both panels. Fit a plastic separator prune over each hole, then slide the metal hanging brackets over the separators. Insert bushings into the holes from the exterior face of the door, then secure them on the within face using blind nuts. Echo with the other door panel.^[22]

   • Double check that the brackets are resting affluent against the plastic separators to ensure a stable connectedness.
   • If the rollers that let the door to slide open and close aren't congenital into the hanging brackets, you'll need to adhere them separately using 1.5 inches (three.8 cm) screws.^[23]

3. 3

   Attach the rollers to the hanging brackets. Marshal the holes in the rollers with the mounting slots at the meridian of the brackets. Insert the included bolts or screws through the rollers and secure the ends with basics. Tighten the bolts or screws by hand until you tin can no longer turn them.^[24]

   • The rollers should keep the outside (the uncoated side) of the inner door panel, and the inside (coated) of the outer door console. This will allow the doors to glide open and closed in opposing directions.^[25]

4. 4

   Mount the doors from the header rail. Lift the within panel into the within of the header rail, making sure the rollers on the hanger brackets are set into the grooves on the underside of the rail. Guide the lesser edge of the door into the base track and check the alignment there also. Then, hang the outside console on the outside track of the header rail. Slide both doors from i end of the base track to the other a few times to confirm that they rail properly.^[26]

   • Be sure to hang both doors with the coated or textured side facing in. This blanket is designed to protect the surface of the glass from continual exposure to the h2o in the shower. It also hides the appearance of streaks and water spots to make them less noticeable.
   • If the doors aren't moving the way they're supposed to, remove them from the frame and reposition them until you become the alignment correct.

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1. 1

   Install the door fixtures. Sort through the accessories that came with your shower door installation kit and remove all handles, pulls, hooks, and towel racks. Attach these pieces using the included screws and hardware. Requite each a gentle tug to examination their stability.^[27]

   • Typically, drinking glass door fixtures are designed to be positioned from outside the shower and fastened from inside.
   • You as well have the choice of shopping around for different fixtures or having them custom made to your personal specifications, though this may crave additional drilling.

2. 2

   Fill up in remaining gaps or cracks. Go around the edges of the completed frame and apply a sparse strip of silicone sealant anywhere that it'southward needed. This volition seal any tiny openings that may be invisible to the center and forestall water from leaking through when y'all run the shower. Allow the sealant to dry overnight before running the shower.^[28]

   • Provided you've assembled the door frame correctly, you're unlikely to discover any glaring structural imperfections. However, thorough sealing is a expert precaution to take if you want to be certain that the construction of your new enclosure is totally watertight.

3. 3

   Exam for leaks. A good way to run across whether the airtight door creates a tight enough seal is to plough on the shower and aim the water directly at the door. If there are any defects, you'll notice the water seeping out from the sides or forth the bottom within a few moments. Apply additional sealant to the frame anywhere yous see dripping or overflow.^[29]

   • Towel off the moisture frame before adding more than sealant, and let the sealant to cure completely prior to your next test.
   • If water is escaping betwixt the door and base rail, consider attaching a separate drip tray to take hold of and redirect what would otherwise cease upwardly on the floor.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Tin I install a shower door myself?

  

  Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Possessor of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bathroom + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2022-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus Higher.

  

  Dwelling Improvement Specialist

  Proficient Reply

  Y'all tin can, but contact a professional if you feel unsure at all. Since you'll spend time in your bathroom every day, a professional person tin can ensure that everything looks and functions perfectly.

• Question

  What should I do before installing a shower door?

  

  Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his squad specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2022-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

  

  Home Comeback Specialist

  Adept Answer

  Check for pre-scored marks and instructions, which help make the installation process simple and polish. Also, review how to use different tools and kits. Installing a shower door can get catchy, then it's of import to know what you lot're doing and how to follow instructions correctly.

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• Outfitting your shower with a glass door is a project that can be completed by 1 or 2 people, often in as little as a couple hours.

• Simple additions like glass shower doors can become a long way toward upping the resale value of your home.

• Be certain to smoothen your new shower door regularly using a streak-gratuitous drinking glass cleaner to erase smudges and hard water stains.

• If your bath features a combination shower and bathtub, it volition be necessary to tear out the tub and install a raised threshold before you tin put in a swinging drinking glass door.

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• Any mistakes you make volition quickly drive upwardly project expenses. If you're non confident in your ability to tackle the installation yourself, it may ultimately be cheaper to hire someone to practice it professionally.

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Things You'll Need

• Drinking glass shower door installation kit
• Hacksaw
• Electric drill (with ³⁄_xvi inch (0.48 cm) masonry fleck)
• Screwdriver
• 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) pan-head screws
• Plastic wall anchors
• Silicone sealant and applicator
• Tape mensurate
• Carpenter's level
• Metal file
• Pencil
• Duct tape (optional)

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Article Summary X

Installing a drinking glass shower door is an easy enough project that most homeowners can tackle themselves. The installation process volition vary depending on whether you're installing a swinging or sliding glass door, just either mode, yous'll demand to outset by assembling a frame for the door. For the frame, yous'll need to install tracks at the bottom, sides, and top of your shower opening using sealant and screws. Once the frame is assembled, you tin install the door inside of it. Finally, you'll demand to install the door fixtures and close up any gaps effectually the frame with sealant. To learn how to test your new drinking glass shower door for leaks, go on reading!

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